The Penguin Book Quiz: From The Very Hungry Caterpillar to Ulysses

by James Walton

Which Haruki Murakami novel shares its title with a Beatles song? In Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , what is Charlie's surname? What is heavy-drinking Rachel Watson known as in the title of a 21st-century bestseller? And what do you get if you add the number of Bennet sisters in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice to the number of Karamazov brothers in Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov ? With 400 questions covering books from literary classics to modern bestsellers, through iconic children's books and books you say that you've read but really you haven't, The Penguin Book Quiz is as appropriate for a making you look well-read at a party as it is for a book-loving family to read aloud from after dinner.   Norwegian Wood,  Bucket,  The Girl on the Train , and Eight (five sisters, three brothers).

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[dmerey · Rating 3 out of 5]

gittikce zorlasti :(

[essie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun fact about me: I'm obsessed with quizzes and quiz shows; it fuels my ego. Went through the book in two sittings but didn't think to keep score 🤦🏾‍ I appreciate the amount of literature questions- especially the Jane Austen ones.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fun and sublimely informative book. Great to leaf through randomly and a great party game.

[Candy Wood]

This book was a Christmas present, though I’m pretty sure the friend who gave it to me isn’t on Goodreads. At first I wondered how it would work as a solo read rather than a group activity, but Walton’s lively and informative introduction got me going (Spelling bees originated in America—who knew). Each of the ten quizzes has five rounds following the same pattern: quickfire, name the author, extracts, connections, quickfire. Within that pattern, lots of variety keeps the questions and answers interesting. My professional knowledge does help, but in one case interfered (“The only Shakespeare play with an animal in the title”—friends who hadn’t taught English literature got it right away, but I had to think for a while). The range of topics, including books and screen versions from many eras and countries intended for readers and viewers of many ages, provides plenty of mental challenge as well as evidence of the reach of Penguin publishing.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this as a family quiz!

[Flint Hemingway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough questions but I won the most times!

[Amruta Bhave · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fun read! Also a little bit grounding! :D

[Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun, though it's most fun if you're deep in the weeds of recent British publications.