Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

I Finally got around to buying a book I wanted to read ever since I saw its title: The Fight for English:How language pundits ate, shot, and left.

I loathe, abhor, hate, detest and contemn the priggish, prissy, petty prescriptivist pedantry of "pundits" like Lynne Truss, so when David Crystal took a swipe at them by mocking her vile tome's title, I knew I wanted it. I was also very surprised to discover today that it was $16NZ cheaper at Amazon than at Kobo (dearer still at Google), an unusually large price difference. Really looking forward to reading this, now that it's part of my collection of his works.

[MickeyC]

Originally Posted by stuartjmz

I Finally got around to buying a book I wanted to read ever since I saw its title: The Fight for English:How language pundits ate, shot, and left.

I loathe, abhor, hate, detest and contemn the priggish, prissy, petty prescriptivist pedantry of "pundits" like Lynne Truss, so when David Crystal took a swipe at them by mocking her vile tome's title, I knew I wanted it. I was also very surprised to discover today that it was $16NZ cheaper at Amazon than at Kobo (dearer still at Google), an unusually large price difference. Really looking forward to reading this, now that it's part of my collection of his works.

$23.12 in Kobo US and $14.57 for Kindle

Originally Posted by MickeyC

$23.12 in Kobo US and $14.57 for Kindle

Thanks! Allowing for exchange rates, while it's still a big difference, it's not as big as on Kobo's NZ store. It is very irksome when electronic products with no physical costs or delivery charges still cost more here than elsewhere, for no other reason than "because we can"

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by stuartjmz

Thanks! Allowing for exchange rates, while it's still a big difference, it's not as big as on Kobo's NZ store. It is very irksome when electronic products with no physical costs or delivery charges still cost more here than elsewhere, for no other reason than "because we can"

Might one suggest it's time to do a bit of "travel" as necessary? One might even go so far as to suggest visiting Apprentice Alf to find cross-store solutions. That much of a difference is just gouging.

Originally Posted by CRussel

Might one suggest it's time to do a bit of "travel" as necessary? One might even go so far as to suggest visiting Apprentice Alf to find cross-store solutions. That much of a difference is just gouging.

I admit, I am acquainted with the Amiable Apprentice, but when it comes to handing over money for ebooks, generally the ones I buy see Kobo, Google and Amazon pretty much neck and neck, with price differences of less than $1US after conversion. That's why such a big difference surprised me. It's not a retailer size issue, since Google actually wants more than Kobo. I could have bought the Kobo one and then claimed the price difference through their match guarantee, but I wasn't thinking clearly enough at the time to realise that opportunity. It only occurred to me after buying from Amazon.

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by stuartjmz

I Finally got around to buying a book I wanted to read ever since I saw its title: The Fight for English:How language pundits ate, shot, and left.

I loathe, abhor, hate, detest and contemn the priggish, prissy, petty prescriptivist pedantry of "pundits" like Lynne Truss, so when David Crystal took a swipe at them by mocking her vile tome's title, I knew I wanted it...

It should be mandatory reading for some of the prescriptionists that pop up in forums like this from time to time to "correct" the writing of others .

When a linguist writes There are more important things in life, and death, than grammar (Chapter 19 Clarity) one knows that they have their feet firmly in the realms of reality rather than in their mouth.

If not known to you already, you might like John McWhorter's podcast Lexicon Valley - another linguist who says it like it is.

Originally Posted by AnotherCat

It should be mandatory reading for some of the prescriptionists that pop up in forums like this from time to time to "correct" the writing of others .

When a linguist writes There are more important things in life, and death, than grammar (Chapter 19 Clarity) one knows that they have their feet firmly in the realms of reality rather than in their mouth.

AMEN!

[Tarana]

I am reading Dragonflight by Ann McCaffrey. Still has a lot of errors. I'd hoped they fixed those when I noticed there was a new version. Poo. Story is still good though!

Originally Posted by Tarana

I am reading Dragonflight by Ann McCaffrey. Still has a lot of errors. I'd hoped they fixed those when I noticed there was a new version. Poo. Story is still good though!

What sort of errors? I re-read this one a couple of months ago, didn't notice anything that I can remember.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Which was interesting. I'm not sure there's more to say about it.

Next was a quick read: Paddington Abroad by Michael Bond.

Delightful stories of Paddington falling on his feet as usual.


Next up: Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell. The second in his Arthurian trilogy.

Which was very good.

I've also read Analog SFF for Jan/Feb 2019 (the latest issue) which once again was an excellent selection of stories. Trevor Quachri is doing a good job as editor, IMO.

Now I'm reading Asimov's SF for Jan/Feb 2019.

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

Just started The Left Hand of Darkness for the January New Leaf Book Club selection. I am embarrassed to say that I have never read any LeGuin before, so I am looking forward to it.

Well, I was trying the audiobook but it was not working for me at all (though I loved the introduction). I think this is about the reading, not the book. I have put a hold on a hard copy at my library that should be in by the weekend.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

Well, I was trying the audiobook but it was not working for me at all (though I loved the introduction). I think this is about the reading, not the book. I have put a hold on a hard copy at my library that should be in by the weekend.

I've got both the ebook and the audiobook. Generally I prefer to read book club choices as it's more conducive to note-taking (and I'm less likely to zone out), but I had planned to give the audiobook a try.

[ReadingManiac]

Originally Posted by Tarana

I am reading Dragonflight by Ann McCaffrey. Still has a lot of errors. I'd hoped they fixed those when I noticed there was a new version. Poo. Story is still good though!

I keep meaning to re-read those! I've got a couple of the later books I never read.

[ururk]

To break in my new Kobo arriving soon, I have a bunch of C.M. Kornbluth queued up!

[HarryT]

My first completed book of the year: "Personal", by Lee Child.

The 19th book in the "Jack Reacher" series, and an enjoyable romp, as always. This one sees Reacher on the trail of an assassin targetting a meeting of the G20 in London. Recommended.