Have You Eaten Grandma? by Gyles Brandreth ★★★★★
2018; Penguin Books
If this clever book title sparked amusement, you’ll love this book. If you didn’t get it, or worse you took a second glance to read it again and still don’t understand the pun then Honey—you NEED this book!
The book is just what it says it is- on the cover (the longer and descriptive title me friend; not a story about some big bad wolf). I happen to be in the possession of this book for nearly a year now, but only recently made it a priority to finish reading it— this sudden need for guidance because recently I’ve been writing a lot and I am not confident of good grammar, punctuation and good English.
For an Indian Urban Millennial that I am, it’s always been English that has felt like home (I think in English, if that explains why; though I converse with family in Tamil-that-has-been-invaded-by-English-words.) Also my teenage years were exposed to Jane Austen and slowly moved into a period of impact from American pop-culture. Then again I started feeling a loss of identity or Colour where I had none to begin with (Is it Colour or Color? You get my vibe, now.)
If you’re from the Third world, like me, having both British and American Influences and have an appreciation for good English I think you are as stuck as I am. And this book, by a British author, has funny quips, quotations and everything else (I especially love the footnotes, very funny and informative) to illustrate what makes for effective and good communication in English- UK/ US. After that it also moves on to differentiate between both derivatives of the language and tells you, when, what is appropriate/allowed. And sometimes leaves you with choices— you may take your pick.
And what I love most about the book is the author’s welcoming attitude to the changes in slang and language. He says it is ever evolving and it is better to keep oneself updated, while doing so, he just wants us readers to regard the essential tools such as punctuation, good grammar- all that you need for effective communication.
If you read my review all the way up to this point, this definitely is a book you’ll want on your shelf.
PS I am now hunting for errors in this piece of writing.
