A Place Called Peculiar: Stories About Unusual American Place-Names

Through dedicated scholarship and talking to lots of folks, Frank Gallant put together the word-lover's guide to the States. From Hot Coffee, Mississippi to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, there are more than 40 oddly named towns, and a story or three for each name. The result is more than just another etymological atlas, it's a travel take-along, an armchair adventure, a probe into the lore of small-town America, and a know-it-all's paradise. It's also useful if you're planning a move. Why live in another drably named city when you could live in Whynot, Bivalve, or Afterthought? Toad Suck, Mollie's Nipple, or Delirium Tremens? Thanks to Gallant, you'd already know the history. --Stephanie Gold