As long as people have been on the planet, they claim to be good at heart. Really? The list is endless for the many screw-ups of those who stand on two legs. No matter how much gets accomplished, a collapse is waiting nearby.
The Deadly Dictionaries, by Jennifer M. Wood, is a set of seven hardbound volumes taking a tongue and cheek look at each of the Deadly Sins. A rainbow spectrum of colors are used as the outside covers, so one can peruse an individual topic without having to wade through a large pool of entries.
Some of these are obvious choices. Wrath is the bold red selection, with the fitting subtitle of A Dictionary for the Enraged. The muted red cover designates Lust , which changes from the enraged to the insatiable. Envy uses green to give a wink and a nod to the phrase used in regards to the emotion.
Each book starts off with an overview of sorts, showing how the topic has lasted through time. These are especially helpful for those who may not understand the subject matter.
What follows is pure genius. Words related to whatever sin is being discussed are listed in alphabetical order. In a way, these volumes are both dictionaries as well as thesauruses.
Anyone who writes will have a field day perusing the various selections. Relevant quotes are scattered throughout the sections.
I like the concept of these. Not only are the books eye catching, but each can be read at one's leisure rather than all seven crammed into one gigantic paperweight. They're small enough to fit inside a purse or jacket pocket should one wish to take them along on an excursion. However, people who are inclined to lose things will not have any trouble seeing the relevant dictionary among other bits of junk.
Fabric-like covers make this set stand out from regular paperbacks. Finishing each will only take a reader an hour or two. Perfect for those who enjoy words, but never quite have enough time for sitting down and focusing on every letter.
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