When Words Collide by Lauren Kessler and Duncan McDonald
When Words Collide
One of the best grammar and style books available, "When Words Collide" is a perfect companion to Strunk and White in any writer's library. I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend. It proved to be worth every penny. Everything about Kessler and McDonald's book is aimed at the professional writer. For example, they put the verb first in understanding a sentence. Construction and punctuation receive substantial attention as well. Finally, the glossary of trouble words, phrases and punctuation choices gives readers a quick, easy-to-find reference.
I read "The Hobbit" and the first book in the trilogy, "The Fellowship of the Ring," before I saw the new Peter Jackson movie. I had read "The Hobbit" in high school, but never ventured beyond it. After reading book one and seeing the movie, I became obsessed with following the stories of Frodo Baggins and Stryder to their conclusion. So I cleared my schedule and hunkered down with books two and three for a week of largely uninterrupted reading.
