Eats, Shoots & Leaves

[triskellian]

Over the weekend I read Eats, Shoots and Leaves, which I was expecting someone to buy me for Christmas, but in the end, I had to borrow from a colleague. Like Lynne Truss, I'm a bit of a grammar stickler. I proof-read, argue with colleagues about whether or not split infinitives are the spawn of the devil (they're not), and drive smiorgan mad by pointing out misplaced apostrophes all over the place. So, of course, I thoroughly enjoyed ES&L. At times I was mentally shouting 'Yes! I hate people who do that! It's Just Plain Wrong' (TM venta), and at other times 'Are you mad, woman? No one in their right mind thinks that!', which was all good fun. However, I'm rather puzzled that many of the reviews I've seen seem to miss the points that, (a) punctuation is subject to change, and (b) lots of it is a matter of personal style, both of which Truss freely admits. No, it's not a groundbreaking work of modern grammar, nor is it particularly evil and elitist. It's reasonably light-hearted ranting, and if the subject is one you also happen to enjoy ranting about, it's great fun (regardless of whether you agree with her).

On a rather more productive note, she mentioned a Nicholson Baker book I hadn't heard of, so I need to go and look that up.

Comments

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

I had started a mental sweepstake on how many copies I was going to wind up with, but in the end people played nicely with the wishlist and I received only one, which rotwang and I have both thoroughly enjoyed. My mother-in-law has borrowed it now; I expect it'll do the rounds further before I see it again ;)

[smiorgan.livejournal.com]

drive smiorgan mad by pointing out misplaced apostrophes all over the place

Believe me, misplaced apostrophes annoy me just as much. What drives me mad is the way you react to them with the same horrified intake of breath as if you just witnessed a horrific car crash...

[triskellian]

I've never witnessed a horrific car crash <touches wood>

I'm sure my reaction would be much stronger. For the car crash, that is. Not the apostrophe.

[cuthbertcross.livejournal.com]

Well, I like'd it. It really made me think a'bout all those annoy'ing and com'pletely un-necc-essary ex;tra a'p'ostrophes'.....
*ducks to avoid blow*