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The New Yorker Book of Cartoon Puzzles and Games by Puzzability
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Puzzability Introduction: Will Shortz Introduction: Robert Mankoff Edition: Spiral-bound Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2006-06-01 ISBN: 1579125530 Number of pages: 144 Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
Book Reviews of The New Yorker Book of Cartoon Puzzles and GamesBook Review: Good Mental Stroll for cartoon fans & amateur puzzlers Summary: 4 Stars
I love word puzzles though I'm not a serious puzzler - I do a few crosswords a week and have owned maybe three puzzle books as an adult. I am, however, a big cartoon fan, though honestly I've been more FoxTrot & Calvin than I am the New Yorker. So, my favorite puzzles are cryptograms with cartoons. Don't find them much - but when I searched specifically for this, I discovered this book.
I enjoy the New Yorker Book of Cartoon Puzzles and Games (and have purchased a second copy for a friend) because the combo of puzzle and cartoon has proven very relaxing - I involve myself in a semi-hard puzzle, but then find a laugh waiting for me once it's solved. New Yorker cartoons do typically contain some of the least expected twists, and I found that here.
However, I don't think a serious puzzle person would be happy with this book, unless he were interested in the New Yorker cartoons. I say this only because the puzzles range from easy to medium difficulty for an adult. (A teen or younger might enjoy more of a challenge.) I still recommend this though - for a more relaxed puzzler like myself it's a good mental stroll.
Though not typically a history buff, I found it a pleasant surprise that the editors included the history of New Yorker cartoons, and with it a history of the U.S, WITHIN quite a few puzzles. Several times you are asked to place the puzzles in the correct time period (and the New Yorker puzzles go back at least to the 1920's) or even with the correct author/cartoonist. The puzzles are just challenging enough to give me a think (similar to a midweek newspaper crossword perhaps) but not overly hard. And there is an ABUNDANCE OF GREAT CARTOONS - usually five or six to each puzzle and often grouped in interesting ways/topics.
But what of those cryptograms? Good news is that they were well done, and with increasing difficulty; Disappointment is that there were only three pages of cryptograms while other types of puzzles were represented more. It does seem that the editors missed out on utilizing the perfect collaboration of crypts and cartoons.
I give it a 4 - enjoyed the cartoon aspect, most puzzles fun but some just too easy for an adult. Still worth the stroll.
Summary of The New Yorker Book of Cartoon Puzzles and GamesThe millions of New Yorker cartoon fans (and puzzlers, too) will exult in this ingenious, first-ever collection of puzzles and games that feature the magazine?s cartoons as clues.
Designed to offer a challenge to puzzlers of all levels, this collection of 100 crosswords, acrostics, caption scrambles, observation puzzles, and more is absolutely unique?it?s the first-ever puzzle collection to feature New Yorker cartoons. Presented in an extremely user-friendly oversized spiral format, the book provides hours and hours of interactive entertainment? just bring your own pencil and brain power!
The puzzles themselves are ingenious?new and different kinds of brain-teasers that use the cartoons of The New Yorker in a fresh way, encouraging the agile reader to think like a New Yorker cartoonist. The introduction is a conversation between two masters: the cartoon editor of the New Yorker and the puzzle editor of The New York Times, and it sheds fascinating light on the connection between cartoons and puzzles.
Graphic Novels Books
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