Book Club

Entertaining Tips

Mina Harker and Dracula are both very fond of books and the written word, and obliged to deceive others in the novel Dracula, My Love.  They would no doubt enjoy this old-fashioned, after-dinner parlor game, which is one of my family favorites.  It’s not a test of knowledge; it’s a test of wits.  People make up answers to bluff other characters, and hilarity always ensues!

Dictionary: A Parlor Game

6 – 10 players

Materials required:
A large dictionary
Notepads and pencils for each player

To play:

Distribute notepads and pencils.  One person serves as the moderator for each round.

The moderator secretly selects an obscure word from the dictionary.  He/she reads the word aloud and spells it, without giving its definition.

All players except the moderator secretly write down an imaginary definition for the word on a slip of paper in their most legible handwriting (to prevent any verbal mishaps on the moderator’s part), then sign and submit them.  The moderator copies down the true definition on a similar slip of paper.

When the moderator has all submissions in hand, he/she assigns each definition a number and reads them aloud anonymously.  Although some answers are guaranteed to provoke incessant laughter, the moderator must strive to retain an impartial tone!  Several readings may be necessary.

By secret ballot, players then vote for the definition they think is the correct one.  The moderator tallies the votes, reveals the true definition, and announces who wrote what.

Scores are totaled and tabulated.  The player to the moderator’s right becomes the next moderator, and play continues with a new round.

Scoring

Players receive one point for every vote their “imaginary” definition receives, and 2 points if they guess the real definition.  The moderator receives 3 points if no one chooses the real definition. 

Any player who submits an answer which is nearly identical to the true definition receives 3 points.  In such a case, the moderator does not read this submission aloud, but instead sets it aside, awards the player 3 points, and he or she does not take part in the round.

When a player reaches 25 points, they win the game.  You’ll be surprised by how much fun this game is, and how creative you and your friends can be!