Tag: Apostrophe

Stephen H. Segal – Geek Wisdom | Review

Title: Geek Wisdom

Author: Stephen H. Segal

Type: Non-Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 224

Rating: 4*/5

 

Stephen H. Segal - Geek Wisdom

Stephen H. Segal – Geek Wisdom

 

This book has its ups and downs, usually depending upon whether you’re familiar with the book, film or TV show that the authors are talking about. The book itself is split over around five different sections, with each section being further seperated into individual quotes with accompanying info on where the quote comes from and what it means to us in our day-to-day lives.

And that, in a nutshell, is what this is – almost a manual on how to live your life based on the teachings of classic geek culture. It’s well-written and often self-referential, and while it is a lot of fun while you’re reading it, it’s also just the right length. After a while, it would start to get tedious, but I think the authors did a good job of including only the very best of their material.

I got annoyed, once or twice, by an error which kept on reoccurring – sometimes words were preceded by a random apostrophe, like ‘this. It’s frustrating, but it wasn’t enough to hamper my enjoyment of what was otherwise a pretty good read, the sort of thing that you could receive as a gift and actually enjoy reading. As long as you’re a geek or nerd.

 

Stephen H. Segal

Stephen H. Segal

 

Click here to buy Geek Wisdom.


Lynne Truss – Eats, Shoots and Leaves | Review

Title: Eats, Shoots and Leaves

Author: Lynne Truss

Type: Non-Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 214

Rating: 10/10

 

Lynne Truss - Eats, Shoots and Leaves

Lynne Truss – Eats, Shoots and Leaves

 

Why did I not read this earlier? This is a grammarian godsend, and a great introduction to the world of the Oxford comma. See what I did there? And whilst it’s not exactly a textbook like Strunk & White’s Elements of Style, it’s still a fantastic reference book when needed.

But it’s so much more than that. Truss writes about the bizarre set of conventions that we call grammar with what can only be described as a religious fervor, and by the time you reach the end, she’ll have converted you to the cause, too.

Who knew that reading about semicolons and ellipses could be so interesting? It’s entertaining, too – Truss has this habit of pouncing on the atrocious aberrations that litter UK high streets and the websites of national and international companies. She has a particular hatred for Two Weeks Notice, because the movie omitted a vital apostrophe from its name.

And she has every right to be annoyed – the English language is a beautiful thing, and punctuation is vital to keep its clarity. Grammar mistakes make me want to punch pandas, so do them a favour and read Lynne’s book.

 

Lynne Truss

Lynne Truss

 

Click here to buy Eats, Shoots and Leaves.