Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris, read by Mary Norris
This is a mix of memoir and grammar guide, two of my favourite things. Having the author read it just adds to the fun. Norris worked as an editor at The New Yorker for decades, and she tells her own history including what came before in her life, and her experiences at the magazine.
She also includes a lot of information on comma issues regarding grammar and editing. From copulative verbs to compound nouns, from profanity in print to pencil quality, from the nuances of punctuation to editorial personalities, Norris makes language even more interesting than it already is to me.
She injects humour into her subject, and is not shy about exposing her own mistakes and embarrassments. Language is such fun, and she emphasizes that. The rules shouldn't be taken too seriously, but you should know that you are breaking them, and why. A very enjoyable read.
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