Reader Reviews
I thought that all word search books were created equal and I
couldn't have been more wrong. I bought the book Word Searches
for Dummies because I am fond of word search puzzles. What I got
was the surprise of my life.
Denise Sutherland has opened a whole new world of word search
puzzles for me. In my experience the words were found up, down,
diagonally and occasionally backwards. This perception comes
from years of the puzzle section of local newspapers and news
stand publications.
When I first opened this book I was greeted by these same
types of puzzles. However, as I continued to flip through the
pages I was greeted by increasingly difficult and unique puzzles
covering a wide variety of topics. Words are no longer found in
a straight line as they wind themselves through the letter chart
and leftover letters now create white spaces which form simple
pictures.
If that weren't enough to tickle your brain, Ms Sutherland
has done some wonderful things with the word lists. Word
searchers must answer simple (or not so simple) questions about
North American culture and history, unscramble letters or
translate the word list into English to find the words hidden in
the letter chart.
The author has also included a gift for word search
enthusiast. The book contains a chapter on how to create your
own word search puzzles, something I am eager to try now that
I've seen how varied this type of puzzle can be.
(Fishpond 25 July 2009)
Well, well, who would have thought there was so much to word
searches, let alone that someone could make a book about them
interesting. Ms Sutherland has not only done that but gone a
long way beyond. Somewhere between the covers of her book I have
been transformed from a rusted-on cryptic crossword snob (The
Times and The Guardian only, if you please) into a dewy-eyed
neophyte in the delightful and diverse world of word searches.
Ms Sutherland has produced an enticing compendium of puzzles of
many different designs, themes and degrees of difficulty,
together with a wealth of information on the history, trivia and
science of word puzzles.
The book opens with a nice sized and nicely paced chunk of
information about word searches and other word puzzles, what
they are, what they are about and techniques for solving them.
Interspersed through this are interesting little morsels about
word searches that keep the text engaging.
After that comes a smorgasbord of puzzles of all different
kinds, enough to satisfy every solver and occupy any given mood.
All the answers are there at the back of the book of course,
but with a little mental elbow grease and Ms Sutherland's
excellent tutorial, this is one section you shouldn't need to
read very often.
And finally, there is a last tasty dessert with yet more
interesting factoids, tips and trivia and even instructions for
creating your own puzzles.
I found the textual sections well crafted, logically
presented and written in that clever style that draws you on and
makes you want to discover what comes next, what is over the
page and what is revealed in the next chapter. The puzzles
themselves are likewise well crafted, entertaining and varied.
Be warned though. For the dedicated puzzler (which
description will surely cover most people, once they read this
book) Word Searches for Dummies threatens to be worse time eater
than a pair of new kittens.
(Fishpond 29 June 2009)
I love words so when I saw this book and started reading the
first part I just had to have it. It is well written and a fun
book to learn or freshen up, if you have done these before. You
will definitely learn more.
I have not done word search puzzles for quite a few years but
the Author makes learning a real treat. She has a great sense of
humor. I have purchased Word books for Dummies for other
technical apps but this one is a winner. I highly recommend this
book for anyone who loves Scrabble, Bookworm or any word game.
(K.See on Amazon.com 11 July 2009)
I've loved word search puzzles all my life and done them
daily for years. Little did I know the limited realm I was
exploring. Sutherland's variations and the many tips have all
revealed that word search puzzles can be so much more
interesting than the ones I've done.
Her word searches based on
articles and stories are quite engaging, with information I
truly found interesting and informative. I particularly like in
the medium and hard puzzles the ways that she makes them more
challenging, and as I've done them, more than once the word
"diabolical" comes to mind.
I'm inspired to try to make some for
my English class students, and to teach them some of the tips
I've learned from Sutherland. Even wordies like myself have a
lot to learn!
(Stacie Newman on Amazon.com 26 July 2009)
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