Have you been reading along with the Cityline Book Club? One of the things we love the most about Jessica Grant’s Come, Thou Tortoise is her fantastic use of word play. From Audrey being called Oddly, to her dad being in a coma (or is that a comma?), Grant’s use of language continually surprises and delights us. If you also love a good turn of phrase, check out these four clever novels:
Mark Dunn, Ella Minnow Pea: How would you communicate if you were banned from using certain letters of the alphabet? On the fictional island of Nollop (named after Nevin Nollop, author of the pangram, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”), little Ella enters into a fight for freedom of expression when the government begins to ban the use of certain letters as they fall from a memorial statue of Nollop. As the letters continue to drop from the statue, they simultaneously disappear from the novel. The result is just as weird, hilarious, and clever as you’d expect.
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland: If you haven’t read Alice in Wonderland since you were a child, it’s time for a re-read. Carroll’s Wonderland is filled with zany characters, many of whom employ clever and wacky word play, from the Caterpillar to the Cheshire Cat. You’ll definitely appreciate it even more as an adult.
David Levithan, The Lover’s Dictionary: Told entirely through a series of dictionary entries, this modern love story is abstract, quirky, and so incredibly charming. The reader only receives brief windows into this romantic relationship, but it’s so interesting to see these small glimpses through the lens of different words. Levithan’s conceit is unique, and he completely pulls it off.
Jasper Fforde, The Eyre Affair: Book nerds will love all the literary references in the first book in this popular series. As special detective in the literary detection department, Thursday Next is tasked with tracking down Jane Eyre after she suddenly disappears from the pages of her titular novel. Who is committing criminal literary acts? Thursday will have a wacky set of adventures on her way to finding out.
Do you love a good turn of phrase and a clever play on words? We’d love to hear about your favourite witty reads, word nerds! Tell us about them in the comments below!