The meanings of words and their mannerisms are the core of this book. The word play and connections go from start to finish in this book and the author lets you think on every page. This is by no means your usual novel and the reader needs to understand this. The linguistics translated from german keeps a humour throughout. The fact that it is a short book I think is a bonus in my eyes. It makes you pay more attention to the written detail. The use of more older style words brings to mind of how old language really is and of how it has changed over the years. It explores words that have been lost over time and you are reminded of words that you have heard of but realise are never actually used in this day and age. The author is very poetic in his use of words throughout the book and this is a very original novel that has to be read to be believed. I found it very different and would happily read again