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| Author: Mardy Grothe
Publisher: Collins
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $10.92
You Save: $4.03 (27%)
Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 13748
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.8 x 1
ISBN: 0060789484
Dewey Decimal Number: 082.0207
EAN: 9780060789480
Publication Date: November 1, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 A Celebration of Quick Wit November 16, 2005
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
_Viva la Repartee: Clever Comebacks and Witty Retorts from History's Great Wits and Wordsmiths_ by Dr. Mardy Grothe celebrates the art of the ingenious reply. Grothe distinguishes between various kinds of witty comments -- for example, the retort, which is a response to an insult, and a quip, which is a clever remark prompted by a situation.
In _Viva la Repartee_ Grothe follows the format that served him well in his previous books, _Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You_ and _Oxymoronica_. He begins each chapter with a discussion of that chapter's theme illustrated by a few examples. Then he provides additional examples without discussion. Themes include repartee in the following areas: stage and screen, literature (one chapter being devoted to the Algonquin Round Table), politics, relationships, senior citizens, and sports. Other chapters feature chiasmus and oxymoron, the literary devices celebrated in Grothe's earlier books. The ultimate example of laconic repartee, in the chapter with that theme, is an exchange of telegrams, each consisting solely of one punctuation mark.
The gems in Grothe's earlier books could stand alone as brief quotations -- often no more than a sentence. However, in order to appreciate a reply, one must know the words and the situation that prompted it. _Viva la Repartee_, then, is a collection of anecdotes. Grothe masterfully crafts the set-ups for his rejoinders. In taut prose that could well serve as models for aspiring writers, he provides the details of time, place, and circumstance.
Most of the remarks featured in _Viva la Repartee_ were uttered by celebrities. Grothe's collection, which includes a helpful index of names, gives us personal glimpses that bring these people to life for us.
Whether you want to become better acquainted with the notables mentioned in this volume, hone your own wit and writing style, or simply revel in the ingenious use of language, you're sure to enjoy _Viva la Repartee_.
A compilation of classic comebacks - a great read! January 10, 2006
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
What fun it is to read some of the best comebacks in history -- in a format that is well-organized and makes for a very enjoyable experience in a single reading, or as a book to browse through, time and again. The author has grouped the "repartees" into such useful categories as stage and screen, literary, political, sports, and so on (for those readers who like things neatly classified). Each repartee is preceded by a well-written and frequently charming vignette that provides just the right context for the punch line.
Clearly, the author loves language -- and you will too, when you read "Viva la Repartee."
 Widely Appealing No Matter Your Style of Humor November 26, 2005
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Anyone who has ever been left utterly tongue-tied in the wake of a clever verbal stab or come up with the perfect comeback hours too late will delight in Viva La Repartee's pages. From ancient history to contemporary celebrities, and encompassing retorts from mild and tame to wild and bawdy, Viva La Repartee contains off-the-cuff quips that will appeal to every level of humor. Although I would have liked to have seen more modern examples and less didacticism, I would definitely recommend Viva La Repartee to others.
Very entertaining -- and educational! July 11, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Entertaining little book packed full of examples of great comebacks and wit from a variety of different times, different people, and different circumstances. The book is broken down into chapters focusing on a specific type of repartee, such as "Classic Quips," "Laconic Repartee," "Stage & Screen Repartee," and "Inadvertent Repartee" (as well as many others). Some of them made me laugh out loud, and usually those were coming from the same three people: Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, and Dorothy Parker. But there were a gazillion I'd never heard of that were pretty hilarious as well. This is an engaging, funny, and educational (really, it is!) book that I enjoyed reading quite a bit. Great for when you only have time for short snatches of reading. I've learned a lot of slammin' comebacks I hope to have a chance to use soon!
My one complaint about the book, though, is that it was missing the best witty laconic (extremely brief) response of all time. During the Battle of the Bulge in WWII, the Germans sent a message to the American army demanding our unconditional surrender, or else we'd be annihilated. General McAuliffe's one word response? "Nuts!" Damn, I just love that one. Recommended!
Felicitous, Malicious, Salacious... Delicious! March 25, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a wonderful book that introduced me to many great quips and one-liners I had never before heard, even from the legends like Winston Churchill, Dorothy Parker and Mark Twain. Grothe's little proem before each quip gives great context and makes them even more unforgettable.
This is a great gift to give yourself, or - for that matter - to anyone who enjoys dancing, sparring or fencing with that most able of partners, the English language.
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