Friday, March 28, 2008

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: A Book Review



I should apology. I haven't felt much like writing this week and am way behind in reading blogs. The next couple weeks won't be any better, but I'll be back. Here is a review of a book that I enjoyed.

Lynne Truss, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation (2003: New York: Gotham Books, 2006), 209 pages.

Imagine laughing out loud while reading a book on punctuation. Surely I’m joking. It’d take some good drugs to get a person laughing while reading a book on punctuation, or at least that’s what I thought before reading Eat, Shoots & Leaves. Without any chemical help, I found myself at times chuckling and other times rolling on the floor laughing. This is a funny book that drives home the necessity of punctuation, including telling the story about an Irishman hanged on a comma. Well, not exactly, but he did tried to defend himself based on missing punctuation in the legal code’s definition of treason (99f).

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Lynne Truss is a charming British slut. Well, maybe she’s not a slut but I’m not sure what else you would you call a woman that swoons over semicolons (111) and offers to have babies for of the inventor of italic type (77). As an American reader of this book, I had to bite my lip and accept her additional “U’s” (as opposed to Us), her tendency to replace the noble “Z” with the common “S,” along with her criticism of American punctuation habits (but in fairness, she even criticized her own country’s tendencies in adding or not adding dots and sperm-like characters into text). Whether or not she’s a slut, Truss is an activist, calling on her fellow zero-tolerance folks to rise up and force grocers (green-grocers, as she calls ‘em) to abide by punctuation rules.
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So what did I learn from reading this book? First of all, I realize now more than ever that I need to become famous. That way I don’t have to worry about punctuation as she gives plenty of examples of famous authors known for flaunting punctuation rules (88). A second thing I learned is that my secretary is from the old school (even though she’s much younger than me). She’s addicted to the Oxford Comma (and keeps adding these into my letters and reports). I, on the other hand, feel like the extra comma is about as unnecessary as Ms. Truss’ “U’s” (or is it Truss’s? Read pages 54-58 and then flip a coin). The Oxford Comma occurs when you have a list and you put a comma before the “and,” (This, that, and the other—as opposed to “This, that and the other). A third epiphany for me was the realization that semi-colons are sexy. I don’t know why it took Truss to get this point over to me, for there have been only two women in my life who have complimented me on my punctuation and in both occasions it was for my semi-colons. Semi-colons are kind of sexy; they flirt, indicating that we should expect something to come.

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Applying my own logic to Ms. Truss’ wisdom, I’ve decided that excessive concern over hyphenation will lead to hypertension. And, just in case you don’t know the difference, hyphenation isn’t the same as hibernation.

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Read this book. Laugh while learning bits of punctuation history. Punctuation, as Ms. Truss points out, is in constant flux which is good news for those of us who didn’t learn it the first time around. Wonder if it has changed enough to warrant me going back and having my high school English grades re-evaluated?

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For other book reviews by Sage, click here.

For Semicolon's Saturday's list of book reviews in blogs, click here.

23 comments:

  1. I definitely have to read this one, Sage, as you know I am addicted to the use of semicolons (I didn't know they were sexy!!)

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  2. Absolutely LOVED this book, and _Talk to the Hand_, as well!
    SmallWorld

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  3. I've read and enjoyed this one. I also have used the picture book version in my freshman composition classes. Thanks for a fun review!

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  4. I always confuse British and American punctuation conventions. When I was in grade school we were taught both. Alas, such did little more than scramble my brain.

    Cheers.

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  5. Kenju (or should that be Sexy Kenju)! :)

    Smallworld, I'll have to check out her other books

    Amy, You use a picture book for freshmen English? Where were you when I was taking it? I feel cheated!

    Mr. Sherman, as I think you're in the Legal business, I should warn you that she has some things to say to lawyers about punctuation.

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  6. My problem with this book, and Truss, is that it is incredibly prescriptionist. If it's not done her way, then it isn't correct.

    I once heard her in an NPR interview and her attitude is one of "I'm right, you're wrong." I hate that.

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  7. Sage: I love this review! My favorite line is "Lynne Truss is a charming British slut". LMAO!!! :D

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  8. I think I would like this book too. I'm against the Oxford Comma, but love semi-colons (colons not so much).

    Great review, Sage

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  9. Dawn, maybe I just accepted her attitude as British arrogrance. Although she does have a righteous zeal about her rules, I noticed that she even broke some of them herself.

    Michael, I just didn't know what to call someone offering to have kids from a man dead for 500 years...

    Karen, will do!

    Diane, I must know, have you ever swoon over a semi-colon? As for colon, I like mine just fine and am glad I don't have to have it checked for another nine years :)

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  10. That sounds like a fun book to read :) Mind you I'm horrible at punctuation. (And spelling)

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  11. I have heard nothing but good things about this book. Since rebelling against academic literature in my post grad days my writing has seen a tremendous decline. This may be the work to get me back on track.

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  12. This was a wonderful review. If semi-colons are sexy, I should feel in the top five percent of sexiness....However :)

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  13. Great review! I agree, semi-colons are sexy..."the cliffhanger of punctuation;" a bit like foreplay. Now don't be calling me a Cuban slut for saying that...or a charming Cuban slut for that matter! :)

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  14. I surprised myself by enjoying this book also, last year.

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  15. I think ellipsis would be even sexier than semi-colons since they really do leave you wanting...

    And who in their right mind would notice your semicolon usage?!? :-)

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  16. Mistress, your punctuation seems fine--thank God for spell check

    Kontan, you're right, academic writing is so stiff!

    Sexy Pia, "Semi-colons on the Grand Stand" sounds like the perfect name for a novel

    Scarlet, okay, what shall I call thee? :)

    Jay, You and Truss share a similar style of humor

    Murf, she's does point out how, with the internet, ellipsis use is increasing. As for noticing my semi-colons, you're in good company. The other was a woman I dated 20 years ago who I don't think is not on your timeline--she was both the brightest and the craziest woman I ever dated

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  17. Sage, you had me smiling! The book must be humorous the way you describe it. :)

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  18. I probably should read a book on punctuation as my usage of said things is very poor indeed.

    With that said, for what it is worth, I agree with your use of commas in lists, not your secretary.

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  19. Comical review, Sage. And I mean that in a good way. Not like "My attempt to pick up the girl at the bar Friday night was quite comical."

    I am an advocate of the Oxford comma. Of course, with me it's more of an OCD thing.

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  20. I recommend you read Richard Lederer. Crazy English is good, as is Anguished English. I laughed my way through both (thought AE is funnier overall I thought).

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  21. Tim, it is pretty funny and sometimes we all need a good laugh

    Ed, I'll cite you the next time my secretary and I debate over unnecessary commas.

    Bone, I won't cite you in my debate, but I am very sorry about your bad luck this past Friday

    TC, Thanks. I should check out Anguished English--it sounds like my 10th grade English class and I wonder if Lederer stole my ideas.

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  22. Yep, this is something I really need to read. Instead of flowers, from now on, I'm going to fill a vase full of semi-colons. Hell, I may even get a semi-colon tattoo!!

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