Ella Minnow Pea (original 2001; edition 2001)

This is the book I spent the month telling everybody they should read. It’s a seemingly light-weight epistolary novel set on the fictitious independent island-nation of Nollop, off the coast off South Carolina. Nollop was named after Nevin Nollop, author of the immortal phrase containing all the letters of the alphabet, ‘The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.’ In fact, a statue with Nollop’s name and said pangram stands in the town square, and when letters start falling off, the Town Fathers see it as “Nollop’s Will” and ban the use of those letters, both in oral & written communication. As each letter is dropped from used by the islanders, so it is by the author of the book.

But this is more than just a clever lipogram (a written work composed of words selected as to avoid the use of one or more letters of the alphabet.) The effect of losing the use of the letters is startling, and the fabric of island begins to unravel quickly. There is implied comment on religious extremism and on police states. It’s really very well-done.

What’s not to like? (Written) letters. Clever use (or non-use) of (alphabet) letters. Pick up this delightful little book and be prepared to ponder bigger issues than you think you will.

Thank you to Simon at Stuck in a Book who first brought this gem to my attention. 5 stars

Read this if: you love words. ( )

This is the first epistolary novel I've read and it is very good. The story is still very descriptive and exciting even though it is written in letters. I like the plot and the ending a lot. ( )

On the fictional island-nation of Nollop, just off of South Carolina, and named after founder Nevin Nollop, language reigns supreme. Nevin created the phrase “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog,” used by typesetters and teletype repair technicians the world over. When letters spelling out Nollop’s famous phrase start falling off a monument, the High Island Council, thinking it’s a message from the long-dead Nollop, decides to ban them from use – forever. Neighbors turn on neighbors as some rush to report those caught using or possessing the newly banned letters.

The novel is written as a series of letters, which become increasingly difficult to write, and read, as more letters fall – and are subsequently banned from use.

Mark Dunn has written a highly inventive and thought-provoking about the freedom of language and what could happen if it’s tampered with. Ella Minnow Pea is being made into a musical, and I’d like to see how it turns out. ( )

So clever -- and impressive. ( )

I was hoping for more from this book, as the premise is great. Instead, I felt like the author was only using this as a vehicle to show off his large vocabulary. I suppose it's a clever storyline, but I was hoping to engage with the characters a bit more. By the end, I didn't even care what happened, I just wanted it to be over!! ( )