Eats Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
Registered by BC-08041015142 on 1/27/2004
11 journalers for this copy...
A wonderful, funny book which extols the virtues of a zero-tolerance approach to punctuation.
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From the back of the book ...
"A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots into the air.
"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
"I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up."
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation ...
"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots, and leaves."
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It has come in for some criticism in the UK due to some grammar and punctuation errors that have been found in the text - but that's the risk of publishing a book like this. You set yourself up for a fall! But nonetheless, unless you're a pedant of the highest nature, you will enjoy reading this.
BOOKRING PARTICIPANTS
1. MoKa - Glasgow, UK
2. crimson-tide – Western Australia
3. fuji – Sydney, Australia
4. FutureCat – Christchurch, New Zealand (skipped)
5. ArnpriorHSP – Ontario, Canada (skipped)
6. anderal – Calgary, Canada
7. Jamesmum – CA, USA (skipped)
8. illinicheme – CA, USA
9. Secretariat – CA, USA
10. karendawn – TX, USA
11. labmomnm – NM, USA <--- Received 08.11.04
12. mlbish – IL, USA
13. vivdripper – MA, USA
14. zmrzlina – MA, USA
15. cerawallace – PA, USA
16. CBCD – NJ, USA
17. mmz18407 – MD, USA
18. Miss-Muffet –Cardiff, UK
19. rachels-ratty – Nottinghamshire – UK
20. DropDG - Sutton, UK
21. Mytilusgirl – Plymouth – UK (Post back to me)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the back of the book ...
"A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots into the air.
"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
"I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up."
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation ...
"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots, and leaves."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It has come in for some criticism in the UK due to some grammar and punctuation errors that have been found in the text - but that's the risk of publishing a book like this. You set yourself up for a fall! But nonetheless, unless you're a pedant of the highest nature, you will enjoy reading this.
BOOKRING PARTICIPANTS
1. MoKa - Glasgow, UK
2. crimson-tide – Western Australia
3. fuji – Sydney, Australia
4. FutureCat – Christchurch, New Zealand (skipped)
5. ArnpriorHSP – Ontario, Canada (skipped)
6. anderal – Calgary, Canada
7. Jamesmum – CA, USA (skipped)
8. illinicheme – CA, USA
9. Secretariat – CA, USA
10. karendawn – TX, USA
11. labmomnm – NM, USA <--- Received 08.11.04
12. mlbish – IL, USA
13. vivdripper – MA, USA
14. zmrzlina – MA, USA
15. cerawallace – PA, USA
16. CBCD – NJ, USA
17. mmz18407 – MD, USA
18. Miss-Muffet –Cardiff, UK
19. rachels-ratty – Nottinghamshire – UK
20. DropDG - Sutton, UK
21. Mytilusgirl – Plymouth – UK (Post back to me)
Journal Entry 2 by BC-08041015142 at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 30, 2004
Released on Friday, January 30, 2004 at ... by mail :) in Sent to a fellow BookCrosser, Bookring Controlled Releases.
Caught in the mail as part of bookring. Arrived surprisingly fast actually - GlasgowGal posted 2nd class on Friday and the book arrived Saturday morning! I'll read and review before sending to next person on bookring.
Journal Entry 4 by MoKa at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, April 8, 2004
Release planned for Saturday, April 10, 2004 at By Mail in Sent to a fellow BookCrosser, Bookring Controlled Releases.
Off in the mail to crimson-tide in Australia when I get to the post office on Saturday morning.
Off in the mail to crimson-tide in Australia when I get to the post office on Saturday morning.
Journal Entry 5 by 
crimson-tide
from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, April 14, 2004
crimson-tide from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Arrived in the mail today all the way from Glasgow as the first international stop for this bookring. Thanks GlasgowGal and MoKa. Looking forward to reading it.
Half way through the introduction I thought this was going to be too dry and "over the top" pedantic for me. I'm glad to say that it quickly and dramatically improved: to the point where I was laughing out loud at the same time as learning something.
Yes, Lynne Truss does have a sense of humour, and often directs it at herself too. I just loved the bit about the weapons required in the apostrophe war: "stop when you start to feel uncomfortable", and also her final rule for the comma.
I may even buy myself a copy.
Now sending on to fuji in Sydney.
Yes, Lynne Truss does have a sense of humour, and often directs it at herself too. I just loved the bit about the weapons required in the apostrophe war: "stop when you start to feel uncomfortable", and also her final rule for the comma.
I may even buy myself a copy.
Now sending on to fuji in Sydney.
A funny read about punctuation - no mean feat! I found this very entertaining and even bought a copy for my Dad - a wannabe "stickler" who isn't so clear on the proper usage of apostrophes and semicolons himself!
Who says BookCrossing is bad for new book sales?!?!
Thanks to GlasgowGal, crimson-tide and others for getting it to me!
f
06 06 04
Note to all:
FutureCat has dropped out of this ring
and ArnpriorHSP is next on the list.
I've PMed for a mailing address but have had no response as yet. Will keep you posted...
f
18 06 04
No response from ArnpriorHSP.
I have PMed anderal today and hopefully will be able to send this on soon - I AM trying to!
f
Who says BookCrossing is bad for new book sales?!?!
Thanks to GlasgowGal, crimson-tide and others for getting it to me!
f
06 06 04
Note to all:
FutureCat has dropped out of this ring
and ArnpriorHSP is next on the list.
I've PMed for a mailing address but have had no response as yet. Will keep you posted...
f
18 06 04
No response from ArnpriorHSP.
I have PMed anderal today and hopefully will be able to send this on soon - I AM trying to!
f
Got in mail a couple days ago. SO SORRY for not journalling sooner. Should have this out in a week. :D
UPDATE: Jamesmum has taken a pass, so I have PM'ed the next person on the list. As soon as I get the addy I will send it out ASAP!
Released on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 at Controlled Release via Canada Post in Calgary, Alberta Controlled Releases.
Shipped out a few days ago. Enjoy!
Shipped out a few days ago. Enjoy!
Arrived today. Thanks! I've been looking forward to reading this. I will journal again when finished.
LOVED this book. I'm definitely a stickler in formal written communication, though I'm horrible about punctuation on the internet/emails (hooray for excessive dashes and ellipses and lack of capitalization, and even the occasional emoticon!) :D
Long live the Oxford comma! (Well, I am an American....)
Thanks for sharing this book, GlasgowGal. It put a huge smile on my face.
Long live the Oxford comma! (Well, I am an American....)
Thanks for sharing this book, GlasgowGal. It put a huge smile on my face.
Received this wonderful small book today. I've so been looking forward to reading this. I'll get to it as soon as possible.
I received it along with a RABCK from Pokpok of Jon Krakauer's Eiger Dreams, a book on my wish list. How kind of her to send another book to me which I'm really looking forward to.
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I really enjoyed this book and laughed so often while on my train ride one night that another rider asked what I was reading. When I explained it was a book about punctuation, the shock on her face was evident.
Much of the fun I derived was from seeing the difference between the way the British handle their language and the way we do. Of course, I'm prejudiced, but I must say I like the American way better.
Thanks much to GlasgowGal for sending this around to all of us. A very enjoyable read.
I received it along with a RABCK from Pokpok of Jon Krakauer's Eiger Dreams, a book on my wish list. How kind of her to send another book to me which I'm really looking forward to.
_____________________________________________________
I really enjoyed this book and laughed so often while on my train ride one night that another rider asked what I was reading. When I explained it was a book about punctuation, the shock on her face was evident.
Much of the fun I derived was from seeing the difference between the way the British handle their language and the way we do. Of course, I'm prejudiced, but I must say I like the American way better.
Thanks much to GlasgowGal for sending this around to all of us. A very enjoyable read.
Journal Entry 14 by Secretariat at Controlled Release in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Indiana USA on Monday, October 18, 2004
Released 19 yrs ago (10/18/2004 UTC) at Controlled Release in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Indiana USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to Karendawn who will send it to labmomnm next
On its way to Karendawn who will send it to labmomnm next
Yea!! The book is here. I've been really looking forward to reading this. Thank you, GlasgowGal and Secretariat, and everyone in between. I will get to this and get it moving as quickly as I can.
This book was at turns very humorous and very serious. I enjoyed comparing the differences between British and American usage. I didn't agree with one of the comma rules, but I did see the point about when to put periods and commas inside quotation marks and when outside. That actually makes a lot of sense compared to the American usage of always putting them inside (about which I am a stickler - I may loosen up on that a bit).
Should go off in the mail tomorrow.
Should go off in the mail tomorrow.
Released on Saturday, October 30, 2004 at about 12:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Mailed to a fellow Bookcrosser in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.
RELEASE NOTES:
on its way to labmomnm
RELEASE NOTES:
on its way to labmomnm
Received in the mail from karendawn; first in the TBR line behind "Billy" - perfect, eh? Glasgow all around!
23 Nov '04 - Well, crap! I had hoped that I would be able to use this book against my boss (we go 'round and 'round and 'round over the Oxford comma; I'm vehemently pro-Oxford) BUT he's also just read it and is using her to defend himself. Curses!
Anyway, I'm finding myself to be very nervous about punctuation this week; I'm one of those sad little people who overuse dashes and ellipses and now I'm really, really trying not to abuse them. It's rough. Thank-you so very much, Oh Wise & Wonderful GlasgowGal, for screwing up my head by sharing this book!
27 Nov '04 - mailed to mlbish (should mention that mlbish is in the process of moving; the book went to her new address and will be safe there, but she may not get around to journaling it for a while)
23 Nov '04 - Well, crap! I had hoped that I would be able to use this book against my boss (we go 'round and 'round and 'round over the Oxford comma; I'm vehemently pro-Oxford) BUT he's also just read it and is using her to defend himself. Curses!
Anyway, I'm finding myself to be very nervous about punctuation this week; I'm one of those sad little people who overuse dashes and ellipses and now I'm really, really trying not to abuse them. It's rough. Thank-you so very much, Oh Wise & Wonderful GlasgowGal, for screwing up my head by sharing this book!
27 Nov '04 - mailed to mlbish (should mention that mlbish is in the process of moving; the book went to her new address and will be safe there, but she may not get around to journaling it for a while)
Received over the holidays. Thank you! I've been wishing to read this book for quite some time. I am slightly backed up on ring books due to the push to finish up at school, but now that my move is behind me, I should make good time on catching up. This one looks like it will move relatively quickly. I will get it out as soon as I'm finished with it.
What a funny book! Who knew you could write such an amusing book about punctuation? I was highly entertained and I even learned some things.
It was interesting to read a book about punctuation written by a British individual. The differences between American and British English really stood out to me because of the subject matter.
My favorite bits:
"There are already umpteen excellent punctuation guides on the market; there is even a rather delightful publication for children called The Punctuation Repair Kit, which takes the line 'Hey! It's uncool to be stupid!'--which is a lie, of course, but you have to admire them for trying."
"Italics have developed to serve certain purposes for us that we never stop to question. When was the last time you panicked in the face of italics, 'Hang on, this writing's gone all wobbly'?"
So funny! I enjoyed this book immensely, and the nerd in me really appreciated having the specific uses for each punctuation mark set down on paper. As someone who has recently written a 200-page dissertation, grammar and punctuation have been at the forefront of my thoughts quite a bit of late, and this was a perfect time to read the book! And I will take this opportunity to state for the record that I am, and always have been, enthusiastically pro-Oxford comma.
I was a little sorry that I wasn't able to find the panda joke written down anywhere in the book. Without the dust cover, one has to rely on one's recollection of the joke to appreciate the title. Had it been me, I might have put in on the page just before the Introduction, if not in the Introduction itself.
I have PM'ed zmrzlina for her address (apparently vivdripper has been CHEATING on us with ANOTHER COPY of this book!), and I will get it out as soon as I can. Thanks for sharing it, GlasgowGal!
It was interesting to read a book about punctuation written by a British individual. The differences between American and British English really stood out to me because of the subject matter.
My favorite bits:
"There are already umpteen excellent punctuation guides on the market; there is even a rather delightful publication for children called The Punctuation Repair Kit, which takes the line 'Hey! It's uncool to be stupid!'--which is a lie, of course, but you have to admire them for trying."
"Italics have developed to serve certain purposes for us that we never stop to question. When was the last time you panicked in the face of italics, 'Hang on, this writing's gone all wobbly'?"
So funny! I enjoyed this book immensely, and the nerd in me really appreciated having the specific uses for each punctuation mark set down on paper. As someone who has recently written a 200-page dissertation, grammar and punctuation have been at the forefront of my thoughts quite a bit of late, and this was a perfect time to read the book! And I will take this opportunity to state for the record that I am, and always have been, enthusiastically pro-Oxford comma.
I was a little sorry that I wasn't able to find the panda joke written down anywhere in the book. Without the dust cover, one has to rely on one's recollection of the joke to appreciate the title. Had it been me, I might have put in on the page just before the Introduction, if not in the Introduction itself.
I have PM'ed zmrzlina for her address (apparently vivdripper has been CHEATING on us with ANOTHER COPY of this book!), and I will get it out as soon as I can. Thanks for sharing it, GlasgowGal!
Has arrived and will be read, journaled and moved along. Thank you!
Unfortunately this little book has not gone missing on its travels. I have no choice but to declare this ring dead.
