janetg -
The author uses a (slightly annoying)light, amoral tone in writing about his immersing beguilement by crossword puzzles and puzzle-makers. Some interesting history of crossword puzzles, cross-cultural tidbits, well-known puzzlemakers, and the annual, national crossword competition.
Laura P. (hemmputnam) reviewed Crossworld: One Man's Journey into America's Crossword Obsession on + 1113 more book reviews
Parts of the book were interesting and enjoyable, but the author's choice of tone could be quite irritating. For someone who repeatedly tells us how smart he is, it seems like an obviously dumb move to take a prescription anti-anxiety drug you haven't been prescribed and have never tried before the night before your big competition begins. It also seems beyond petty to bring up Will Shortz's small grammar mistakes not once, but twice, when Shortz has been generous with his time for the author's interviews. If you're really passionate about crosswords you might like this. If you're a dabbler I'd take a pass. I like to pick up a puzzle now and then but really don't need to know about how to train to reduce the time I spend on them. After all, to me it's a leisure activity and thankfully I don't have to time my leisure.
