188 Words for Rain: A Delightfully Damp Tour of the British Isles, Led by Natural Forces

by Alan Connor

Mizzle. Dreich. Raining knives and forks. A real mugga-fisty. A spot of plother...

We Brits love talking about the weather. So much so that our islands have hundreds of words and phrases for rain, some self-explanatory and others that really leave us scratching our heads. From a light smirr in Aberdeen to a "it's raining knives and forks!" in the Brecon Beacons, each type of rain tells a story about the people and places it falls on.

In this delightfully damp tour of the British Isles, writer and puddle-splasher Alan Connor digs deep into the meaning and quirky histories of over one hundred words for precipitation. He gets caught in a plash in Northumberland, crashes a fox's wedding in Devon and ponders the phenomenon of Brits-who-picnic-in-the-car, in this charming and witty celebration of our very British obsession.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Humor

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2024

About the author

Alan Connor is a British writer, journalist and television presenter. First seen on Channel 4's youth entertainment programme The Word in 1995 he later appeared on The Big Breakfast and BBC Radio Five Live and was a BBC News correspondent, appearing on BBC News 24 and The Daily Politics.

His scriptwriting credits include the comedy-drama A Young Doctor's Notebook, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Hamm.

Connor has worked as a writer for programmes including Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, The Jonathan Ross Show and This Week and writes journalism for BBC News and The Guardian.

Reviews

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Entertaining and informative jaunt around the UK to talk about the weather patterns, as well as various regional words and phrases connected to rain. It's often said that we are always talking about the weather here in the UK, and I've heard many a time that that is largely down to the fact that we can experience so many different forms of weather in one day. True enough. I had never really thought about the fact that in many places, the weather is more or less the same from one day to the next.

*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting little book. I moved around a fair bit as a child so I'm always conscious of the different ways 'locals' refer to different things, but I'd never really considered how weather words (specifically rain) can vary quite so much around the country!
I liked the way the book travels across Britain, going through different local terms and their origins. This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in language, especially local slang and etymology, but also anyone interested in the weather as it was interesting to learn about different weather systems across the country.
With thanks to Net Galley for my copy.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I noticed this title at the library, I knew immediately I wanted to read it. A tour of the British Isles looking at all the different words that have evolved over the years to describe this most British of weather phenomena in all its manifestations? I was in! And it WAS interesting, reminding me of many terms I know, and many more that I don't. Together with engaging weather-related factoids, such as the story of the British chemist who coined the names that are now used world-wide for clouds. But it was held together by pointess little anecdotes of imaginary people and their experience of these phenomena, intended to drive the narrative along, but which only succeeded in irritating me. A good idea spoilt. By the way, my edition has '188 Words for Rain'. Perhaps there will be even more by the time you read it?

[Alvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, pleasant and informative read. Discovered from a Reddit post - who'd have thought there are so many words for rain? I enjoyed the little anecdotes of people and the weaving of certain words within. Would definitely have enjoyed it more if I had greater knowledge of the British Isles.

[Laura Macdonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

hardback edition

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this an extra star because I like the concept, and there are some cool words for rain!

But I did not enjoy reading this book, and for such a short one, it took ages to get through. Would have been better in the hands of another author...

[Darly Camsu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discovered this book from a Reddit Post. Book so far throws you in on a clockwise adventure across the United Kingdom filled with curiosity-inducing facts teaching you what we know (and don’t know) about rain, its descriptors, and its different forms. Perfect for people who find comfort in rain. It’s not just a book you can just read through linearly, but rather to get the most of the book I was induced to look into many facts involving rain, the United Kingdom, and sometimes other things Alan Connor’s mind somehow wandered into. Probably easier to read if you’re from there, but it seemed more fun for me to read since it’s all about unfamiliar things. Everything I found here is factually correct (which is cool because you can find singular articles and Wikipedia pages about the things written about here). Also, Connor focuses on showing before telling, relaying experiences about rain that I find very relatable. I’ll probably read it again down the road. ALRIGHTREAD.