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Some books you never forget having read. This is one such book. Lynne Truss, the British Author of EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVES has written a runaway best-seller and without meaning to, according to her. She only wanted to admit to her unyielding stance on punctuation, and to aid the squiggly, straight, unruly language traffic directors in their mission toward better communication.

What elevated her 208 page book to the head of the list is her wit-a wit announcing itself with the title, Eats, Shoots and Leaves. To illustrate: the white jacket shows two pandas', one toting a gun and another atop a ladder painting out the comma inserted after shoots'. (The message is clear: stop interfering with our unique digestive system that will tolerate only bamboo shoots. No comma is needed since we have an ingrained sense of what is right and what is wrong and we do not need to be told when to pause.)

For most, such a book has been needed. Although there are numerous other books showing the correct use of punctuation, they do not show the combined serious intent, wit, and royal intervention, as this book does. (On page 34: "A green grocer in days of yore inspired good Queen Bess to create the post of Apostropher Royal.") She makes writers want to learn how to write so that readers will not be misled into believing something else is intended. She cites examples, explains the necessity of correct punctuation, and all the while hammering home her message.

Is Truss, a journalist and book reviewer for London's The Sunday Times, universally loved? Not exactly. I found one dissenter on Amazon taking her message as a personal affront. He didn't think her message amusing and it is doubtful that he will jump on her bandwagon-that to save the apostrophe from extinction. In short, he thinks she has gone too far. I am somewhere in-between: thinking that she may be a little out-of-bounds, but since I, like he, need the information she and her publisher-Gotham Books-peddles, I would much rather have it presented interestingly. It's easier to remember.

And too, she is prissy and determined; and I cannot but wish her luck, while backing off from confrontation. Her American publisher certainly didn't dare mess with the British spellings. He thought it would detract from its impact, and I agree. Besides, who wants further language controversies? Isn't it enough that we generally get blamed by English dim wits for weakening and corroding the Kings English? Yet, funny is still funny even when spelled humourous; demoralizing is bad whether it is spelled with a z or an s; and while we put parentheses around certain messages and they put brackets, both curved poles' embrace.

All in all, it is a book I recommend for all who reads and writes. As for my use of these markers, I make no claim as to accuracy. I am open to all the help with these misunderstood little tadpoles, (,) upside-down candles, (!) halved light-bulbs, (?) bowling balls, () cow licks, () broken pencils, (-) lovebirds, (") infantile potholes, (.) that I can get; and to all the reading delights I can get my pause around.

(The book came out two or three years ago and shortly after I purchased it, reviewed it, and, although it was was sent to one editor, (someone else had likewise reviewed the book) it has never been published.)

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