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The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows | John Koenig
A truly original book in every sense of the word, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows poetically defines emotions that we all feel but dont have the words to express, until nowfrom the creator of the popular online project of the same name. Have you ever wondered about the lives of each person you pass on the street, realizing that everyone is the main character in their own story, each living a life as vivid and complex as your own? That feeling has a name: sonder. Or maybe youve watched a thunderstorm roll in and felt a primal hunger for disaster, hoping it would shake up your life. Thats called lachesism. Or you were looking through old photos and felt a pang of nostalgia for a time youve never actually experienced. Thats anemoia. If youve never heard of these terms before, thats because they didnt exist until John Koenig began his epic quest to fill the gaps in the language of emotion. Born as a website in 2009, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows has garnered widespread critical acclaim, inspired TED talks, album titles, cocktails, and even tattoos. The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows creates beautiful new words that we need but do not yet have, says John Green, bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars. By turns poignant, funny, and mind-bending, the definitions include whimsical etymologies drawn from languages around the world, interspersed with otherworldly collages and lyrical essays that explore forgotten corners of the human conditionfrom astrophe, the longing to explore beyond the planet Earth, to zenosyne, the sense that time keeps getting faster. The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows is for anyone who enjoys a shift in perspective, pondering the ineffable feelings that make up our lives, which have far more in common than we think. With a gorgeous package and beautifully illustrated throughout, this is the perfect gift for creatives, word nerds, and people everywhere.
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MatchlessMarie
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Pickpick

Didn‘t make a #36by36 update yesterday, so here‘s a twofer. I finished The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows on Monday. Nick Allen would love this book. 🖊️ I am glad I read it and am actually surprised that these are not “actual” words because I have found myself relating to so many of these, some frighteningly specific to my own experience. I hope to own it at some point in print because a lot of these concepts deserve further introspection. ⬇️

MatchlessMarie This makes book 5 for #10BeforeTheEnd. I had an eye exam on Monday so I was a bit bleary eyed for a good part of the day so I ended up starting A Part of Your World on audio and am enjoying it so far. I was a little hesitant because the last Abby Jimenez I read was so upsetting 😂 I am hoping to finish it today as well as Reasons to Stay Alive. Just about 10 hours left on this challenge 💪🏻 #NFN 1w
MatchlessMarie Yesterday I didn‘t get a lot of reading done. I was working and listening to a podcast for a discussion I attended last night it was the Cultish podcast on the episode on Defecting from Bethel. As an ex evangelical it was very difficult to listen to/ revisit some of this stuff. It was pretty triggering so I could only listen to part one and about half of part 2. Talking through this BS with others with similar experiences was good for me, though. 1w
Bookwormjillk Ugh on the BS but I‘m glad there are others you can talk to 1w
MatchlessMarie @Bookwormjillk For sure! I used to consume so much content around deconstruction when I first left the church but I feel like I got theology fatigue so for a long time I‘ve just been like I don‘t want to think about this stuff anymore. But it was validating to talk with other ppl who have experienced the cult that is the evangelical church. 1w
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MatchlessMarie
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Yesterday was full of bowling and Mario Kart as Sundays tend to be 😄 So I didn‘t finish any books but I am halfway through The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows which I am enjoying as much as everyone who has recommended it thinks I will! I also found a Kensington edition of Pucking Wild at my library so I started Tess and Ryan‘s bonus epilogue yesterday too. 🥹 Almost to the midpoint of this challenge. #36by36

Bookwormjillk Mmmmm ice cream 1w
MatchlessMarie @Bookwormjillk I started that one this past summer but I keep getting distracted taking notes of the characters so I haven‘t finished it but I have finished several pints of Rocky Road since then 🤣 1w
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MatchlessMarie
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Night Sky book cover prompt. This book is going to be on my November TBR as well. #HauntedShelf #SkeletonCrew

Emilymdxn Beautiful cover! 1mo
BookmarkTavern I love this book! ✨ 1mo
PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 1mo
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HiMyNames_Alyssa
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A couple new books for the shelf ? the dictionary of obscure sorrows was referenced in Amanda Montell's "The Age of Magical Overthinking" that I listened to a little while back.

BookmarkTavern I love the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows! 💖 3mo
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Crazeedi
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This is my Mother's day present from my daughter. It is the coolest book! A compendium of new words for emotions.
When she read the first quote she knew it was a book for me
"I read the dictionary. I thought it was a poem about everything. " Steve Wright.
Yes I read it as a child?
#litsylove

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love it!! ❤️❤️ 6mo
Libby1 I adore this book. 5mo
Crazeedi @Libby1 isn't it so very cool!! 5mo
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AkashaVampie
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Just finished The Book of Cold Cases. Now on to my 3rd book of the yr already. Crushing it!!! 😜🤓📚

Prompt - kid # 1 picks

I love doing my #BookishMonopoly
It keeps it fun and non-stop.

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BekaReid
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idlewild - adj. feeling grateful to be stranded in a place where you can't do much of anything-sitting for hours at an airport gate...which temporarily alleviates the burden of being able to do anything at any time and frees up your brain to do whatever it wants to do, even if it's just to flicker your eyes across the passing landscape. From Idlewild, the original name of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

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BekaReid
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Pickpick

This book is a journey through completely bizarre yet weirdly common experiences of the human condition. It attempts to put some of our common thoughts and emotions into words. Some definitions are brief and to the point. Others are short essays that explore the feeling more deeply. Parts are quite poetic and just makes me want to create.

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BekaReid
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I can relate!

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Citra182
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I had this expectation, picking up this book, that I would feel real validated (because misery loves company), but instead…its like every time I read a new word, it would bring up a memory. Painful ones, fun ones, ones I had forgotten. Such a pleasant surprise!

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Liz_M
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Belated Weekly Report.

I've finished Salt Crystals and have started reading a few other books. The Hidden Palace for bookclub, Doctor Thorne, and of course there is the every present Clarissa. Tagged book is not pictured, but is a pleasant interlude from the others.

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Highly recommend this book about words. The author provides an enlightening perspective on how to view the world and never be afraid to expand your horizons.
#bestseller #nytimes

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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"It's up to you. A word is only real if you want it to be."

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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Enjoying an afternoon at my local coffee shop ☕️

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Vivlio_Gnosi
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Etterath

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CarolynM
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Two lovely gifts arrived today. The tagged book, on the right, from my birthday fairy sister @KarenUK and what a beautiful book it is! I can see myself dipping in to it a lot in the next few days. Thank you so much, Karen 😘

The book on the left looks terrific, some wonderful mid C20th women writers. I am guessing it comes from you @LeahBergen Am I right?

TrishB Lovely ♥️ 2y
Lizpixie Oh they both look amazing! The one on the left would be perfect on my shelves, I‘m gonna need to track it down now. So much for my #nomorebookslizdammit! “request” from the hubby🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
batsy 😍 2y
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KarenUK 🥰 2y
LeahBergen Yep, it‘s from me. Merry Christmas, my friend! 😘😘 2y
BarbaraBB The right one is a lovely book indeed! 2y
Cathythoughts Lovely gifts for you 👍🏻♥️ 2y
CarolynM @LeahBergen Oh dear! I forgot to thank you 🫣🥴 How rude! I really do appreciate it, I‘m very grateful and very sorry for the delayed thanks 🙏 (edited) 2y
LeahBergen 😆😆 Oh, no worries! And I received your GORGEOUS Christmas card yesterday and it is just about the most perfect card EVER. Vintage girl‘s Christmas annuals! 😍😍 Thank YOU. 😘😘 2y
CarolynM @LeahBergen I thought of you the moment I saw that pack of cards😀 2y
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MelAnn
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This quote is in the front of this book I just began! Seems perfect for a chilly fall evening in the Texas Panhandle! I‘m not working tonight! Choosing to read something not work related! Yay for me!

Suet624 I miss Wright‘s humor. 2y
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Vivlio_Gnosi
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Anyone else feel this way?

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks No!! ❤️📚 2y
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BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

Looseleft, ozurie, indosentia, foilsick, etherness, dorgone, sitheless, kenaway, silience, innity, wenbane, aulasy, enterhood, morii, yu yi, ellipsism, craxis, evertheless: these are just some of the words Koenig invented to name feelings that until now never had one.
Except for a dictionary of new words, the book is a collection of truths, fears and nostalgia. It leaves me a bit sad but I am grateful I read it thanks to the lovely @KarenUK 🤍

KarenUK I‘m glad you liked it…. It was a unique find xxx💕 2y
KarenUK And lovely pic 😍💕 2y
BarbaraBB @KarenUK Thank you for finding and gifting me this little gem 🤍 2y
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sarahbarnes Wow! ♥️ 2y
Suet624 My son and his wife have said the same thing about this book. 💕 2y
BarbaraBB @Suet624 You‘d love it too I think 2y
Suet624 Got your note. Thank you. I‘ll write back tonight. 💕 2y
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BarbaraBB
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This book is filled with beautiful sentences and definitions. Just an example is this quote by Louise Erdrich 🤍

Suet624 So lovely. 2y
KarenUK Lovely 💕💕💕 2y
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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Mehso-so

I liked a lot of these words, but a lot of them were also terribly corny, and would never past muster with a lexicographer. Koenig often takes two words from completely different languages and blends them together, which is a big no-no. For me, it's much more rewarding to find an obscure word that already exists than to read Koenig's made-up words, especially when he blatantly throws all the rules of language out the window.

BarbaraBB I am looking forward to it, thanks to your pose too 🤍 2y
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keithmalek
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The word is "craxis."

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keithmalek

Anticious: adj. Wondering what our ancestors would think of all this.

From antecedent + anxious. Pronounced "an-tish-ous."

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keithmalek

Etterath: The feeling of emptiness after a long and arduous process is finally complete--which leaves you relieved that it's over but missing the stress that organized your life into a mission.

Norwegian etter, after + ratne, decay. Pronounced "et-er-ath."

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keithmalek
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OrangeMooseReads Stop giving my weirdness titles LOL 😆 2y
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keithmalek
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The word is indosentia.

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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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(Continued)...movable goalposts, which makes you want someone to come along and score your progress in discrete and measurable units--which may not clear up where you're going but would at least reassure you that you're one step closer to getting there.

From addled, muddled or unclear, + worth.

Bklover I‘m not sure how I‘d use it in a sentence but I love this word!! 2y
keithmalek @Bklover I'm not sure either. 2y
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