Natalia Shaloshvili’s finely tuned visual humor in Pavlo Gets the Grumps dovetails nicely with her comforting, uplifting message to any reader who’s ever been a bit cranky (aka all of us). ... Read full Story
Comedian Jenny Slate’s Lifeform is insightful, witty and definitely binge worthy. She writes, and reads, these essays with immense imagination. ... Read full Story
Read by Cynthia Nixon, Anna Montague’s moving and surprisingly humorous debut, How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund? shows grief’s potential to lead to reconciliation and hope. ... Read full Story
Nuanced, hopeful and insightful, Ava Robinson’s Definitely Better Now is an endearing portrayal of a young woman redefining herself after one year of sobriety. ... Read full Story
Laughter about the Lai siblings' antics in Remy Lai’s semi-autobiographical novel Chickenpox will be as contagious as chickenpox was in the '90s. ... Read full Story
Throughout 2024, biographies consistently stole the show. From renowned authors to heads of state, game-changing activists and cultural icons, these 12 illuminating profiles delighted and inspired us.
... Read full Story
Poems inspire sharing, discussion and creativity. These collections explore a wide range of subjects, with moods from sunny to serious, and would make thoughtful gifts for babies, kids and teens alike. ... Read full Story
A terrifying monster is both a real entity and a manifestation of taboo desires in Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta’s Feast While You Can. ... Read full Story
The year’s most delightful Christmas love stories are full of mistletoe and merriment—with just a dash of potential murder to spice things up. ... Read full Story
At 64, the acclaimed author of The Joy Luck Club discovered a passion for birding, which led to her latest bestseller, The Backyard Bird Chronicles. ... Read full Story
These books are just the thing for screen buffs who want to revel in their favorite stories and auteurs, with deeply knowledgeable experts as their enthusiastic guides. ... Read full Story
Welcome to our list of books to give as gifts this holiday season! Divided by subject, discover our suggestions for music lovers, gardeners, art aficionados, literature mavens, hosts with the most and many more. ... Read full Story
From start to finish, Shaina Feinberg and Julia Rothman’s book explores, celebrates and values work and the people who undertake it. Work is a helpful resource and entertaining read that’s sure to broaden horizons and inspire exploration. ... Read full Story
In Bluebird Day, Megan Tady delivers a cozy tale with layers as numerous as midseason snowpack, delving into the psyches of mother and daughter competitive skiers Claudine and Wylie. ... Read full Story
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 21, 2024 is:
testimonial \tess-tuh-MOH-nee-ul\ noun
A testimonial is a written or spoken statement in which a person says they used a product or service and liked it, or that they appreciate someone's work, skill, character, etc. Testimonial is also used as a synonym of evidence and testimony.
// The website is full of testimonials from satisfied customers.
// The book's popularity is a testimonial to its timeliness.
"To commemorate their successful journey in the sport, the team released a heartfelt tribute video featuring testimonials from team members sharing their fondest memories." — Lydia Mee, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Did you know?
In 1639, Scottish poet William Drummond responded to the politics of his day with a cheeky set of new laws, including one stipulating that "no man wear a ... periwig, unless he have a testimonial from a town-clerk, that he is either bald, sickly, or asham'd of white hairs." Testimonials take different forms, but always, like in Drummond's facetious law, they provide affirmation or evidence. (Testimonial traces to Latin testimonium, meaning "evidence" or "witness.") In the 19th century, testimonial developed a new use, referring to a tribute—that is, a gift presented as a public expression of appreciation. Today, testimonial is most often used to refer to a statement—such as one posted on any number of websites devoted to consumer reviews—that endorses a product or service.