Lynne Truss is a veteran of many punctuation wars. She is the author of four bestselling comic books, With One Free Lousy Packet of Seeds, Tennyson's Gift, Making the Cat Laugh and Going Loco .She is also a Times columnist. She is one of the regular presenters on Radio 4, most recently of two series, one on punctuation and one on the alphabet. She is also a guest presenter on Pick of the Week and many other programmes. She lives in Brighton.
Lynne Truss deserves to be piled high with honours... she feels a
genuine affection for those little full stops and commas, colons
and semi-colons. She wants them protected rather than revered,
respected rather than worshipped, for the vital job they do. I
think she probably understates her case when she argues that people
who persist in writing "Good food at it's best" deserve to be
"struck by lightning, hacked up on the spot and buried in an
unmarked grave". Lightning strikes are altogether too random. There
should be a government task force with the single duty of rooting
out such barbarians and burning them at the stake. Happily, Truss
is a funny writer and she has an eye for the grotesque.
*Sunday Times*
Three cheers for Lynne Truss, the extremely droll sports-writer and
comic novelist, whose book Eats, Shoots & Leaves makes the history
of punctuation a subject at once urgent, sexy and hilarious...Her
book is a joyous call to arms for grammatical sticklers everywhere,
and I have signed up with delight
*Independent*
Eats, Shoots & Leaves has been a surprise UK bestseller. Every
company meeting should begin with a reading from it, followed by a
prayer of thanks for its existence
*Financial Times*
[A] witty, clear-headed and altogether enchanting book ... It makes
you love punctuation; you want to conserve what is still left and
perhaps even call for more of it ... Reading this book put me in
such a good mood that I came close to forgiving the people who use
that modern punctuation atrocity, the "forward slash".
*Sunday Telegraph*
This book will stimulate and satisfy. It's worth it's weight in
gold.
*The Independent*
It can only be a matter of time before the new government seizes
the chance to appoint her [Lynne Truss] as minister for
punctuation. The manifesto is already written.
*The Guardian*
If Lynne Truss were Roman Catholic I'd nominate her for sainthood.
As it is, thousands of English teachers from Maine to Maui will be
calling down blessings on her merry, learned head for her book,
Eats, Shoots & Leaves. It's a book about punctuation, the poor
stepchild of mean old grammar.Punctuation, if you don't mind! The
book is so spirited, so scholarly, so seductive, English teachers
will sweep aside all other topics to get to, you guessed it,
punctuation. Parents and children gather by the fire on chilly
evenings to read passages on the history of the semi-colon and the
much-maligned dash. Make way for the new Cinderella of the English
language, Punctuation Herself!
*Frank McCourt*
Ms Truss has had enough; to judge from the huge sales this book has
had in its first few weeks, she has unearthed a vast army of
supporters...If you have not done so already, buy a copy of this
book, read it, absorb its message, then give it to a sub-literate
friend or colleague for Christmas.
*Daily Express*
Lovers of good English have thought of ourselves as isolated
outposts...Lynne Truss has emerged as our champion.
*Daily Express*
Lynne Truss has written a funny and apposite book.
*Irish Independent*
This is a tremendous book: funny, acute, clear and exactly what I
need.
*Henry Porter*
This book is brilliant. I laughed, I howled, and I immediately
wanted to join the Militant wing of the Apostrophe Society. This is
great stuff: genuine, heartfelt, and rousing. Buy it for any reader
you know - you will delight them.
*Jenny Colgan*
The most charming, entertaining reflections on punctuation I have
ever read...Rattling amusingly across the mine-studded plains of
English communication, from dashes to question marks to colons and
commas, Truss's mischievous wit and memorable anecdotes are hugely
refreshing.
*Glasgow Herald*
Lynne Truss is jolly good fun, or at least her book is. This is a
book you could just as easily give to a venerable uncle who is a
stickler for semicolons or an ignorant whippersnapper with an
English GCSE on the horizon. It is both practical and colourful.
Read the book, you'll get the (full) point.
*Times*
A wonderfully readable little treatise on the uses and misuses of
punctuation...witty and entertaining as well as informative.
*Irish Times*
There are plenty of laughs in this book...but this is more than a
witty, elegant and passionate book that should be on every writer's
shelf...Lynne Truss's book is as much an argument for clear
thinking as it is a pedantic defence of obsolete conventions of
written language. Well. Done. Lynne!!!!!!!
*Observer Review*
If Lynne Truss were Roman Catholic I'd nominate her for sainthood.
As it is, thousands of English teachers from Maine to Maui will be
calling down blessings on her merry, learned head for her book,
Eats, Shoots & Leaves. It's a book about punctuation, the poor
stepchild of mean old grammar.
Punctuation, if you don't mind! The book is so spirited, so
scholarly, so seductive, English teachers will sweep aside all
other topics to get to, you guessed it, punctuation. Parents and
children gather by the fire on chilly evenings to read passages on
the history of the semi-colon and the much-maligned dash. Make way
for the new Cinderella of the English language, Punctuation
Herself!
*author of Angela's Ashes and Tis*
Adult/High School-The title refers to the "Panda" entry in a poorly punctuated wildlife manual that, if believed, indicates the panda is truly to be feared, especially after eating. Truss, a self-described "punctuation stickler," has written a humorous but helpful guide that was a surprise best-seller in England. The book has been exported without re-editing, so some of the humor and grammar are "veddy" British; however, much of the information and history of punctuation are universal. The author takes pains to distinguish British versus American usage in her discussions. She is horrified at signs like BANANAS' and express checkout lines for "15 items or less." The short chapters are easy to follow and the discussions are light yet substantial. Punctuation marks are discussed individually with known history, geographical differences, and common mistakes. Teens will enjoy reading for fun and even for elucidation; a lot of information is packed into this small book.-Susan H. Woodcock, Fairfax County Public Library, Chantilly, VA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Lynne Truss deserves to be piled high with honours... she feels a
genuine affection for those little full stops and commas, colons
and semi-colons. She wants them protected rather than revered,
respected rather than worshipped, for the vital job they do. I
think she probably understates her case when she argues that people
who persist in writing "Good food at it's best" deserve to be
"struck by lightning, hacked up on the spot and buried in an
unmarked grave". Lightning strikes are altogether too random. There
should be a government task force with the single duty of rooting
out such barbarians and burning them at the stake. Happily, Truss
is a funny writer and she has an eye for the grotesque. -- John
Humphrys * Sunday Times *
Three cheers for Lynne Truss, the extremely droll sports-writer and
comic novelist, whose book Eats, Shoots & Leaves makes the history
of punctuation a subject at once urgent, sexy and hilarious...Her
book is a joyous call to arms for grammatical sticklers everywhere,
and I have signed up with delight -- John Walsh * Independent *
Eats, Shoots & Leaves has been a surprise UK bestseller. Every
company meeting should begin with a reading from it, followed by a
prayer of thanks for its existence -- Michael Skapinker * Financial
Times *
[A] witty, clear-headed and altogether enchanting book ... It makes
you love punctuation; you want to conserve what is still left and
perhaps even call for more of it ... Reading this book put me in
such a good mood that I came close to forgiving the people who use
that modern punctuation atrocity, the "forward slash". -- Oliver
Pritchett * Sunday Telegraph *
This book will stimulate and satisfy. It's worth it's weight in
gold. -- Boyd Tonkin * The Independent *
It can only be a matter of time before the new government seizes
the chance to appoint her [Lynne Truss] as minister for
punctuation. The manifesto is already written. * The Guardian *
If Lynne Truss were Roman Catholic I'd nominate her for sainthood.
As it is, thousands of English teachers from Maine to Maui will be
calling down blessings on her merry, learned head for her book,
Eats, Shoots & Leaves. It's a book about punctuation, the poor
stepchild of mean old grammar.Punctuation, if you don't mind! The
book is so spirited, so scholarly, so seductive, English teachers
will sweep aside all other topics to get to, you guessed it,
punctuation. Parents and children gather by the fire on chilly
evenings to read passages on the history of the semi-colon and the
much-maligned dash. Make way for the new Cinderella of the English
language, Punctuation Herself! * Frank McCourt *
Ms Truss has had enough; to judge from the huge sales this book has
had in its first few weeks, she has unearthed a vast army of
supporters...If you have not done so already, buy a copy of this
book, read it, absorb its message, then give it to a sub-literate
friend or colleague for Christmas. -- Beachcomber * Daily Express
*
Lovers of good English have thought of ourselves as isolated
outposts...Lynne Truss has emerged as our champion. -- William
Hartson * Daily Express *
Lynne Truss has written a funny and apposite book. -- Mary Kenny *
Irish Independent *
This is a tremendous book: funny, acute, clear and exactly what I
need. * Henry Porter *
This book is brilliant. I laughed, I howled, and I immediately
wanted to join the Militant wing of the Apostrophe Society. This is
great stuff: genuine, heartfelt, and rousing. Buy it for any reader
you know - you will delight them. * Jenny Colgan *
The most charming, entertaining reflections on punctuation I have
ever read...Rattling amusingly across the mine-studded plains of
English communication, from dashes to question marks to colons and
commas, Truss's mischievous wit and memorable anecdotes are hugely
refreshing. -- Rosemary Goring * Glasgow Herald *
Lynne Truss is jolly good fun, or at least her book is. This is a
book you could just as easily give to a venerable uncle who is a
stickler for semicolons or an ignorant whippersnapper with an
English GCSE on the horizon. It is both practical and colourful.
Read the book, you'll get the (full) point. -- Sarah Vine * Times
*
A wonderfully readable little treatise on the uses and misuses of
punctuation...witty and entertaining as well as informative. --
Terry Eagleton * Irish Times *
There are plenty of laughs in this book...but this is more than a
witty, elegant and passionate book that should be on every writer's
shelf...Lynne Truss's book is as much an argument for clear
thinking as it is a pedantic defence of obsolete conventions of
written language. Well. Done. Lynne!!!!!!! -- Nigel Williams *
Observer Review *
If Lynne Truss were Roman Catholic I'd nominate her for sainthood.
As it is, thousands of English teachers from Maine to Maui will be
calling down blessings on her merry, learned head for her book,
Eats, Shoots & Leaves. It's a book about punctuation, the poor
stepchild of mean old grammar. Punctuation, if you don't mind! The
book is so spirited, so scholarly, so seductive, English teachers
will sweep aside all other topics to get to, you guessed it,
punctuation. Parents and children gather by the fire on chilly
evenings to read passages on the history of the semi-colon and the
much-maligned dash. Make way for the new Cinderella of the English
language, Punctuation Herself! -- Frank McCourt * author of
Angela's Ashes and Tis *
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
