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What If?: Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers

Beginning Writers Now Know Where to Turn!!!, 1999-03-10
I am a beginning writer with very little experience. This book, along with "Writing Down the Bones"(Natalie Goldberg) and "The Art of Fiction"(John Gardner), is an absolute must if you want to write satisfying and realistic stories.

Eats shoots and leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

Lynne Truss Has Got A Little List, 2008-01-12
As someday it may happen that a victim must be found,
She's got a little list -- she's got a little list
Of illiterate offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed -- who never would be missed!
There's the greengrocer's redundant and reviled apostrophe
Granting unapproved possession of the carrot and the pea --
All the dangling expectations when the commas aren't in pairs --
All the chaos that's created in semantical affairs --
All editors eliminating semis from your list --
They'd none of 'em be missed -- they'd none of 'em be missed!

She's got 'em on the list -- she's got 'em on the list;
And they'll none of 'em be missed -- they'll none of 'em be missed.

There's the muzzy-headed journalist whose phrases roam like sheep,
Who thinks that commas don't exist -- she's got him on her list!
And the pedants whose subordinated clauses bring on sleep,
They never would be missed -- they never would be missed!
There's the manuscript that always gives infuriating pause
By the wrongful punctuation of the inoffensive clause,
And ambiguous intentions when a colon should be placed
But the author for some reason holds that mark in great distaste,
And the cavalier exclaimer who from screaming can't desist --
I don't think he'd be missed -- I'm sure he'd not be missed!

She's got him on the list -- she's got him on the list;
And I don't think he'd be missed -- I'm sure he'll not be missed!

And the sentences that ought to end but will not mind the stop
So the readers lose the gist -- she's got 'em on the list!
And the badly punctuated placard shilling for a shop,
They'd none of 'em be missed -- they'd none of 'em be missed.
And the foes of readability with dashes everywhere,
They inch along in fits and starts, they make you want to swear,
The intolerant authorities whose standards are not yours,
Those moral weaklings oozing indecision from their pores,

It's a stickler's job to see they all are placed upon the list,
For they'd none of 'em be missed -- they'd none of 'em be missed!

In homage to THE MIKADO; libretto by W.S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan.

Linda Bulger, 2008

Mastering Arabic Book and 2 CD pack (Palgrave Master Series (Languages))

I Think Im Addicted!, 2008-04-27

I love this book, its so easy to understand and follow. learning Arabic as I am by myself I am enjoying the chance to listen to native speakers and have chance to interact. The layout of the book is great and with the aid of a few post it notes I am able to flick back and forward to check answers. Im on unit three now and going strong!

OCR Revise AS Biology - New Edition

Storymaking (Jumpstart)

Pie's Jumpstarts do it again!, 2009-01-05
This is my second purchase of books from the Jumpstart range. I bought Jumpstart literacy last year and use it so much felt i needed some more of Pie's wonderful activities. Jumpstart storymaking is a must for KS2 literacy lessons and classrooms in particular though many activities would be easily adaptable for ks1. The activities are divided into sentence, character, setting, storymaking, story reading and allow you to tailor appropriate games to the start of your lessons. All are easily explained and where resources are need you, Pie virtually tells you what you need and you just need to make the little cards with words on etc.... The activities also inspire ideas of my own which probably wouldnt arrive without Pie's initial stimulus.

The introductory chapter is very useful in underlying his ideas and methodology around story-writing and how it should be nurtured. As always, written in Pie's easy to understand but incredibly informative way. Jumpstart Poetry next no doubt!

Easy Spanish Phrase Book: Over 750 Basic Phrases for Everyday Use (Dover Easy Phrase Books)

A very useful prhase book, 2003-06-12
Everyone studying Spanish should get a small book like this. It is simple and to the point without pictures nor distractions. It is easy to use and to get quick references when in need (like on holidays) especially as the expressions are divided by activity, as for example:when going to the stores you will find phrases asking where a chemist is or the market. All the phrases have the phonetic expression that is excellent so you don't need to struggle with remembering the right pronunciation (there is a pronunciation guide at the end of the book). Because is an american book some words in English are different...drugstore for chemist and so on..that may be the negative issue with this book. But, for the price is worth it.

Italian Verb Drills (BGR12)

Great for Revision and New Work, 2003-02-08
I have found Italian Verb Drills invaluable. It has been excellent both in learning new work - verb endings, different tenses, etc, and also for revisiting and revising. The book is clearly laid out and the answer section enables one to check work at the end, or during the exercise to make sure one has the right idea. I would recommend it to anyone taking up Italian.

Italian Grammar Drills (Drills Series)

Great!, 2007-11-26
This book is absolutely fabulous. It contains all aspects of Italian grammar, and it answers the `why is that there?', `What does this mean?' questions. It is very simple to follow as well, and has a lot of exercises to help drill the grammar point's home. There are some grammar books out there that cost around £15.00-25.00 that aren't a patch on this cheap but very detailed book. It answers everything!

Wide Sargasso Sea

Makes you think..., 2005-07-30
Wide Sargasso Sea is a prequel to Charlotte Bronte`s Jane Eyre.
It is a very short book but it is very moving,readable and beautifully written.Jean Rhys uses descriptions about Jamacia which conjer up it`s smells and sights so you feel that you are actually there.
The narrative displacement is easy to keep track of as it is only between Mr Rochester and his mad bride(who is actually called Antoniette by the way).Antoniette is easy to sympathise with especially in the first and final parts as they are told by her.If you have read Jane Eyre before you will see her in a different light and even care about her.
However I will not spoil this fantastic book.I would recommend reading Jane Eyre first as you will appreciate it better,but even if you haven`t I still recommend.
I am now waiting to read Quartet also by Jean Rhys.

Collins Easy Learning French Dictionary (Easy Learning Dictionary)

Quality keeps on improving!, 2007-06-18
I have a copy of a previous edition of this 'easy learning' dictionary and a friend has the penultimate one to this latest copy. As such, I feel well-versed to comment...
This new release is excellent. My wife and I, both in our 50's, are learning the language and we find this dictionary more than just a resource for looking up the meaning of words. It is a big help to us with our verb tables, especially the tenses and gives good grammatical breakdowns on many aspects of the language.
Perhaps if there was more help with pronounciations, it could claim to be a language course in one book. But that aside, it is very, very, good value and we both love referring to it at every opportunity. Definitely five stars from us!