After having a long discussion about the difference between "compare to" and "compare with", I decided it was time that I brush up on my grammar skills. This need has become increasingly important to me now that I am a TEFL teacher and my students love to ask me questions about grammar rules, to which I respond with a very graceful, "Uh...".
This book is a fun introductory guide to grammar. It lays out all of the common mistakes people make, such as the difference between "lie" and "lay", "try to" and "try and", and when it's appropriate to use a semicolon and when it makes you seem pretentious. June Casagrande has a witty style of introducing everything, as well as giving you helpful hints to remember the different rules. She takes a complicated rule and paraphrases it to make it much easier to understand.
My only problem with this book was the constant name dropping and attacks on supposed "grammar meanies". Not being in the grammar business myself, I can't say whether or not these people really are mean, but I certainly didn't want to be reminded of it every five pages. A lot of this stems from the fact that she is making jokes, and while I have no problem with jokes in general, I don't like them when they're at the expense of another person -- especially when that person isn't there to defend themselves.
But overlooking my moralistic problems with this book, I have to say that it was a very good guide to introductory grammar. Ms. Casagrande is able to cover all the major rules of grammar that most people get wrong in a witty and understandable way. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to brush up on their grammar, English language/literature majors, or those wanting to become journalists or writers.