tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579367039984189257.post2561044734358329013..comments2023-10-28T00:37:58.716-07:00Comments on Fiction by Mary Simonsen: Eats, Shoots, and LeavesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579367039984189257.post-9468304197693797462011-06-30T11:01:13.250-07:002011-06-30T11:01:13.250-07:00This used to be one of my favorite books to use in...This used to be one of my favorite books to use in the classroom.Regina Jeffershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16625258900926909602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579367039984189257.post-40902918470617155972011-06-21T06:30:33.519-07:002011-06-21T06:30:33.519-07:00I am going to go buy it now. Thanks Mary.I am going to go buy it now. Thanks Mary.Trezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06639577727486577188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579367039984189257.post-38706249689259639362011-06-19T23:21:05.077-07:002011-06-19T23:21:05.077-07:00Jenny, On second thought, I did read reviews about...Jenny, On second thought, I did read reviews about Bryson's books. As I mentioned in my post, he was set upon by grammarian purists. I would NEVER write a grammar book.Mary Simonsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03400923132711871703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579367039984189257.post-41760214894939771442011-06-19T23:20:04.617-07:002011-06-19T23:20:04.617-07:00Jenny, I have not read The Mother Tongue, but I...Jenny, I have not read The Mother Tongue, but I'll look into it. Tony, I am not a punctuation snob except for those who say they have "zero tolerance" as this author did. I didn't finish the book b/c she was literally casting the first stone, and she had committed the same sins.<br /><br />My first copy editor was comma happy, and I told her that I felt as if I was tripping all over them. For example: She, too, took me to task for deleting the commas offsetting "too." Who cares? The only thing it does is slow the reader down.<br /><br />However, if I set myself up as a grammar expert, I would have gone over my manuscript with a fine tooth comb.<br /><br />P.S. I would never criticize someone who wrote with a quill pen.Mary Simonsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03400923132711871703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579367039984189257.post-10602783492253155802011-06-19T20:14:28.584-07:002011-06-19T20:14:28.584-07:00I sort of liked this book (OK, the cover art was t...I sort of liked this book (OK, the cover art was the best part) but I love reading about language more than punctuation.<br /><br />My fave book of this ilk is The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson. It has also been criticized for accuracy, but it is one of the most entertaining books I have ever read. Even one of the most entertaining Bill Bryson books I have ever read, and that is saying something. Have you read this one Mary?Jenny Allworthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08518779478842699970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579367039984189257.post-91906841443677893542011-06-19T14:45:53.336-07:002011-06-19T14:45:53.336-07:00I must explain Mary. There is a lot of snobbery ab...I must explain Mary. There is a lot of snobbery about punctuation and a lot of hogwash spoken. There are those around and I have come across them, who will lecture people mercilessly and belittle and humiliate others concerning every apostrophe and it seems apostrophes seem to be the greatest bone of contention when these stultified pinch nosed types get going. They think it some sort of elitist, I'm better than you, thing. As I said in my other comment above, get out there and enjoy and have fun with punctuation. If you get it all very wrong at the very least you can only be accused, as Shakespeare was and is, of creating their own language. Thank God for people who are creative!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!TONYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07767998391294014275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579367039984189257.post-53064780607762206952011-06-19T14:33:24.997-07:002011-06-19T14:33:24.997-07:00Hi Mary. This is very popular in England and many ...Hi Mary. This is very popular in England and many English school teachers use it. <br /><br />Punctuation can be a matter of taste and emphasise by the way. Jane Austen used it to express the feelings and tone of voice of her charters and in the case of her letters, how she was was feeling and what she wanted to emphasise.Much of Austens punctuation might be deemed unconventional. Lets not get too stuffy about it. Enjoy it, have fun, be creative and use it. Those who pontificate about the misuse of punctuation too much have punctuation constipation, don't you think?????(Oh my God, all those question marks!!!!!!!) Ha! ha!(two exclamation marks) <br /><br />The author has made a ton of money over here selling it anyway. It was reviewed in all the main newspapers.<br /><br />All the best,(comma)<br />T(capital letter) ony. (full stop)<br /><br />Yes, I know, brackets!?!?!?!?TONYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07767998391294014275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579367039984189257.post-73717533084958255452011-06-19T12:05:52.929-07:002011-06-19T12:05:52.929-07:00The New Yorker (a prominent magazine) apparently t...The New Yorker (a prominent magazine) apparently took her to task, but this book was a bestseller. I never saw so many semicolons in one book as I did this one.Mary Simonsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03400923132711871703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579367039984189257.post-81085811737520734062011-06-19T11:44:45.912-07:002011-06-19T11:44:45.912-07:00Ouch, a book about grammar with mistakes and over-...Ouch, a book about grammar with mistakes and over-using certain elements of grammar? Not a very good grammar book, indeed. I mean, sure, we make mistakes, but a book teaching grammar should avoid them and use grammar correctly. Well, not the book, but its author.:)Irena @ This Miss Loves to Readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16127816068294702715noreply@blogger.com