Ailyak, bimble, clowder: learn these and more in The Dictionary of Obscure and Enchanting Words, plus more gifts for logophiles from The Reader’s Catalog

Philocalist: A lover of beauty; someone who sees and appreciates beauty in all things ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

The Dictionary of Obscure and Enchanting Words Do you revel in rare words? Swoon over poetic turns of phrase? This dictionary is your passport to a world of linguistic wonder—where forgotten gems and modern curiosities meet. From the soaring spirit of aliferous to the bold brilliance of zazzy, words that inspire, amuse, and expand the way you see the world fill every page. Shop Now   Eutaxy Good order or organization; a state of being well arranged and orderly Password Notebook Discreetly labeled “Memo Book” on the cover, this compact notebook is a straightforward and low-tech way to store and organize account information in one place. Keeping accurate track of IDs and passwords is essential, whether one is online shopping, banking, or accessing video or publication subscriptions.  Desk Task Roller The Task Roller isn’t just a tool; it’s your personal productivity companion. Designed to seamlessly integrate into any workspace, its sleek and compact form ensures it fits perfectly on your desk, always within arm’s reach. Whether you’re juggling multiple projects or need to map out your day in detail, the Task Roller has you covered. It’s the perfect gift for the organized person—or anyone who aspires to be so.  Desk Rhodia Treasure Box This sturdy flip-top box—cleverly designed to look like one of the famous orange Rhodia notepads so beloved by Europeans—is filled with essential stationery items: one 6" x 8.25" pad (graph paper, perfect for a desktop); one 3" x 8.25" pad (graph paper, the perfect size for shopping lists); and two 3" x 4" pads (graph paper, perfect for pockets). Also included are two high-quality Rhodia pencils. A fun, practical gift for the list maker, the stationery lover, the neatnik. Desk New York City Almanac and Planner, 2026 For New Yorkers, New Yorkers at heart, anyone who has ever visited New York, anyone who is longing to visit New York…rest assured, you don’t have to be a resident of the five boroughs to appreciate the Almanac of New York City. Desk   Fernweh A deep longing for distant places, even stronger than wanderlust; an ache for travel and exploration Illuminated Raised Relief Desk Globe See the whole world right on your desktop with the Illuminated Raised Relief Desk Globe. This detailed globe, measuring twelve inches in diameter, features more than 4,000 place names and political boundaries, a wonderful tool for learning about geography from lower school on. Plugged in, it also doubles as a night light, making it the perfect addition to your library, office, or study. For the Home Around The World Tea Set “I believe that a successful flavored tea is one that arouses emotion, be it joy or awe. The smell, the taste, they evoke something deep inside you, taking you back to a memory unique to you. It’s a source of fulfillment.”  —Mathias Minet, creator of flavored teas at Palais des Thés Embark on a refined tasting journey across continents with this collection of teas from around the world. For the Home Instead of a Card: Ten Poems about Journeys “A greeting that not only gives great pleasure but illuminates our lives – like a message in a bottle.”—Robert McCrum, writer and editor “Ten Poems about Journeys” is a title in the “Instead of a Card” series, based on the idea that sending a greeting card is a lovely gesture, and sending a booklet of poetry an even more meaningful one. Poetry Instead of a Card French Gift Basket Bring France home to your favorite Francophile. We’ve filled a panier du marché with five iconic and useful gifts with French DNA: a puzzle of a vintage Paris map; a notebook, said to be the one used by Julia Child to notate her recipes, from heritage brand Clairefontaine; a traditional net market bag; cocktail napkins with maps featuring Parisian monuments; and a guide to the old-fashioned corners of Paris.  For the Francophile   Ailyak The art of taking things slowly, savoring life’s moments, and embracing a stress-free, unhurried existence Brown Betty Tea Pot and Tea Set “I would rather have nothing but tea.” —Jane Austen, Mansfield Park Since the seventeenth century, the Brown Betty has taken its rightful place as a time-honored design icon widely regarded as producing the perfect brew. We have paired the Brown Betty with two beautiful English tea tins—rectangular, with a hinged lid—containing forty tea bags of English Afternoon Tea, and forty tea bags of English Breakfast Tea, blended by a UK tea merchant.  Kitchen Reading Woman Notecard Set “I like reading books in the bulk.” —Virginia Woolf Is there any greater pleasure than sitting comfortably with a good book? The reading woman has appeared as a subject of great art for centuries around the world. This beguiling set of notecards features four captivating images of women reading: Reading, by Alberto Pisa; Alice in Wonderland, by George Dunlop Leslie; A Russian Folk Tale, by Leonid and Olga Tikhomirov; and Woman Reclining on a Bench, by Carl Olof Larsson. Greeting Cards Pendleton Merino Throw This top-of-the-line, featherweight throw is the perfect accessory for a cozy nap—or for curling up with a good book. The superfine merino wool has been softly brushed, producing a fleecy, velvet hand that must be touched to be believed. Beautiful and ultra soft, this blanket is the definitive solution for anyone looking for an unforgettable gift. Get Cozy Silence Please Mug A polite exhortation, “silence please,” appears beneath the English Gothic arch at the entrance to the Bodleian Old Library. Another appears in the library’s fifteenth-century courtyard. In fact, these signs are presented at every entrance to the Bodleian, one of Europe’s oldest libraries and the main research library at the University of Oxford.  Art and Lit Mugs   Time Spent Reading Is Never Wasted Mug This heirloom-quality bone china mug is decorated with Quentin Blake’s irresistible illustration of a storytelling dragon reading to four captivated children, with the reminder: “Time spent reading is never wasted.” Art and Lit Mugs Hourglass The hourglass is a recurring image evoking not only the passage of time but also balance, the sky and the earth, the female figure, and more. This richly symbolic object is also a calming and beautiful desk accessory. Choose among four colors and between five- and thirty-minute hourglasses. Desk Accessories   Epeolatry The worship of or deep reverence for words and language League of the Lexicon Recommended “for wordsmiths and language lovers,” League of the Lexicon is “the perfect gift for that erudite friend or trivia junkie in your life,” according to The Wall Street Journal. “[It] features 2,000 questions—crafted by linguists and lexicographers—that probe every corner of language: from etymology and archaic words to usage and wordy trivia. ...It has been awarded a spot on Mensa Minds Recommended Play List for 2023, making it a solid choice for book lovers who relish a challenge.” For the Grammarian STET! A Game for Language Lovers, Grammar Geeks, and Bibliophiles Whats’ wrong with this sentence? If that misplaced apostrophe leapt right off the page, this game—based on the New York Times bestseller—is for you. One hundred sentences await you sentences await you, the copyeditor, to correct—or, alternatively, to STET (a copyeditor’s term that means “let it stand”).  The first person to spot the error, or, if there is no error, to call out “STET!" gets the card. For the Grammarian Latin Verbs Mug A perfect everyday mug for the Latin learner, this bone china mug is colorful, informative, and an excellent study aid. The mug lists the different conjugations of two essential Latin Verbs, esse (to be) and amare (to love), in six verb tenses: present, imperfect, future, future perfect, perfect, and pluperfect.  For the Grammarian Scrabble™ Vintage Bookshelf Edition This luxurious bookshelf edition of Scrabble™ has been updated with stylish packaging: all the game components are stored in a fabric-bound “book” and slipcase. The design and typography are inspired by the vintage graphics of the original 1948 game.  For the Grammarian   Bimble To walk or wander aimlessly, but with a cheerful and relaxed attitude Instead of Card: Ten Poems about  Walking “Ten Poems about Walking” is a title in the “Instead of a Card” series, based on the idea that sending a greeting card is a lovely gesture, and sending a booklet of poetry an even more meaningful one. There seems to be a natural connection between walking and poetry. For William Wordsworth, the regular rhythm of walking was a stimulus to writing, and he said that “nine-tenths of my verses have been poured out in the open air.” One by one then as a whole, these poems remind us that being on foot is one of the best ways of experiencing the world. Poetry Instead of a Card Beneath My Feet "Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness." —Søren Kierkegaard   Walking and writing have always gone together. Think of the poets who walk out a rhythm for their lines and the novelists who put their characters on a path. But the best insights, the deepest and most joyous examinations of this simple activity are to be found in nonfiction—in essays, travelogues, and memoirs. Writers Globetrotting In Globetrotting, Duncan Minshull, the UK’s “laureate of walking,” brings together the work of more than fifty walker-writers who have traveled the world’s seven continents by foot. From the 1500s to the present day comes a memorable band of explorers and adventurers, scientists and missionaries, pleasure-seekers, and literary drifters recalling their experiences and asking themselves a compelling question—why travel this way in the first place? Writers Sauntering On foot the world comes our way. We get close to the Continent’s alpine ranges, arterial rivers, expansive coastlines. Close to its ancient cities and mysterious thoroughfares; and close to the walkers themselves—the Grand Tourers and explorers, strollers and saunterers, on their hikes and quests, parades and urban drifts. Writers   Clowder A group of two or more cats Cat Bingo Playing Cat Bingo is a delightful way to learn the names, colorings, and characteristics of your favorite breeds. Spot all kinds of cats—Tonkinese, Siamese, Bengal, and more—then, mark them off on your card, and…BINGO!  Games and Puzzles Edward Gorey Cat in Scarf Holiday Cards A grinning cat sporting a preposterously long red and white scarf? Classic Edward Gorey. Wrap your friends and family in the warmth of the season.  Holiday Da Vinci Cats Wrapping Paper This wrapping paper reproduces a sheet of more than twenty drawings of cats and lions by Leonardo da Vinci. The animals “are shown in a wide variety of positions; lying asleep, sitting, prowling, playing, fighting, and in one case frightened, standing with humped back and fur standing on end; in the lower half, drawn at an odd angle, is a study of a dragon, with its head bent back over his shoulder,” according to the Royal Collection Trust. Wrapping Paper Edward Gorey Sterling Heart Cat Pin Inspired by an image from an unpublished series of drawings by Edward Gorey, this little cat offers a beloved a red enamel heart. This gently romantic sterling silver pin is a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day or an anniversary, or any occasion when one wants to express affection…or something stronger.  Jewelry   Deipnosophist A person skilled in the art of dining and engaging in clever, entertaining conversation at the table Gluggle Jug Discover the timeless charm of the Gluggle Jug—a beloved British design icon known for the delightful “glug-glug” sound it makes when water pours from its mouth. Handmade in Stoke-on-Trent, England, these jugs combine heritage artistry with quirky personality. Kitchen Baguette Bread Knife Inspired by French bakeries, this knife is not only witty but practical. Beautifully crafted of wood and stainless steel, it’s a charming addition to any kitchen countertop and dining table. The wooden sheath protects the blade and allows it to be safely tucked into a picnic or potluck basket.  Kitchen Garden Napkins Each cotton napkin in this set of four is printed with a colorful vintage illustration of vegetables often grown in a kitchen garden: peas, shell beans, squash, pumpkin, beets, onions, carrots, lettuces, radishes, garlic, and artichoke. The image, from an antique print archive, is beautifully detailed and colored and has a classic and timeless appeal. Kitchen Bialetti Espresso Set for Two You may not have access to the water that flows through an ancient aqueduct—said to be the key to Rome’s unparalleled coffee—but you can easily make a superior brew at home with this Italian espresso set. Made by Bialetti, a heritage company in business for more than a century, this espresso maker is easy to use on a gas, electric, or induction stove. Kitchen   Philocalist A lover of beauty; someone who sees and appreciates beauty in all things The Story of Impressionism: 1,000-Piece Puzzle Piece together this beautifully detailed puzzle to create the Paris of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters, and along the way discover the people and places that helped create a new way to see the world. For the Art Lover Monet Water Lilies Silk Chiffon Scarf The design of this scarf is based on the Nymphéas (“Water Lilies”) paintings made by Claude Monet of the pond at his home in Normandy. The artist moved to Giverny in 1883, and ten years later, started designing the pond.   For the Art Lover Handmade Memory Game with Vintage Imagery—French Version The tiles and boxes of these memory games are entirely handmade by the artist and graphic designer Sarah Caplan. Each unique set consists of pairs of tiles housed in a handmade box. Images on the tiles include a curated assortment of illustrations and old photographs she has collected for years—mostly antique ephemera, including animals, people, famous world sites, fruits and vegetables, flowers, modes of transportation, insects, random objects, and vintage scenes from daily life. For the Art Lover John Derian’s Painter’s Palette: 1,000-Piece Puzzle What delights you? A vibrant red? A mysterious blue? From John Derian, the artist and designer whose work with printed images from the past transports the viewer to another world, Painter’s Palette features an art student’s color study from the twentieth-century, capturing that magical place where ground mineral meets water and light, imagination meets science, and the artist—and puzzle doer—experiences an “Aha!” moment. This puzzle comes with a mini poster for reference or framing. For the Art Lover   There are so many more! Livsnjutare: A person who fully embraces and enjoys life, savoring every moment. See: Prohibition and Repeal Rocks Glasses, Giant Kites, Edward Gorey Dancing Cats: 300 Piece Puzzle, Pendelton Roll-Up Blanket Ludic: Playful, spontaneous, or related to play and games. See: Bugtastic Bingo, Set: A Family Game, The World of The Great Gatsby: 1,000 Piece Puzzle, Cinephile: A Card Game for Film Nerds, Movie Geeks, and Cinephiles Retrouvaille: The joy of reconnecting with someone after a long separation. See: The Cabinet of Curiosities Greeting Card Collection, Quill and Inkwell Correspondence Cards, From Ted to Tom: The Illustrated Envelopes of Edward Gorey Finifugal: Reluctant to end or finish; having an aversion to finality. See: This newsletter writer’s desire to list many, many more.   The New York Review of Books Zippered Bookbag Zippered, black, water-resistant poly-canvas with black or red logo. This carry-all is attractive, well-constructed, and roomy—with space for all your essentials, the Review, and your favorite book.  NYR Merchandise You are receiving this message because you signed up for email newsletters from The New York Review of Books, NYRB, or The Reader’s Catalog. You can choose the types of mailings you wish to receive. Update preferences   The Reader’s Catalog 207 East 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016-6305 Preferences  |  Unsubscribe