Crossworld

[Howard White]

For those who share my love for and frustration with crossword puzzles, I highly recommend:

"Crossworld: One Man's Journey into America's Crossword Obsession"
Mark Romano
Broadway Books, 2005.

It's a fascinating look at the people who construct crossword puzzles and those who obsessively try to solve them, with some special attention to puzzles in The New York Times, and why they get harder from Monday -> Friday.

HW

[Franca]

Ooh, sounds like a book for me - thanks, Howard!

[ktinkel]

For those who share my love for and frustration with crossword puzzles, I highly recommend:

"Crossworld: One Man's Journey into America's Crossword Obsession"The book has gotten terrible reviews on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/076791757X/qid=1124632537/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-0108404-0310451?v=glance&s=books) — do they seem fair to you, or off the mark?

I have been doing the New York Times puzzle since the 1960s, and am grumpy about Will Shortz’s tenure there, with its focus on celebrities, brand names, and other trivia rather than words pure and simple. But I guess this author is not critical of Shortz.

Still, may be irresistible. Thanks for mentioning it.

[Howard White]

I hadn't read the Amazon reviews; I suppose they're right in suggesting the author is a bit full of himself.

But I still liked it. No taste, I guess...

HW

[ktinkel]

I hadn't read the Amazon reviews; I suppose they're right in suggesting the author is a bit full of himself.

But I still liked it. No taste, I guess...Or just good at sifting the wheat from the chaff! :-)