El gato en el sombrero/ The Cat In The Hat

Book Description

Translated by Carlos Rivera.

Customer Reviews:

No Spanish rhyme, but still worthwhile.......2007-04-09

Even though the Spanish portions don't rhyme, I still found the book a worthwhile tool for working with those gaining proficiency in reading the Spanish language. Because it doesn't go to lengths to make it rhyme, the English concepts are easier for beginners to find in the Spanish wording, and the words are easier to grasp the meaning of without a dictionary.

The 1st part is great, but..........2007-03-03

I remember buying and trying to read this book as a young whippersnapper, so I thought I would pick it up for my nephew as a reward for keeping his pants up at school. After receiving this book in the mailbox (I prefer not to use e-lectric mail since I don't trust the darn thing), I realized this is not the same book that was printed 46 years ago. The first part is great and all, but I definitely do not remember the 2nd part. This might be some of Seuss' most eccentric work. Most of the words don't make sense, and don't even correlate to the illustrations. I guess the proofreaders came to work drunk the day they read this pile of horsefeathers. The book blatantly reuses the same illustrations from the first part of the book (as filler I guess), and there's all sorts of spelling errors. I even saw an upside down exclamation point. How'd they miss that one, let alone type it? I don't see that key on my typewriter. I'm not sure if they thought kids would get this far in the book or not. Yes, I understand how the world works these days; everyone's out to make a buck, but come on, they obviously added a bunch of incoherent filler pages so they could charge a premium for the book. The children are your CUSTOMERS, and you just ripped them off, Mr. Seuss.

The worst translation I've ever seen.......2005-08-05

This is a put-down to the Spanish language. It is literally translated- word-for-word, and obviously that does not work with any kind of translation. The translator has to use his/her disgression to transmit the message through whatever type of medium they are working with. In this case, Dr. Seuss's writing is playful and rhyming- this translation does not do this book any justice. They should really never have published this. Even as a non-native speaker of Spanish, I know that this translation is not well-done. My suggestion-- go read "Huevos verdes con jamon", which is wonderful.

AWFUL TRANSLATION!!!.......2005-02-10

We first bought "Huevos Verdes con Jamon" an excellent translation of "Green Eggs and Ham." The translator, Aida E. Marcuse, managed to play with the wording to retain the "Seussian" rhyme, rhythm, and whimsy. Based on that, we bought this bilingual edition without inspecting it first--big mistake!

I am an Anglo-American who learned Spanish as an adult, and I could have done this translation. Carlos Rivera's translation looks like he took a English-Spanish dictionary and went through the text line by line, translating each word in turn. The result is clunky, non-rhyming, and completely devoid of the charm so characteristic of Dr. Seuss's works. A child exposed to this book might come to think of Spanish as a dull, clunky language compared to the fun English text. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Spanish is much easier to rhyme than English, so this translation makes no sense whatsoever.

My suggestion to Random House: call Aida E. Marcuse and get her to do the same quality translation for "El Gato Ensombrerado" that she did for "Huevos Verdes con Jamon."

Horrible, useless.......2005-01-01

Not only does this lose all the wit and charm of the original, it's not even very good as a Spanish primer. I can't imagine a real Spanish speaker using this kind of convoluted syntax. If you're looking for a fun Spanish children's book to read, then "Huevos Verdes con Jamon" (Green Eggs and Ham) is a much better choice, as well as many of the other Aida Marcuse translations. If what you want is a good vocabulary-builder transliteration, try the Spanish versions of P.D. Eastman's Books ("Corre, Perro Corre!" or "Eres tu Mi Mama?"). Anything but this.

Viva la Repartee: Clever Comebacks and Witty Retorts from History's Great Wits and Wordsmiths

Average customer rating:

Very entertaining -- and educational!
BE WARNED!
Felicitous, Malicious, Salacious... Delicious!
Viva la Repartee
How I Wish I'd Said That...

Viva la Repartee: Clever Comebacks and Witty Retorts from History's Great Wits and Wordsmiths
Mardy Grothe
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060789484
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Book Description

Everyone knows the sensation of utter regret that occurs once you've hung up the phone or said your goodbyes, and that perfect turn of phrase or witty remark comes to your mind with absolute clarity much too late. Viva La Repartee pays humble homage to those brilliant and rare responses throughout history that were expressed at the perfect moment and delivered with an aplomb that will have you pumping your fist with sweet satisfaction. From politicians and authors to entertainers and philosophers, Mardy Grothe has assembled the ultimate collection of comebacks, retorts, rejoinders, and banter from some of history's greatest wordsmiths, including Oscar Wilde, Woody Allen, Dorothy Parker, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Dolly Parton, Albert Einstein, and much more. As entertaining as it is intellectually nourishing, Viva La Repartee is sure to arrest the attention of language lovers everywhere.

Download Description

For most of us, that perfect retort or witty reply often escapes us when we need it most, only to come to mind with perfect clarity when it's too late to be useful. The twentieth-century writer Heywood Broun described this all-too-common phenomenon when he wrote ""Repartee is what we wish we'd said.""

In Viva la Repartee, Dr. Mardy Grothe, author of Oxymoronica, has lovingly assembled a collection of masterfully composed -- and perfectly timed -- replies that have turned the tables on opponents and adversaries. This delightful volume is a celebration of the most impressive retorts, ripostes, rejoinders, comebacks, quips, ad-libs, bon mots, off-the-cuff comments, wisecracks, and other clever remarks ever to come out of the mouths -- and from the pens -- of people throughout history. Touching on all areas of human endeavor, including politics, the arts, literature, sports, relationships, and even the risqué, the book features contributions from Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Dorothy Parker, Mae West, Groucho Marx, Winston Churchill, Dolly Parton, and scores more.

As entertaining as it is intellectually enriching, Viva la Repartee is sure to capture the attention of language lovers and is the perfect antidote for anyone who's ever thought I wish I'd said that!

Customer Reviews:

Very entertaining -- and educational!.......2006-07-11

Entertaining little book packed full of examples of great comebacks and wit from a variety of different times, different people, and different circumstances. The book is broken down into chapters focusing on a specific type of repartee, such as "Classic Quips," "Laconic Repartee," "Stage & Screen Repartee," and "Inadvertent Repartee" (as well as many others). Some of them made me laugh out loud, and usually those were coming from the same three people: Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, and Dorothy Parker. But there were a gazillion I'd never heard of that were pretty hilarious as well. This is an engaging, funny, and educational (really, it is!) book that I enjoyed reading quite a bit. Great for when you only have time for short snatches of reading. I've learned a lot of slammin' comebacks I hope to have a chance to use soon!

My one complaint about the book, though, is that it was missing the best witty laconic (extremely brief) response of all time. During the Battle of the Bulge in WWII, the Germans sent a message to the American army demanding our unconditional surrender, or else we'd be annihilated. General McAuliffe's one word response? "Nuts!" Damn, I just love that one. Recommended!

BE WARNED!.......2006-05-28

Much as overindulgence on bon-bons can lead to deleterious effects, so can feasting on too many bon mots. After staying up late and stuffing myself on the witticisms of George Bernard Shaw, Dorothy Parker, and company, I found myself looking for any angle to slip in a quip. And after reading this amusing and well-researched book, I am loaded with ammo.

Felicitous, Malicious, Salacious... Delicious!.......2006-03-25

This is a wonderful book that introduced me to many great quips and one-liners I had never before heard, even from the legends like Winston Churchill, Dorothy Parker and Mark Twain. Grothe's little proem before each quip gives great context and makes them even more unforgettable.

This is a great gift to give yourself, or - for that matter - to anyone who enjoys dancing, sparring or fencing with that most able of partners, the English language.

Viva la Repartee.......2006-02-28

Amusing book to keep by your favorite reading chair. Something I will pick up and re-read.

How I Wish I'd Said That..........2006-02-26

...or a reasonable facsimile thereof. I ordered this book as a present for my daughter who is in early her forties and is an attorney in family law. I speed-read the book and found it really entertaining. My daughter loved it! I wrote in my dedication, "perhaps you can use a couple of these in court." THAT certainly would add excitement to those court hearings!

Drek!: The Real Yiddish Your Bubbe Never Taught You

Average customer rating:

Drek!
contents
entertaining read
sheer enjoyment
Sorry, but I didn't like it at all!

Drek!: The Real Yiddish Your Bubbe Never Taught You
Yetta Emmes
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0452278996

Book Description

One doesn't have to be Jewish to recognize the words that have made their way into every fold of popular language: Chutzpah, Mensch, Tokhes, Mishmash, Nudge, Shtick, Schmaltzy, Schlep, Icky, and so on. Then there are phrases whose meaning and syntax are borrowed from Yiddish: "bite your tongue", "drop dead", "enough already", and "excuse the expression". This hilarious, concise guide includes chapters on the Basic Descriptions of People (the good, the bad, the ugly, and the goofy), the Fine Art of Cursing, Juicy Words and Phrases, Exclamations and Exasperations, and the Fine Art of Blessing.

Customer Reviews:

Drek!.......2007-10-01

I had hoped for something more than this skinny, undersized volume. to spin an old gag, "Life is a drek sandwich. Sometimes you get more bread... sometimes you get more drek." Not too much drek in this sandwich. For instance I wanted a definition of "Yutz." I had to go to Google to find it. And a couple of other terms that have more than one meaning left those alternatives unlisted.
But it's better than no sandwich at all. And I found other volumes I might invesetigate later, if I find myself in need of such diversity.
In brief, I got the Drek I paid for, but not much else.

contents.......2007-07-29

What a fun book!! Easy to remember words with the translations right next to them. Even some history on the language of Yiddish. Very enjoyable.

entertaining read.......2007-02-16

I bought this as a guide for my boyfriend, who is technically Jewish but doesn't really practice, as a fun way to learn something more about the culture he comes from as well as to just have some fun with language. This book was easy to read and digest, the phonetic guide was very helpful, and it was entertaining.

sheer enjoyment.......2006-08-09

the phonetic spellings help enormously, and i found myself sounding out familiar phrases from my childhood. a treasure of ethnic communication to be protected and savored

Sorry, but I didn't like it at all!.......2003-12-05

Sorry, but I didn't like it at all!

Average customer rating:

a real mechaya.
I laughed 'til I plotzed!
Even goyim will love it!
This is a Panic!
ADORABLE BOOK; GREAT GIFT

Yiddish with George and Laura
Ellis Weiner , and Barbara Davilman
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 031601446X

Book Description

In this inspired follow-up to the bestselling Yiddish withDick and Jane, Yiddish--the mother tongue of irony--invades the ultimatebastion of American WASP culture: Kennebunkport, home of the Bush clan. What do George and Laura Bush have in common with Dick and Jane? Well, bothhail from prototypical WASP families. And, perhaps more to the point, bothexhibit a natural resistance to moral complexity (i.e., reality). That's the premise of this hilarious new primer-style book in which George,Laura, and the entire Bush family communicate with uncharacteristicexpressiveness, conveying shades of feeling and nuances of meaning thatplain old English can't deliver--by peppering their conversation withYiddishisms. See George's mother. Her name is Bar. She wears alot of pearls and is a farbisseneh. "You are late, George," Bar says. "Of course I am late," George says. "I am the President of the United States. I am a big macher." Like all good primers, YIDDISH WITH GEORGE AND LAURA tells a simplestory--and, in the end, important life lessons are imparted.

Customer Reviews:

a real mechaya........2007-09-15

bought this for our daughter who is enjoying her yiddish roots and who despises the bush family as we do. it has some cruel parts, but they are well deserved by this arrogant and greedy bunch. well worth the price.

I laughed 'til I plotzed!.......2007-05-12

Well, actually, I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry in despair! So true. And SO funny! (And can you name all the people on the last page?)

Even goyim will love it!.......2007-03-15

Yiddish with George and Laura is even more hilarious than Yiddish with Dick and Jane, the authors' first 'Yiddish Primer'--for Democrats, at least. The jokes in the 'glossary' at the back are also funny, some are even funnier than the main text. With a few exceptions (tschotkes, chazerai, schvantz, for example) the Yiddish words and phrases in this volume are less mainstream than those in the first book, so keep one finger in the glossary as you read.

This is a Panic!.......2007-03-13

This one is even funnier than "Yiddish With Dick & Jane." The George Bush family speaking "Yinglish" and interspersing Yiddish words with English is a hoot! I laughed so hard that I wiped tears of laughter from my eyes when I read this delightful gem of humor.

George and Laura, twins in tow visit the senior Bushes (Bar & Poppy) along with Bush's brothers. Readers are introduced to the Bush clan and each sentence has Yiddish words describing each person. Jenna and Barbara are called "sheyna maydls" and Poppy feels like a shlimazel when he trips over a globe Dumbya left on the floor.

Each page has an accompanying illustration and readers can figure out many of the Yiddish words from the context. Luckily for all, the glossary at the end of the book offers a translation and proper pronounciation guide so you can describe the shmendrick in the White House and the twin sheyna maydls.

The story spoofs the Bushes, ridiculing them. The delightful inclusion of Yiddish makes a good story even better. Poppy feels like a shlimazel; has a son in the White House who really is a shlimiel and a tuchas leker as well as a macher. This story will certainly bring a smile to the faces of all ages and political ideologies. I love it!

ADORABLE BOOK; GREAT GIFT.......2007-01-16

I bought 7 copies of this book. It's a really cute and funny book, really interesting, and a great little primer on Yiddish. Great to own and have around for a gift. If no one is throwing around Yiddish in your house, get this book. The kids will take a look at it and it'll help keep so many wonderful Yiddishisms alive.

English as a Second F*cking Language: How to Swear Effectively, Explained in Detail with Numerous Examples Taken From Everyday Life

Average customer rating:

Great Book
Fun Book - Good Reference for Non Native English Speakers
Funny but very short
Learn how to swear
not for ESL

English as a Second F*cking Language: How to Swear Effectively, Explained in Detail with Numerous Examples Taken From Everyday Life
Sterling Johnson
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 031214329X

Book Description

America swears by it!In the English language, swearing is essential to effective communication. Whether you want to succeed in business, school, or social circles, a strong command of vocabulary is absolutely necessary. Just imagine a stranger to our shores, trying to comprehend the following conversation: John: Mary, would you like to attend the opera this evening?Mary: F*cking-A. should I wear my black dress?John: Why the f*ck not?Mary: F*cked if I know-Oh, f*ck! I just remembered. It got f*cked up in the wash.John: Well, f*ck the opera. Let's stay home and f*ck.Mary: Good f*cking idea.English as a Second F*cking Language (ESF*L) is the perfect way for nonnative speakers to learn the basics of swearing. At the same time, it also offers native speakers a wide variety of twists and new refinements. Page after page, ESF*L provides a smorgasbord of swearing synonyms designed to boost your vocabulary-everything from the conventional d*mn and sh*t to a host of more inventive terms that would make any truck driver blush. And when you're finished reading, our Final F*cking Exam is the perfect test of your swearing skills. You'll be surprised by how much you've learned!

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-01-09

one of the best books out there to read. very usefull and insightful

Fun Book - Good Reference for Non Native English Speakers.......2007-01-04

This is a book which has a funny approach on everyday language. Words and sentences that once seemed to have no sense at all are now explained. While the meaning of these expressions might be widely known for native speakers, it is a good reference for foreigners who are willing to excel in English language, even in its weirdest senses.

Funny but very short.......2006-12-24

This book is less than one hundred pages, in large print, with an odd page size. In other words, it's more a pamphlet than a book. For the price, I found the brevity very disappointing.

However, the concent was extremely funny, and did teach me at least one rather delightful phrase I had never heard before.

Learn how to swear.......2005-08-24

Well... at least you know what it means when others are swearing ;)

not for ESL.......2005-02-04

I bought this book to help some of my ESL students to understand how/when to use American swear words.....however, it is definitely not a good reference in that sense. Although it IS funny, it is more of a narrative and not a resource.

Urban Dictionary: Fularious Street Slang Defined

Average customer rating:

Very good book for non-english
"Da bomb fo' shizzle"
Awesome!
check out the on-line version for a more thourough lexican
Urban Style

Urban Dictionary: Fularious Street Slang Defined
urbandictionary.com
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0740751433

Book Description

Urbandictionary.com is a very successful site that encourages users to define the world with their own unique terms. In Urban Dictionary, site founder Aaron Peckham culls his more than 170,000 definitions for the funniest, wittiest, and most provocative phrases that define the modern slang scene.

Within urbandictionary.com's lively lexicon are:

business provocative -- Attire used to provoke sexual attention in the workplace.

compunicate -- To chat with someone in the same room via instant messaging service instead of in person.

dandruff -- A person who 'flakes out' and ditches their friends.

wingman -- A guy who takes one for the team by hooking up with a hot girl's ugly friend so his own friend can hook up with the hot girl.

Perfect for those who want to pick up some new slang and those who want to translate it, Urban Dictionary is a gritty and witty look at our ever-changing language.

Customer Reviews:

Very good book for non-english.......2007-07-29

I know internet version of this dictionary. I was looking forward to see paperback version and I am satisfied. I am not native english-speaking person and some of the words were not understable for me. This book help me understand street words.
A+++ product

"Da bomb fo' shizzle".......2007-04-11

This dictionary was fun to look through, and I had a lot of laughs. It's a great item for teens.

Awesome!.......2007-01-10

This pocket book is useful. Especially for those who want to dig into those slang words and get familiar with them really quick!

check out the on-line version for a more thourough lexican.......2006-07-29

You should already know most of the words in this book, but if you feel somebody you know is culturally illiterate and might benefit from these well know words send them one. I recommend the on-line version for some top notch entertainment.

Urban Style.......2006-03-21

I bought this for a friend so she can learn some 'slang' and she is loving it. Completely getting a kick out of it. I think this is a must have especially if you want to laugh and change up your vocab as well.

The Language of Humour (Intertext (London, England).)

Average customer rating:

i say, i say, i say

The Language of Humour (Intertext (London, England).)
Alison Ross
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0415169127

Book Description

The Language of Humour:
* examines the importance of the social context for humour
* explores the issue of gender and humour in areas such as the New Lad culture in comedy and stand-up comedy
* includes comic transcripts from TV sketches such as Clive Anderson and Peter Cook

Customer Reviews:

i say, i say, i say.......2000-10-19

though i have not read the book,it seems very entertaining.can you please send me an excerpt on the title"my mother in law?"because i usually like reading an excerpt before i buy any book.and i'm very much interested in buying this book.

Book Description

Master the gift of gab with the phrase book that makes Erin go ha!

From Dublin on Five Pints an Hour to Genuflection for Beginners, Wicked Irish helps visitors negotiate the nuances of a country where even trees are considered Protestant or Catholic. Learn to flatter customs agents: "'Tis a grand machine you have there, officer!" Politely decline the heavy Irish breakfast: "I've given up pig entrails/congealed blood for Lent." Show appreciation for fine whiskey: "ACK ACK! Mother Mary! That goes down the nun's knickers!" There's even a special section just for golfers: "Should I replace divots in consecrated ground? Am I entitled to relief from this dolmen/ewe/leprechaun? Shite! I don't usually lose a putt in the wind."

Wicked Irish is instant gift of gab, and soon you'll be toasting newfound friends, strangers, barmaids, and even stray dogs with confidence.

Customer Reviews:

I'm Trying To Follow In Leopold Bloom's Footsteps........2007-08-10

I have been teaching myself Gaelic for the past year or so but felt my instruction was lacking something; where was all the slang? How could I possibly make it in Ireland without knowing how to say that I've given up congealed blood for Lent, in Gaelic? What would I do if I was in a pub making eyes at a gentleman and couldn't tell him that I was spellbound by his deltoids, in Gaelic? How could I properly yell at a Dubliner without knowing to call him a Jackeen?

Wicked Irish is a pocket sized little book and its 64 pages are filled with some hilarious phrases. It gives you pick up lines, things to say at a wake, in church, on the golf course or in the pub. Mixed in with all the fun and frivolity is an equal amount of useful Gaelic sayings, if you're inclined to try it out on the locals. Each word is phonetically written out so if you are not familiar with the language you will have no problem pronouncing the words.

This book doesn't cost very much and the entertainment I have received from it was well worth the price and then some. One night after a few too many Guinness, my sister and had a grand time reading through it and shouting insults at each other and our husbands; laughing the entire time. If anything, this book is a great conversation starter. Enjoy!

GIves you a giggle.......2005-12-01

This is the type of book you would read on the long flight to Ireland if you're leaving from the US. No real practical use but it will delight your friends in Ireland if you share some of the phrases. Reading this book is a good way to relax and just have fun. Don't expect anything more.

Cute, funny, but not trustworthy.......2004-12-22

If you are considering getting this book as a fun way to add some vocabulary to your study of Irish, don't. It's very funny, but even with my very (!) limited knowledge of Irish I've found a mistake - so now of course I don't take anything it says at face value.

Specifically (leaving out the marks that are difficult to type), p. 59, Social Ireland, Kiss My Aphorism:
"May the road" = "Go n-eiri",
"rise to meet" = "an bothar",
"your face" = "i t'aghaidh"
Apparently they just cut apart the phrase, without regard for grammar.

Well worth the price as a general humor book. A nice thing to leave on the coffee table to amuse your friends. Just don't try to learn from it.

Funny, not realistic, Irish phrase book.......2004-08-18

When you think you might want to learn a new language, first read How To Learn Any Language. You'll find a path to follow for learning languages. One tool is the phrasebook. This phrasebook, however, isn't really what you're looking for. It is funny, outrageous, and it has a pronunciation guide. There are a lot of golfing references (strange enough), and really interesting bits of background history of the country. I just can't imagine ever saying "That goes down like the nun's knickers!" in a pub, no matter how strong the whiskey.
It is funny to see it laid out in Irish's horrific grammar.

Get this book to lighten you up a bit as you slosh through Learning Irish (the best Irish course out there).

A joke book.......2002-09-15

This book isn't for the serious language student. Thankfully, I can't imagine ever using any of the phrases in it. Also, if you find ethnic stereotype humor distasteful, you might not enjoy this book. But, it has its entertaining moments.

Merde!: The Real French You Were Never Taught at School

Average customer rating:

You Need To Know These Words
Hahahaha
Lives up to the title!
A useless piece of merde
Solid book

Merde!: The Real French You Were Never Taught at School
Genevieve , and Michael Heath
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684854279

Customer Reviews:

You Need To Know These Words.......2007-07-29

A lot of people try to avoid learning swear words in other languages. I don't understand why. These words are part of the language, and you shouldn't avoid them because they make you feel bad. Barry Farber and A.G. Hawke say in their books that you shoud avoid learning profanity in other languages. I say you should as long as you avoid SAYING them. Just KNOW them. I discuss this in my new book below.

Brandon Simpson, Author of Learning Foreign Languages: Everything You Need To Know and If You Ain't Got No Grammer...

Hahahaha.......2007-05-07

These phrases will go over really well at my Alliance Francaise meeting! I can't wait to join the French conversation group.

Lives up to the title!.......2007-01-13

We are taught such prissy French in school or language courses, this is real world and very helpful. French movies are more understandable, too.

A useless piece of merde.......2005-08-16

Before travelling to France a few years back, I studied Merde! religiously, thinking if I integrated some of its colorful terms into my vocabulary I could be cool and "blend in." However, every time I used a word from this book around real French people, I was met with blank stares. I showed the book to my French-speaking uncle (who lives in Paris), and after reading it through he told me that most of the words in the book are either completely outdated and never used in conversation today, or their "definitions" are just plain wrong.

Merde! is entertaining enough, but I strongly advise against using it as a real reference, lest you want to risk looking like a complete moron (as I did on several occasions, thanks to this book).

A book that actually succeeds at what Merde! attempts is Berlitz's Hide This French Book. Get that instead.

Solid book.......2005-01-22

Contains lots of slang and is very thprough. I tend to agree with other reviewers however, this should be treated essentially as a vocab book, since no converstions are really present. If you want to see how slang is used in conversation, perhaps StreetWise French by Ian Pickup and Rod Hares and/ or the Dictionary of Colloquial and Slang Expressions by Struth are better choices. That said this book is fun to read and does provide exercises for you test your knowledge. If you study this book and apply it correctly you wil become la gosse legume avec ton amis francais!

If You Can't Say Anything Nice, Say It In Yiddish: Say It In Yiddish

Average customer rating:

Accurate cover baloons--a little scary regarding "curses"
emes

If You Can't Say Anything Nice, Say It In Yiddish: Say It In Yiddish
L.B. Epstein
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0806527315

Customer Reviews:

Accurate cover baloons--a little scary regarding "curses".......2007-06-19

I should have considered that the cover indicates "curses". There are plenty of mean-spirited curses, which frankly scared me; these are clearly idiomatic within Yiddish language, but were not what I expected. I should have purchased a Yiddish dictionary or thesaurus for my interest level. The book contains much more, and the curse section (i.e., a hex or spell vs. calling people nasty names when they take your parking spot) is not primary, and there are plenty of OTHER areas of the book which are FUN and INTERESTING. It's a personal choice, obviously, so a potential reader shouldn't disregard the book based on MY superstitious nature alone! I guess I just wanted to understand the terms I've heard TO SWEAR for my own venting agenda.

emes.......2007-01-12

Very funny, especially if you have a non-Yiddish speaker read it out loud.
I bought two copies as gifts. If you grew up hearing Yiddish, now you have the translations of what the Bubbe's were saying.

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