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Strangely Enjoyable Book on...Punctuation? Yes, Punctuation I recently had the honor of editing a portion of a book and found myself wanting for a resource on punctuation. I already had Strunk and White: The Elements of Style, but its lessons are decades old (but still relevant on some levels). To my amazement, one day I opened up my local paper and found Eats, Shoots & Leaves on the national nonfiction best-seller list. A book on punctuation? A best-seller? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's true (Quick! Find a seat if you're feeling faint!). So why is this book an international success? I like to think it's because some readers, writers, editors, and publishers have grown weary of seeing error after error show up in popular literature, billboard signs, grocery store windows, and on homework assignments (I threw that in just for you teachers out there). Ms. Truss calls herself a punctuation stickler; but I don't see it that way. She's simply trying to "write" (ha-ha) the wrongs out there! And she's found an effective tool in her new book. Most books on punctuation are bland, barely readable tomes that many-an-author keeps on his/her shelves as a resource guide; flipping to it only when they need a refresher on certain rules (I certainly do this with Strunk and White. Don't you?). But Eats, Shoots & Leaves takes that resource a lot further. Here Lynne Truss moves us into our literary past, showing us when, where, and why such things as the semicolon and the question mark came into use-a fascinating historical recounting you won't find in those "other" punctuation guides. This book also differs in that the author utilizes some mildly entertaining humor (much of which-unfortunately- will be lost on those who don't know a lot about punctuation to begin with, or are unfamiliar with many British-isms) that keeps the book light and enjoyable without sinking us into the "hard and fast rules" of punctuation, making it sound like we're being preached to by our eighth grade English teacher. I also enjoyed Ms. Truss' (sorry, but I'm not adding an "s" onto the end of her name) ability to give us the various rules, the history behind them, the rationale for their use, and then tell us that, sometimes, there is no right or wrong way; just differences of opinion. She also shows us how these "opinions" can cause a serious rift between author and editor, even at the prestigious New York Times and London Times. A fun read, and not just for the sticklers among us. But be warned, once you read this you might become one!