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Crystal’s Curiosity Cabinet: An English Language Miscellany
Win a free print copy of this book!
19 days and 18:19:03
2 copies available
U.S. only
What do a comic alphabet, a glorious lipogram and a wellerism have in common?
Or, an audit of accountants, an illusion of magicians, and an intrusion of spammers?
And do you know how Shakespeare pronounced his name?
Quirky, original, amusing and enlightening, this charming English Language Miscellany from David Crystal, one of the greatest British linguists of our time, offers fascinating observations on random, weird and witty words and expressions, collected over a number of years.
Following the tradition of the Victorian miscellany and cabinets of curiosities, the 150+ random entries reveal the global, national, contemporary and historical impact of language, and will appeal to word lovers and fun-fact-fiends alike.
Showcasing linguistic creativity in all its glory, and featuring a wide range of topics that reflect current language issues, such as accents, dialects, etymology, proverbs, place names, punctuation, everyday usage, and language change, this book provides a playful, entertaining and informative read on the bizarre nature of language.
Or, an audit of accountants, an illusion of magicians, and an intrusion of spammers?
And do you know how Shakespeare pronounced his name?
Quirky, original, amusing and enlightening, this charming English Language Miscellany from David Crystal, one of the greatest British linguists of our time, offers fascinating observations on random, weird and witty words and expressions, collected over a number of years.
Following the tradition of the Victorian miscellany and cabinets of curiosities, the 150+ random entries reveal the global, national, contemporary and historical impact of language, and will appeal to word lovers and fun-fact-fiends alike.
Showcasing linguistic creativity in all its glory, and featuring a wide range of topics that reflect current language issues, such as accents, dialects, etymology, proverbs, place names, punctuation, everyday usage, and language change, this book provides a playful, entertaining and informative read on the bizarre nature of language.
- GenresLanguageNonfiction
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2025
5 people are currently reading
1714 people want to read
About the author
David Crystal
231 books786 followersDavid Crystal works from his home in Holyhead, North Wales, as a writer, editor, lecturer, and broadcaster. Born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland in 1941, he spent his early years in Holyhead. His family moved to Liverpool in 1951, and he received his secondary schooling at St Mary's College. He read English at University College London (1959-62), specialised in English language studies, did some research there at the Survey of English Usage under Randolph Quirk (1962-3), then joined academic life as a lecturer in linguistics, first at Bangor, then at Reading. He published the first of his 100 or so books in 1964, and became known chiefly for his research work in English language studies, in such fields as intonation and stylistics, and in the application of linguistics to religious, educational and clinical contexts, notably in the development of a range of linguistic profiling techniques for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. He held a chair at the University of Reading for 10 years, and is now Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wales, Bangor. These days he divides his time between work on language and work on internet applications.
source: http://www.davidcrystal.com/
source: http://www.davidcrystal.com/
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 4, 2025
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
References to the Daleks in a book about the English language, alongside mentions of Dickens, Tolkien, and the Oxford English Dictionary. I don't know about the general population, but I do know that many people would agree that Doctor Who is amazing.
I really loved this book. There were so many interesting things about the English language, like different Victorian games, slang, and how Shakespeare influenced language. I especially loved all of the illustrations that were included on pretty much every page. However, the name of the illustrator is not mentioned. Is the author the illustrator? Even before AI, publishers didn't always include the name of the illustrator (which was ridiculous), probably because they had to pay more if the name was on the book, but they need to include it now. How do I know it isn't AI generated if they don't include the name? This isn't me accusing them of it being AI. This is telling the publisher to include the illustrator's name because I check every single time and do a deep dive on the internet trying to find it.
Definitely would recommend this book!
References to the Daleks in a book about the English language, alongside mentions of Dickens, Tolkien, and the Oxford English Dictionary. I don't know about the general population, but I do know that many people would agree that Doctor Who is amazing.
I really loved this book. There were so many interesting things about the English language, like different Victorian games, slang, and how Shakespeare influenced language. I especially loved all of the illustrations that were included on pretty much every page. However, the name of the illustrator is not mentioned. Is the author the illustrator? Even before AI, publishers didn't always include the name of the illustrator (which was ridiculous), probably because they had to pay more if the name was on the book, but they need to include it now. How do I know it isn't AI generated if they don't include the name? This isn't me accusing them of it being AI. This is telling the publisher to include the illustrator's name because I check every single time and do a deep dive on the internet trying to find it.
Definitely would recommend this book!
October 14, 2025
3.5 stars rounded to 3
David Crystal is not new to me because of my field of study and I think this could appeal to anyone who likes linguistics and literature or just likes to read curiosities on the English language.
I liked some sections more than others, like for example the ones about dialects, which is a subtopic of linguistics I'm particularly interested into. The ones about proverbs was also interesting because of the examples from different languages.
Some of the main focus in this book were linguistic curiosities on Shakespeare and Dickens and I wished the author would have chosen more authors because despite their influence and importance, they aren't the only ones who left and imprint on the English language.
Something I didn't like was the way the book was put together as the choice of which section had to go before another etc. This is one of those miscellanies where you can open a page and read the curiosity you want, so it makes sense. But it rendered the reading a bit boring sometimes, and I wish there would be a different pacing. Perhaps it would've served better to put all of the entries under the same title together and use those cute drawings at the bottom of some pages before the section opening.
Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press/Chambers for letting me read an ARC of this book.
David Crystal is not new to me because of my field of study and I think this could appeal to anyone who likes linguistics and literature or just likes to read curiosities on the English language.
I liked some sections more than others, like for example the ones about dialects, which is a subtopic of linguistics I'm particularly interested into. The ones about proverbs was also interesting because of the examples from different languages.
Some of the main focus in this book were linguistic curiosities on Shakespeare and Dickens and I wished the author would have chosen more authors because despite their influence and importance, they aren't the only ones who left and imprint on the English language.
Something I didn't like was the way the book was put together as the choice of which section had to go before another etc. This is one of those miscellanies where you can open a page and read the curiosity you want, so it makes sense. But it rendered the reading a bit boring sometimes, and I wish there would be a different pacing. Perhaps it would've served better to put all of the entries under the same title together and use those cute drawings at the bottom of some pages before the section opening.
Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press/Chambers for letting me read an ARC of this book.
November 9, 2025
Thanks to John Murray Press US | Chambers and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of Crystal's Curiosity Cabinet book by David Crystal.
The author is a researcher in English language studies and applied linguistics, hence that this book is about curiosities regarding the English language, such as proverbs, etymology, fun facts, and much more. I was interested in this topic because I love linguistics and the description seemed interesting. However, it's almost entirely just plain text, and from the book cover and the premise I expected a more creative design with illustrations perhaps, and a different layout.
The author is a researcher in English language studies and applied linguistics, hence that this book is about curiosities regarding the English language, such as proverbs, etymology, fun facts, and much more. I was interested in this topic because I love linguistics and the description seemed interesting. However, it's almost entirely just plain text, and from the book cover and the premise I expected a more creative design with illustrations perhaps, and a different layout.
September 29, 2025
thank you, netgalley, for the arc in exchange of an honest review!
i’ve read another book in the “cabinet of curiosities” style before, and i absolutely loved it — quick, bite-sized bits of strange trivia and fun language facts that were so entertaining i ended up texting my favorites to a friend. so when i saw crystal’s curiosities cabinet, i went in expecting the same kind of experience: quirky, engaging snippets you can pick up and enjoy at random.
short? yes. entertaining? not as much as i’d hoped.
to be fair, there are chapters here that really work. i liked the sections about proverbs (especially the ones from other languages) and the “underworld” dictionary was genuinely fun. but the problem is that these moments were buried under repetition. there were, for example, multiple chapters on collectives — not expansions or deeper dives, just “collectives part 2,” “collectives part 3,” and so on. by the third one i thought, ok, i get it — animals have funny group names, but the book kept going.
another thing that didn’t land for me was the heavy reliance on excerpts. entire passages from shakespeare, dickens, or mark twain are dropped in, followed by a quick note about the linguistic quirk in question. i get why the author included them, but honestly, if i wanted to read shakespeare, i’d pick up shakespeare. after a while it started to feel less like fresh curiosities and more like padding, and it pulled me out of the flow.
what this book really needed, in my opinion, was tighter editing. some chapters could have been trimmed down, others merged, and only the most unique or genuinely fascinating curiosities left in. i’d much rather read a short, sharp collection that leaves me buzzing with new facts than a longer one that circles the same ground.
a few entries also felt underdeveloped. the “snowtober” example comes to mind — a single paragraph explaining why “snowtober” won over “octsnowber” and “snoctober,” and then… nothing. no exploration of why english struggles with consonant clusters, no comparisons to other languages, just a fact dropped and forgotten. for a book about the quirks of language, moments like that felt like missed opportunities.
the description promises a playful, entertaining, and informative read. for me, it didn’t quite deliver on those fronts — the humor mostly came from outside quotes, and i finished the book with about the same knowledge i started with. that said, i can see this appealing to readers with a strong background in linguistics, or those who simply enjoy seeing language curiosities catalogued in one place.
overall, this wasn’t quite the lively, curious collection i was hoping for, but there were glimpses of what it could have been. with tighter focus and more original insight, i think it could’ve really shined.
i’ve read another book in the “cabinet of curiosities” style before, and i absolutely loved it — quick, bite-sized bits of strange trivia and fun language facts that were so entertaining i ended up texting my favorites to a friend. so when i saw crystal’s curiosities cabinet, i went in expecting the same kind of experience: quirky, engaging snippets you can pick up and enjoy at random.
short? yes. entertaining? not as much as i’d hoped.
to be fair, there are chapters here that really work. i liked the sections about proverbs (especially the ones from other languages) and the “underworld” dictionary was genuinely fun. but the problem is that these moments were buried under repetition. there were, for example, multiple chapters on collectives — not expansions or deeper dives, just “collectives part 2,” “collectives part 3,” and so on. by the third one i thought, ok, i get it — animals have funny group names, but the book kept going.
another thing that didn’t land for me was the heavy reliance on excerpts. entire passages from shakespeare, dickens, or mark twain are dropped in, followed by a quick note about the linguistic quirk in question. i get why the author included them, but honestly, if i wanted to read shakespeare, i’d pick up shakespeare. after a while it started to feel less like fresh curiosities and more like padding, and it pulled me out of the flow.
what this book really needed, in my opinion, was tighter editing. some chapters could have been trimmed down, others merged, and only the most unique or genuinely fascinating curiosities left in. i’d much rather read a short, sharp collection that leaves me buzzing with new facts than a longer one that circles the same ground.
a few entries also felt underdeveloped. the “snowtober” example comes to mind — a single paragraph explaining why “snowtober” won over “octsnowber” and “snoctober,” and then… nothing. no exploration of why english struggles with consonant clusters, no comparisons to other languages, just a fact dropped and forgotten. for a book about the quirks of language, moments like that felt like missed opportunities.
the description promises a playful, entertaining, and informative read. for me, it didn’t quite deliver on those fronts — the humor mostly came from outside quotes, and i finished the book with about the same knowledge i started with. that said, i can see this appealing to readers with a strong background in linguistics, or those who simply enjoy seeing language curiosities catalogued in one place.
overall, this wasn’t quite the lively, curious collection i was hoping for, but there were glimpses of what it could have been. with tighter focus and more original insight, i think it could’ve really shined.
October 12, 2025
Book Review: Crystal’s Curiosity Cabinet by David Crystal
I’m giving Crystal’s Curiosity Cabinet by David Crystal three stars.
This is a book full of little delights — more a grab-and-go miscellany than a single, sustained argument. Crystal, who’s known for being one of Britain’s sharpest linguists, serves up over 150 short entries that celebrate the odd, funny and sometimes baffling corners of English. Think comic alphabets, lipograms (texts that avoid particular letters), wellerisms, and quirky collective nouns (an audit of accountants, an intrusion of spammers) alongside questions about how Shakespeare might have said his own name. The entries range across accents, dialects, etymology, proverbs, place names, punctuation, and language change, often dipping into history and other languages to show how English has been shaped and reshaped.
I enjoyed this book as a casual, fragmentary read. The cover is attractive — it gives off that cabinet-of-curiosities vibe and sets the tone nicely — and the layout encourages random browsing rather than linear reading. It’s exactly the kind of thing you can pick up for five minutes at a time: a nice coffee-table book or a “bathroom book” to leave lying about and return to whenever you want a quick hit of linguistic trivia.
Some of my favorite bits were the cross-cultural proverbs and the entries that highlighted lesser-known Victorian wordplay and slang. Crystal’s “underworld” dictionary (a cheeky dip into criminal slang) was genuinely entertaining, and the frequent quotations from writers like Shakespeare, Dickens or Mark Twain are often illuminating. However, the book leans heavily on these long excerpts; whole passages are reproduced and followed by a brief note pointing out the linguistic curiosity. That approach can feel like being shown the answer rather than being taken through the discovery.
That leads to my main reservation: I wanted a faster-moving, more inquisitive voice at times. There are clear flashes of the lively, curious collection I hoped for, but too often entries read like stylish footnotes rather than fresh insights. With a tighter editorial focus and more of Crystal’s own interpretive commentary, this could have been a standout. As it is, it’s a pleasant, occasionally brilliant miscellany — great for dipping into and for fellow word lovers — but not quite the consistently revelatory cabinet of delights its cover promises.
If you like language trivia, cross-cultural proverbs, and short, entertaining bursts about English, you’ll get a lot of enjoyment out of this. If you were hoping for more sustained analysis or original argument, you might come away wanting a bit more.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
I’m giving Crystal’s Curiosity Cabinet by David Crystal three stars.
This is a book full of little delights — more a grab-and-go miscellany than a single, sustained argument. Crystal, who’s known for being one of Britain’s sharpest linguists, serves up over 150 short entries that celebrate the odd, funny and sometimes baffling corners of English. Think comic alphabets, lipograms (texts that avoid particular letters), wellerisms, and quirky collective nouns (an audit of accountants, an intrusion of spammers) alongside questions about how Shakespeare might have said his own name. The entries range across accents, dialects, etymology, proverbs, place names, punctuation, and language change, often dipping into history and other languages to show how English has been shaped and reshaped.
I enjoyed this book as a casual, fragmentary read. The cover is attractive — it gives off that cabinet-of-curiosities vibe and sets the tone nicely — and the layout encourages random browsing rather than linear reading. It’s exactly the kind of thing you can pick up for five minutes at a time: a nice coffee-table book or a “bathroom book” to leave lying about and return to whenever you want a quick hit of linguistic trivia.
Some of my favorite bits were the cross-cultural proverbs and the entries that highlighted lesser-known Victorian wordplay and slang. Crystal’s “underworld” dictionary (a cheeky dip into criminal slang) was genuinely entertaining, and the frequent quotations from writers like Shakespeare, Dickens or Mark Twain are often illuminating. However, the book leans heavily on these long excerpts; whole passages are reproduced and followed by a brief note pointing out the linguistic curiosity. That approach can feel like being shown the answer rather than being taken through the discovery.
That leads to my main reservation: I wanted a faster-moving, more inquisitive voice at times. There are clear flashes of the lively, curious collection I hoped for, but too often entries read like stylish footnotes rather than fresh insights. With a tighter editorial focus and more of Crystal’s own interpretive commentary, this could have been a standout. As it is, it’s a pleasant, occasionally brilliant miscellany — great for dipping into and for fellow word lovers — but not quite the consistently revelatory cabinet of delights its cover promises.
If you like language trivia, cross-cultural proverbs, and short, entertaining bursts about English, you’ll get a lot of enjoyment out of this. If you were hoping for more sustained analysis or original argument, you might come away wanting a bit more.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
November 25, 2025
Crystal's Curiosity Cabinet by David Crystal is a fun and informative book that is a bit addictive.
If you love language, English in this case, and both its quirks and its games, then you'll love this book.I intended to read a couple entries at a time and make it last longer. For the most part I failed, but with wonderful results. Some of the entries highlight word games that were once popular. Well, I couldn't just enjoy reading about them and the examples cited, I had to try my hand. Some were just plain fun to do, mildly challenging but not brain racking. Some were definitely more challenging, which made them even more fun.
You'll be surprised how much you'll learn and how many other things you'll think of while reading and have to look up yourself. Any book that encourages a reader to think beyond what is in the book and do some (very low level) research has succeeded as far as I'm concerned.
Definitely for any language and linguistics lovers, and this would also be a nice book to keep on an end table or at least within easy reach for when you have company and you're sitting around. This is also ideal for those readers who like to have a book with short entries for when you can't read for a long time or, perhaps, at bedtime when you don't want to dive back into a longer book.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
If you love language, English in this case, and both its quirks and its games, then you'll love this book.I intended to read a couple entries at a time and make it last longer. For the most part I failed, but with wonderful results. Some of the entries highlight word games that were once popular. Well, I couldn't just enjoy reading about them and the examples cited, I had to try my hand. Some were just plain fun to do, mildly challenging but not brain racking. Some were definitely more challenging, which made them even more fun.
You'll be surprised how much you'll learn and how many other things you'll think of while reading and have to look up yourself. Any book that encourages a reader to think beyond what is in the book and do some (very low level) research has succeeded as far as I'm concerned.
Definitely for any language and linguistics lovers, and this would also be a nice book to keep on an end table or at least within easy reach for when you have company and you're sitting around. This is also ideal for those readers who like to have a book with short entries for when you can't read for a long time or, perhaps, at bedtime when you don't want to dive back into a longer book.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
January 28, 2026
A fun collection following the format of the commonplace book.
This book includes a collection of English Language Miscellany, collected by David Crystal, a well-known British linguist. Entries don't necessarily go in any particular order and don't necessarily relate directly to each other, but you get lots of samples of various language-related topics. You can go from a comic alphabet to a list of collectives, to a description of how researchers think Shakespeare pronounced his name.
This collection is very fun. It gives you small samples of so many random language-related topics. Many of them sparked my interest to explore further, which is the best feature of one of these stories.
I think this book's strength is also its biggest weakness: the entries are very short and don't necessarily all follow one another topic-wise. It can be a bit jarring to hop between entries.
Overall, if you enjoy language or linguistics, definitely give this one a try. It's a quick read that also works well to pick up and set down regularly as you're busy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chambers for providing an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This book includes a collection of English Language Miscellany, collected by David Crystal, a well-known British linguist. Entries don't necessarily go in any particular order and don't necessarily relate directly to each other, but you get lots of samples of various language-related topics. You can go from a comic alphabet to a list of collectives, to a description of how researchers think Shakespeare pronounced his name.
This collection is very fun. It gives you small samples of so many random language-related topics. Many of them sparked my interest to explore further, which is the best feature of one of these stories.
I think this book's strength is also its biggest weakness: the entries are very short and don't necessarily all follow one another topic-wise. It can be a bit jarring to hop between entries.
Overall, if you enjoy language or linguistics, definitely give this one a try. It's a quick read that also works well to pick up and set down regularly as you're busy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chambers for providing an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 8, 2026
The spellbinding Crystal's Curiosity Cabinet was written by David Crystal, possibly for me! Though not my field of study. I am besotted with etymology. My family members and I enjoy dangling irresistible carrots to each other in friendly competition. Crystal has a quirky and friendly approach and each gem therein is jam-packed with delightful illumination. Easy to read, comprehend, and use.
It is impossible for me to choose a handful of favourites from the 150+ entries but amongst them include book "baptism", enchanting Victorian univocalics game, international proverbs, lipograms, anachronisms, Wright's Words, linguistic blends, Dickens' voice portraits, and playing with punctuation.
Clever and witty lightbulb moments lit me up, over and over. This slender volume challenged my brain and filled my heart with comfy nostalgia. It just FEELS good. I absolutely adored it. Much more, please!
It is impossible for me to choose a handful of favourites from the 150+ entries but amongst them include book "baptism", enchanting Victorian univocalics game, international proverbs, lipograms, anachronisms, Wright's Words, linguistic blends, Dickens' voice portraits, and playing with punctuation.
Clever and witty lightbulb moments lit me up, over and over. This slender volume challenged my brain and filled my heart with comfy nostalgia. It just FEELS good. I absolutely adored it. Much more, please!
October 11, 2025
I’m a predictable soul. I see a book of interesting miscellany, and I pick it up! And I’m glad I did. David Crystal, a linguist, has turned 150+ random observations about weird words and witty expressions into something delightful: a cabinet of curiosities for language enthusiasts!
Each entry reveals how language shapes our global, national, and historical landscapes, with a perfect balance of scholarly depth and accessible charm. I loved the series on Charles Dickens’ ‘voice portraits!’ It’s quirky without being pretentious, educational without being dry.
It’s a book you keep close by and dig into whenever you need a fun idea (or three!)
Language builds bridges between cultures and ideas. And this book knows that to be true.
I received an early copy courtesy of the publishers via Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone.
Each entry reveals how language shapes our global, national, and historical landscapes, with a perfect balance of scholarly depth and accessible charm. I loved the series on Charles Dickens’ ‘voice portraits!’ It’s quirky without being pretentious, educational without being dry.
It’s a book you keep close by and dig into whenever you need a fun idea (or three!)
Language builds bridges between cultures and ideas. And this book knows that to be true.
I received an early copy courtesy of the publishers via Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone.
January 14, 2026
Language is just so fun. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC. I didn't read it before publishing, but I did read it later and had a lot of fun.
I will say, I couldn't figure out who the illustrator is as it doesn't see they were credited, and that does concern me and lead me to believe it may have been AI. But I am not sure.
The 'Cabinet of Curiosities'/miscellany style of the book was fun, but also a bit more chaotic than I felt is needed to be. I feel that had it been a little more cohesive or set up in a slightly different order, the entertainment value wouldn't have taken away from the execution.
Regardless, the trivia and linguistic fun facts were just that: fun!
I will say, I couldn't figure out who the illustrator is as it doesn't see they were credited, and that does concern me and lead me to believe it may have been AI. But I am not sure.
The 'Cabinet of Curiosities'/miscellany style of the book was fun, but also a bit more chaotic than I felt is needed to be. I feel that had it been a little more cohesive or set up in a slightly different order, the entertainment value wouldn't have taken away from the execution.
Regardless, the trivia and linguistic fun facts were just that: fun!
September 29, 2025
This is a rather random cabinet of curiosities but an entertaining one all the same, particularly if you like words and language as much as I do -- a lot!
There isn't much rhyme or reason to what's included here: from famous excerpts to etymology snippets to trivia, outside of the fact that the author had found them worthy of inclusion.
Lamentably, the kindle version the publisher has provided for Netgalley is formatted badly, which is always annoying, but especially for a book that encourages you to flip between the pages.
The reading experience of it was definitely hindered by this.
But overall, amusing enough. Thanks Netgalley.
There isn't much rhyme or reason to what's included here: from famous excerpts to etymology snippets to trivia, outside of the fact that the author had found them worthy of inclusion.
Lamentably, the kindle version the publisher has provided for Netgalley is formatted badly, which is always annoying, but especially for a book that encourages you to flip between the pages.
The reading experience of it was definitely hindered by this.
But overall, amusing enough. Thanks Netgalley.
November 17, 2025
3.5 stars
This was an interest little cabinet of curiosities of the English language. Although there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to where everything is placed in this book which gave it a some what disjointed feel that I wasn't a huge fan of. However the miscellaneous information contained within was fun to read, and added some titbits that I can't wait to discuss with my friends. As a lover of linguistics and language this is a lovely invitations to delve deeper into at a later date.
**Thank you Netgalley and John Murray Press US for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.**
This was an interest little cabinet of curiosities of the English language. Although there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to where everything is placed in this book which gave it a some what disjointed feel that I wasn't a huge fan of. However the miscellaneous information contained within was fun to read, and added some titbits that I can't wait to discuss with my friends. As a lover of linguistics and language this is a lovely invitations to delve deeper into at a later date.
**Thank you Netgalley and John Murray Press US for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.**
October 13, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.
I studied English in college and love all the quirks, grammar and curiosities of an English language.
However, I found this book all over the place with no structure at all. While I can appreciate the work which was put into research, the execution was poor.
There were too many repetitions and it would be better if one subject (eg: collective nouns) would be in one place rather than scatter all over the book.
I believe this book would be useful for someone who does research or writes a thesis.
I studied English in college and love all the quirks, grammar and curiosities of an English language.
However, I found this book all over the place with no structure at all. While I can appreciate the work which was put into research, the execution was poor.
There were too many repetitions and it would be better if one subject (eg: collective nouns) would be in one place rather than scatter all over the book.
I believe this book would be useful for someone who does research or writes a thesis.
September 26, 2025
Oh, if I could say the number of times I shouted "what?" while reading this book...you'd best believe it was at every knew nugget of information that I learned.
This makes for the times we wonder who thought of that phrase, how did it come to be and how did it pass down to all generations?
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.
This makes for the times we wonder who thought of that phrase, how did it come to be and how did it pass down to all generations?
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.
October 7, 2025
Overall this book had some very good parts, including the discussion of collective nouns, Dickens' voice portraits and COVID lockdown terms. These were excellent and highly amusing. But by-and-large, I found the book to not be very informative, with uninspiring writing. Thank you to Netgalley and Chambers for the advance reader copy.
October 20, 2025
Netgalley ARC - A clever collection of observations on words. It's simple to read but full of tidbits to make you think. I'd never heard of Crystal before, but I'll have to find his other works as he makes English fun.
September 22, 2025
Full review at www.NerdyNerdyBookBook.com
October 16, 2025
Crystal’s Curiosity Cabinet is the kind of book that reminds me why I love dipping into language miscellanies. It’s witty, playful, and full of those odd little facts that make you want to stop and share them with whoever’s nearby. The format works beautifully in small doses, each entry is only a page or two, so you can pick it up for a few minutes and still come away with something memorable. I especially enjoyed the mix of humor and scholarship; Crystal never talks down to the reader, but he also doesn’t get bogged down in technical detail.
That said, the “cabinet” approach is both the book’s strength and its weakness. It’s a delight to rummage through, but the randomness means some pieces hit harder than others, and a few curiosities left me wishing for more depth. Still, that scattershot quality feels true to the spirit of a cabinet of wonders: you never quite know what you’ll find when you turn the page.
For anyone who loves words, puns, or the strange corners of English, this is an absolute treat. It’s the sort of book you’ll want on your shelf just to revisit whenever you need a reminder of how odd and marvelous language can be.
That said, the “cabinet” approach is both the book’s strength and its weakness. It’s a delight to rummage through, but the randomness means some pieces hit harder than others, and a few curiosities left me wishing for more depth. Still, that scattershot quality feels true to the spirit of a cabinet of wonders: you never quite know what you’ll find when you turn the page.
For anyone who loves words, puns, or the strange corners of English, this is an absolute treat. It’s the sort of book you’ll want on your shelf just to revisit whenever you need a reminder of how odd and marvelous language can be.
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