Welcome to Litsy!

Language nerds and feminists unite in Montell‘s book showing how the English language has developed and how, even now, props up the patriarchy.
Funny, enlightening, and sometimes crude, I learned a lot while being entertained, beginning to end.

Just okay, but worth reading. Some parts were just more interesting to me than others. It felt like the author was venturing outside her expertise at times and some info needed more evidence, but overall it was entertaining and informative.

Reread. Love. Fave parts are all the asterisks and the chapters on swearing and gendered forms of speech. Just watched an Irish movie set in the 1920s and they really did use like like valley girls. Amazing.

Thank you for this wonderful gift, mystery friend!! This tote bag is really lovely and practical 😀 I‘m super excited to read this book, too!! #LitsyLove 🥰

So damn educational and entertaining. Definitely need to read again for a review.

This was a good listen!

This is an interesting look at linguistics and how language evolves over time and can be used as an oppressive tool. I was really pleased at how intersectional this book is, and it covers a wide range of important topics. I highly recommend if you want to learn how the language you use affects your view of women in society, or if you just want some fun facts about etymology. 4.5/5 ⭐️

On the train home to Philly with my current read! This book is super interesting and makes me want to study linguistics more.

I loved AM ‘s Cutlish and I loved this too! I love swears and wordy words and I‘m interested in why some people say some words and others don‘t. I am a bit of a grammar police person and I‘m going to try and back off on that. She has another book coming out next year and I can‘t wait

It was an absolutely gorgeous day today. I took 2 walks to take advantage of the sunshine and longer daylight hours ( and listen to my book🤣)

It‘s a Snow Day here so I‘ve started another audio book so I can keep on attacking my To Do list. My closet got a work over and this is a pic for my local Buy Nothing group. I‘m way harder on my clothes closet than book shelves 🤣🤣

Fascinating!

Absolutely loved this book! I have been looking at the way I communicate lately. Like what types of language I use when I speak with others and/or about myself and my surroundings. Also, looking at how words I choose provides others with all sorts of opinions about me.

Been a bit hard, though, coming from a Spanish-speaking family.

Just downloaded this one for my new #AudioCommute book ;)

#JubilantJulyReadathon

Wordslut was on my TBR before I read Cultish & I finally finished it. That it took so long is because of a lack of time & other books jumping the line & not the book as I enjoyed it. I love language & its origins & Montell‘s witty irreverent exploration of words, their devolution & gender bias is informative & engaging. Frustrating to read especially in recent times, but ultimately a hopeful look at feminism & empowerment.

@DrexEdit this it what it says at the end of the audiobook blurb of Wordslut.

I had hoped to finish this in June but this week has not been good for reading. I‘m about 40% in & enjoying it. So interesting! Hope to finish it over the weekend. I did sneak in half a chapter with my favorite desk breakfast of fried rice with an over-easy egg on top from the local diner by work.

Looking forward to finishing the day & enjoying the long Independence Day weekend. I took Tuesday off too.🎉

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #reread

Instead of writing a new review for books I‘ve already read, I‘m just linking my original:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41716694

This was lighthearted and it had charm because Montell is very open with the reader (though sometimes that made me wonder if it wasn‘t getting too subjective for nonfiction…) A lot of what was presented here wasn‘t new information, but it definitely deepened my understanding of the topics presented and the history behind them. My favorite parts of this were the ones where she suggested future steps for changing our language usage.

**** Really makes you think about the language we use.

This was actually not at all my understanding of people who are two-spirit, but so far this book is really well researched so I‘m confused. A quick online search didn‘t answer my question. Do any Littens know if it‘s true that ALL two-spirit people are actually AMAB?

Fantastic! I loved this frank and accessible overview of language and communication styles and how they relate to power and gender. Funny and thought-provoking too! A great way to kick off my reading year! Delightful on #audio #Pantone2022 #CoralRose @Clwojick

Very happy to have completed this year's #Nonfiction2021 Bingo! Thank you, Melissa, for organizing this! It was fun and I learned a lot.

I just love how many different directions books take me! #newbookday

This was a entertaining, interesting, no-holds-barred collection of feminist essays about how language relates to gender and sexual identity. Chapters tackle issues like swearing, how the ways we speak impact the impression we make and how much respect we get, degrading language, how we talk about our genitals, and much more.
#SheSaid
#Nonfiction2021 About Words

This book was fabulous!! I only wish it had been longer- it left me with so much curiosity. It was a fascinating look at how English is commonly spoken currently, the origins of our common speech, how it‘s been warped by sexism and how we can reclaim the language as a whole. It covered cursing, gay and lesbian voices, pet names, harassment, and the interruptions and demeaning situations women (but also other non white, cis gendered people) face.

A wonderful nerd purr. Great on #audiobook!!

I enjoyed this one even more than Cultish. One of my coworkers asked me what I was reading and decided to give this audiobook a try as well and we have had some great discussions so far and I am looking forward to checking in with her on Monday. Lots to consider and discuss in this book but it is written in such a conversational and entertaining style.

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1. Sometimes. Example: The Sorcerer‘s Apprentice The title was kind of generic and I put off reading it. Much better than the title.

2. Good book! Questionable title 😂

I finished this #SheSaid pick a few days ago. I found it really interesting, though the style was much more conversational and informal than I expected (probably because I‘ve read a fair bit of drier psycholinguistic stuff). Lots of food for thought and I‘ve been enjoying the discussions. Recommend for any word nerds and feminists out there.

#SheSaid @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

I keep hearing the new Lizzo/Cardi B song (Rumors) and thinking that Amanda Montell could write a whole (highly entertaining and supportive) chapter on it: https://youtu.be/4P9XUrniiK4

I can trace my feminist roots to a 🤯 gender & communication class in college that includes discussion of how so many insults (at least in English) can essentially be traced back to demeaning women. I loved this deeper dive into how culture influences, language, and language (including or even especially women‘s language) also influences culture. Enjoyed it and learned a lot!

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

1. Silence for the Dead, Wordslut, The Last Thing he Told Me

2. It doesn‘t have to be happy, but it really needs a true ending or that book is getting thrown!

3. Cells: An Owner‘s Handbook

I don‘t usually read multiple books at once, or not more than a couple. But starting the tagged for #SheSaid, reading HP with kiddo, The Little White Horse for #ChildrensClassicsRead2021, #SophiesWorld buddy read, Persuasion with the #PemberLittens, and The House of the Seven Gables…plus Anger Is a Gift for #YABuddyRead is coming up next weekend…whew!

So it‘s movie time with the kiddo, naturally. 😆

Just started this after seeing it‘s this month‘s #SheSaid pick. It‘s also my #bookspin #doublespin for August. Loving it so far.

This book made me think about how deeply personal language can be. When discussing an inclusive second person plural, Montell mentions the word “folks.” I‘m not comfortable saying that word — it sounds odd coming from me — but when Barack Obama says it, it sounds right. I prefer “y‘all,” but that can‘t always be swapped out for “folks.” Some suggested replacements are just awkward or take longer to say — Mx for Mr., Miss, or Mrs. #SheSaid

Just started this #SheSaid read this morning. I‘m fascinated with linguistics and language history. This will be an interesting read.

Fabulous!!!

Very interesting! I‘d recommend this book to people who enjoy info about words, their origins, and speech patterns of different demographics. It was based on a combination of research and anecdotes, I‘d say. I didn‘t agree with all of Montell‘s points but I definitely found a lot of food for thought! Some of it echoed what I remember learning in a Linguistic Anthropology class 20 years ago, but some was more recent/relevant.

4 weeks after the unplanned renovations completed, I unpacked the books for this shelf! I‘m a little embarrassed that I lived with an empty bookshelf for that long but laziness is real!

Whoa ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loved this sooo much! It was so well done, informative, not confrontational and not dry as you would expect a book about linguistics to be.
So I put Wordslut to bed last night, and will start The House in the Cerulean Sea this afternoon to bridge the gap between my Feb. and Mar. #BookSpin . I did get a couple of Bingos this month but my goal is to complete the card in March! I have only 3.5 hours in #20in4 so I need to catch up!

Hoping to finish the tagged book today and jump into The House in The Cerulean Sea next. If I finish it will be on to Hex. I have high hopes for these!!
@Andrew65
#20in4

“...a Frencher-looking and thus chicer and more pleasant alternative spelling of hos “

I feel so old. How did I miss this???
BTW I am LOVING this book! 🤓📚💕

⭐⭐Some parts of this book were interesting and held my engagement. Other parts went on a bit too much for my liking and felt a bit rambly. #wordslut #tea_sipping_bookworm #litsy #amazonkindle #goodreads #bookstagram #bookqueen #storygraph

#newyearwhodis round up.
I'm very disappointed in my reading this time I only read one book! My library either never had the books or I have to wait till march to get them 😑 I will continue to read them when they come available @Megabooks
Thank you @monalyisha 🥰🍷

#readingthelibrary #librarybook #reading #femaleauthor #readathon #readyforthefuture #newyearwhodis #reading #audiobooks #femanist

I'll just be over here, working on my non-gendered insults and swear words.

After reading all the other reviews on this I feel like I don‘t need to say much other than this: if you haven‘t read this, do so! I‘d never thought much about gendered language and now my eyes have been opened 🤯. I laughed, I clapped, I cried, I raged and I definitely have to get the print so I can reread. I now have a deep appreciation for the word “y‘all” but I don‘t think I can pull it off being a Brit 😂. May have found my best 2021 read.

I went by the actual, physical public library today! It‘s the first time I‘ve been there since March, and I was the only patron in the building. I was there to pick up my hold, which was Wordslut, and got The Vanishing Half as well. Today feels like the first beautiful day in a long time, so I walked 3 miles and listened to The Last Book Party. #audiowalk

Amanda Montell, aka DaManda, is a self certified #wordNinja. And she‘s absolutely delightful. She brings knowledge, humor and insight into our everyday lexicon. I LOVED this book. Who knew words could be so entertaining and empowering!?!This was GREAT🙌🏻 Loved listening to the author read her work. I think this would make an AWESOME bookclub choice. Lots to talk about 😜#NFchallenge21 #AboutLanguage #Booked21 #JewishAuthorMC #Hoopla

Woohoo!! I just discovered that “wordy girl” and self proclaimed #WordNinja Amanda Montell is a #JewishAuthorMC ✡️ #Booked21 BTW: this book is FABULOUS 💛it‘s both entertaining and enlightening 🤓🎧