Pun Enchanted Evenings: A Treasury of Wit, Wisdom, Chuckles and Belly Laughs for Language Lovers, 746 Original Word Plays

David R. Yale
A Healthy Relationship Press (2010)
ISBN 9780979176647
Reviewed by Victoria Gonzales for Reader Views (09/10)


These puns are hilarious. David R. Yale is a whiz at language play. These are all original puns created by him, yes all 746 of them, and they are all amusing. They’re all new! My only critique of the book is of its structure. I think there should be a little more organization to the book. Even though some of the puns can fall under several categories, there should be some sort of index or table of contents to let you know where the puns are on people, animals, places, etc. You can’t look up your favorite one if you’ve forgotten to mark the page. Granted, it isn’t that much to read through them all over again, and is quite enjoyable, but it really would benefit to have some kind of index, organizing the numerous puns. It is kind of amusing in itself the way the book is structured; it makes you groan just like a pun might!
   
The introduction describes how pun-lovers are mentally superior to pun-haters, or at least “share some admirable personality characteristics.” The study proving this might be questionable, as it was published in the “Journal of Sighchology” by Professor Al Gerian, but nevertheless I think it is a pretty accurate conclusion. Some of the puns I enjoyed were:

21. Why is writing a tweet like writing poetry?

Because you have to get your words’ worth!

579. Why would a fish that swallowed a children’s game be very artistic?

Because it would be jacks in Pollock! 

641. Cowboy Bill had been warned to never mess with the Dillo gang. But when Tom Dillo swooped down out of the hills, all by his lonesome, Cowboy Bill figured he had a chance. So Cowboy Bill lashed out at Dillo with his trusty 50 foot bullwhip. But Dillo seemed to have armored skill, the whip had no effect, and the poor cowboy got shot up something fierce. What did his boss say about it?

“I told him never to try to disarm a Dillo!”

I suggest “Pun Enchanted Evenings” for anyone who enjoys language play. It is suggested for ages 18 and up, due to some puns involving test tickling and algae-bras and the like, but there are a few funny ones that younger children would enjoy if they were read aloud. There are a lot of political puns and ones that children wouldn’t understand, so this is definitely not your typical joke book; it is meant for adults and young adults.

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