• click here to return to the homepage •
or 
Home > Categories > Books > Non-Fiction > Name Dropping? A No-Nonsense Guide to the Use of Names review
Ever had a Hitchcockian experience (in the shower perhaps?!) or met someone with a distinctly Ortonesque outlook on life?
There are hundreds of words derived from real people who are famous - or infamous - enough to give their stamp to a movement, a way of thinking or acting, a style or even a mood.
"Name Dropping" is an essential guide to the better known or more intriguing of these terms from figures in politics, sport, and the arts. It is a valuable, interesting and often humorous resource for those looking for definitions or simply browsing for pleasure.
Entries are listed alphabetically with full explanations, examples from the press and other media, guidance on usage and a 'Pretentiousness Index.'
• Over 400 commonly found terms
• Organised in a handy A-Z format
• Gives examples of usage from the media
• Rates words according to a 'Pretentiousness Index'
Faux Pas?
King of Foxes
Build Your Own Stonehenge
The Wayfarer Redemption : 3 : Crusader
My Story - 1900 - A Brand New Century
The Encyclopedia of My Immaturity
How to Make a Universe with 92 Ingredients: An Electrifying Guide to the Elements
Who's that Jumping?
Promises in Death
The Underland Chronicles 3 - Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
Tyranno sort of Rex 
Diary of a Minecraft Zombie #5: School Daze
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Illustrated)
The Modern Mediterranean DietProduct reviews...
Review by: diogenes (Rob)
Dated: 27th of July, 2007
Yet another book from the prolific pen of Philip Gooden, this time examining the use of names in the English language.
Primarily written from the English English point of view, with the occasional nod to the use of American names being used (where they are dropped in English newspapers or to clarify a point), Gooden has produced an invaluable reference book to the use of names, their origin and their use.
Good use of reference material, invariably sourced from English newspapers (well, we do have the best newspapers!), is used to good effect to illustrate the usage of each name. Gooden also provides a snappy definition for each name used accompanied by a short 'biography' of the person or historical figure.
I particularly love Gooden's use of a 'pretentiousness index' indicated by the use of exclaimation marks, as he did in his previous book Faux Pas. I must admit I immediately flicked through the entire book to find the magic !!! (exceedingly pretentious) rating. I was disappointed not to find even one !!! rating, but there are plenty of !! ratings to satisfy even the most pretentious of writers.
Name Dropping is set to become another standard reference book amongst the shelves of writers, journalists and any logophiliac. If you are a fan of Gooden's work, you will not be disappointed by this offering.
Random listing from 'Books'...
Charlaine Harris (the Sookie Stackhouse novels) and Toni L.P. Kelner (the Laura Fleming mysteries) have gathered together another 11 writers with serious vamp credentials to provide a baker's dozen tales.
Meet Sookie Stackhouse, who, as the only non-vampire at a 'Dracula's birthday ball' soon finds that's she's the one on the menu, and Harry Dresden, who drops by a role-playing game to find himself ... more...
All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.
"If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?"
unattributed
