Chatting Books Online Day 86. I discovered today’s recommended book almost 2 years ago while visiting Bath, England . During a day of sight-seeing we wandered into Mr. B’s Book Emporium (highly recommend it if you ever find yourself there), and not to share too much information but during our visit I had to use the restroom . They have a public bathroom on an upper floor of this rambling shop of small connected rooms so I made my way up there . Once in the WC I noticed the wall paper . It was all these brightly colored block print graphics of groups of things with the associated collective noun . I loved it . And then as I am walking out there was a small framed sign by the light switch . The sign first apologized for cutting up a book , then said that these prints were from “A Compendium of Collective Nouns” it went on to mention that if you would like to see the full book you should go to a particular shelf in a particular room . Well I guess it doesn’t take a genius to know I went straight there , picked up a copy , carried it home where it occupies a place of honor (I actually keep it on a coffee table , I consider it art) , and promptly placed an order for more to sell in the shop .
So for all you “Word Nerds” like me out there , A Compendium of Collective Nouns is a hardcover book with these fantastic graphics , but it also has many ,many , many more lists , definitions and explanations of collective nouns and why they are called that . I mean everyone has heard of a “murder of crows “ , but did you know it is a “bouquet of hummingbirds “ , a “sack of quarterbacks” , and that for lawyers you can use “a disputation” or “an eloquence of lawyers”? . Such useful information beautifully presented .
Hardcover 235 pages , $35 a copy .
Day 86 : A Compendium of Collective Nouns
