Customer Reviews

Eats, Shoots & Leaves Illustrated Edition

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had this book on my wish-list for quite some time. I was delighted to see and buy the illustrated version at a `remainder` price of only $4.95. The illustrations are cute, but I do not think that they warrant any substantially increased price over that of the regular version. I do not feel that the illustrations help very much in getting the ideas across, but neither are they an impediment. The book is nicely hardbound; the illustrations are cute and it would make a nice gift, but be forewarned; it is in effect smaller than the 176 pages that it takes up. There is a one and a half space between each line of text, so subtracting the illustrations (some of which are full-page) and you have a book whose text is actually less than 100 pages in length.

There are over 500 reviews of the regular version, so there is little new that I can say. I base my 4-star rating on the text and on the fact that the illustrations do not add enough to the book to warrant the extra cost that including them entails. I think that the book would have been greatly improved had there been a brief summary (as little as a paragraph) of the material covered in each chapter. Better yet, a concise summary at the end of the book would act as a great review. As it is, one has to wade through a lot of semi-amusing text to get to the heart of the matter. I sometimes got the impression that the author was more interested in being cute and addressed the material to those who, like her, are horrified at the lack of punctuation skills of the rest of us, rather than in doing her utmost to help the rest of us to improve those skills. (Don't get me wrong, I got quite a bit from this book and still recommend it, even though the author gets a bit snide at times.) I also think that the book is a bit `thin` and over-priced, even at the reduced Amazon price, let alone for the list price of $25.

I have always found it strange that I could get through graduate school, have successfully learned advanced calculus, thermodynamics and the rudiments of quantum mechanics, yet find punctuation somewhat of a mystery. This book has helped clear up some of that mystery. It does so in a delightful manner, one geared to adults rather than grade-schoolers. Somehow, like most people, I did not absorb this material in grade school, so some remedial education is clearly needed, and this book provides it. Now I hope that I can remember to apply what I have learned.

This is a charming book. The author deals with this otherwise dry material (punctuation!) in a smart and funny manner, with anecdotes and historical references. The problem has nothing to do with the material (which is brilliant), but the mechanics: The typeset is tiny, tiny, tiny. It is, in fact, the smallest print I've seen in a book, ever. I got eye strain reading it, even with my reading glasses perched at the tip of my nose. I recommend buying Eats, Shoots & Leaves in a bookstore, where one can examine the various editions and make sure to select one that is printed in a civilized type size.

As a grammar snob, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's written by an English lady and she has the typical dry Brittish sense of humor. There are a few references to America that are incorrect, such as what we call certain punctuation marks, but the meaning is still clear. I read the book to see if it would be a good reference to provide for a writing class and it definitely is. I could hardly put it down, and who would expect that from a book about grammar!

This item was in great condition, the price was excellent, and the shipping was very fast! :)

I had heard so much about this book. Being a linguistics master, I thought it would be right up my alley. And it was, at first. But after a while it gets a little repetitive and frankly, boring.

That said, I would still recommend it. It is unique, witty, and informative.

Lynne Truss's EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES is a very shallow guide to punctuation that goes on and on about nothing. The illustrations are "cute," but for the meat of the matter one must spend too much time wading around the barnyard.

It has been a long time since I've noticed editors and grammarians being in agreement and this beginner's guide doesn't help the matter. All portent the know (and are never wrong), but the novice is at their mercy.

Nash Black, author whose books are now available in Kindle editions.Writing as a Small BusinessSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil War