"Eats, Shoots & Leaves" - Lynne Truss

Nobody panic because no one is getting eaten. :)

I have 'learned' grammar in the public school system and while studying for my English degree. But never before has it been funny, clever, and entertaining.

What I adore about this book is that it keeps the lessons short and simple. Also, many misunderstand that in the very beginning Lynne states that it is mostly UK based grammar with some American style as well.

For us crazy Americans we have to check our own rules while reading about hers but I have learned a lot.

If you struggle or want a reminder about grammar rules pick this hilarious book up. And, if you are snobbishly saying to yourself that you don't need reminders well pick it up anyways for entertainment purposes. :D

                         By: J Feistner

"The Rosie Project" -Graeme Simision

     I read this book in two days. It is initially a short read but it was invigorating. :)

     I want you to meet my gentle friend Don. Now, had I not experienced very logical minded people before I would not have understood him so well as I did reading his experience. He struggles to feel empathy towards others as a result suffers from always being the weird social one.

     Don is a professor who specializes in genetics and lives by rules and sound science. He only has a handful of friends that in my definition are not friends but those are all who he has. Gene is his only friend at work and has an open marriage with Claudia who is a psychologist.

     Don has worked hard all his life and decides that he wants a wife. Gene and Claudia help Don write a questionnaire for women o fill out according to his requirements. His ideal mate is non-smoking and drinking. Even though he drinks himself is willing to quite for a spouse.

     He see's Gene and Claudia's relationship as a goal to achieve because they seem so happy and work together on a lot of things. Gene uses Don's questionnaire for his own purposes to hook up with women of other nationalities. Claudia is well aware and helps Don pick outfits and change his computer science vocabulary to a more social fitting one.

     During his search he meets Rosie. She doesn't have a written hourly schedule or eats the same thing all the time. Instead she has daddy issues and wants to find out who her real father is. Since Don is a geneticist he seeks to help her. When they first meet she says that Gene sent her to see him. Focused completely on his "Wife Project" he asks Rosie on a date and it goes down hill from there very fast.

     They end up at his apartment to have dinner and she wants to eat out on the balcony so she starts to move furniture outside and Don is thoroughly panicked thinking she is destroying his apartment in less than ten minutes.

     Rosie and Don go through extreme situations to gain DNA of the possible fathers for Rosie. I won't tell all their adventures because you will laugh so much harder than if you knew ahead of time. I love Rosie and Don in their own ways.

     This is an adult book because of some topics addressed, swearing, and there is a scene where Rosie is in a towel but its not a sexy steamy part. These things did not bother me but it is up to you to decide to meet my new friend Don who I admire and laughed at so hard. :)

                                      By: J Feistner