The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Hardcover – 20 Jan. 2022

I've been wanting to buy this book for a while now and I gifted it to myself for Christmas. It's not meant to be read quickly, but slowly consumed and digested. It's funny, sad, relatable and everything in between. It gives language to all the nuances of our human experience. And once I'm finished I'll pass it on to the next person.

This is a rather wonderful and compelling dictionary of newly-created words by the author to describe a range of emotions that most of us probably feel but struggle to express. And I have to say it’s very well done, with the entries being carefully crafted from a diverse range of similar-pointing sources. Of the book’s 285 pages there’s a lot of content, and a lot of really nice-sounding and unusual words that are so apt for many of today’s situations that they could easily slip into our vocabulary and become part of modern parlance. They’re certainly words that lodge themselves nicely in memory awaiting that first opportunity to use them, and to create talking points when they are as they'll naturally pique interest.There’s something quite moving about the way the book is written, especially the introspective insights that introduce each chapter; insights that eerily reflects our own thoughts and feelings about the modern world and our often uncertain place in it. Now we have a superbly descriptive toolbox to give cognisance and expression to our bewildering emotions.The highlight of the book is undoubtedly the words themselves. After all, who wouldn’t want to say that they have the wends when not enjoying an experience as much as they could, that they felt a touch of xeno when feeling a slight connection from the friendly smile of a passing stranger or they backmasked a friend they haven’t seen in years to how they were last remembered in childhood?I have the kindle version, but this is a nice-looking book. There’s little doubt that if I were to see it in a bookshop the title and cover alone would be sufficient to make me stop and look through it. It’s a lovely catchy poetical title that is strongly suggestive of the intriguing content inside. The black and gold lettering and image speak of a quality product that is probably something rather special. As such, I surmise it would make a unique gift that will probably be especially appreciated and remembered. It’s also an ideal coffee table book whose style and content will be noticed and remarked upon.An excellent purchase, and nice that a book of this calibre and unusualness periodically pops up. An all round entertaining and enjoyable read.Note: helpful pronunciations accompany each entry.

What an interesting little book - full of explanations. 5*

I wanted this since I heard about Sonder.Then I learned about Des Vu with this book. Midding. Opia.Just picking up this book every now and then to have a read and recap of some words. Also good for deeper conversations.All words are made up, that's what language is! This just happens to be an assortment of special words that put a lot more into the words. Kind of approaching the German method of having a word for everything. Now we have words for more feelings too!

I am a person who has always wanted to have words for unexplained things. Koenig has beautifully explained and given words that can be added to your vocabulary. Please be aware that some definitions take up two pages but but that's because there's an anecdote to allow you to understand better. I strongly recommend.

A little unique gem.

What a beautiful book! Full of thought and care, depth of emotion and truly original. My hardback copy is beautiful and I cannot recommend this lovely creation highly enough.

If you are looking for a dictionary with real words to use in your writting or daily life, this is not the book for you.It is a book for sharing feelings most of us have but do not share, emotions that do not have a name. However, I was expecting a collection of words (maybe from different languages) to describe feelings, instead of a made up and impossible to use collection of definitions.Excellent work of compiling all those feelings and research of the ethymology, but not what I was expecting.