What I'm Reading: The Elements of F*cking Style, by Baker and Hansen
Friday's What I'm Reading is late. On Saturday, yesterday, I threw a baby shower for my brother and sister-in-law (they make up what I regularly call J&V), and my preparation for that event took up a lot of my time last week. I choose some light reading for the week, after finishing last week's O Pioneers! by Willa Cather. (The main character, Alexandra, does not lose her land, by the way!)
And by "light reading," what I really mean is a grammar guide.
Seriously.
Have you read the Elements of Style by Strunk and White?
I purchased my first copy at the booktore in downtown Wisconsin Rapids, and though it was in no way any part of my school curriculum then (or even later in college) I read my copy cover to cover. This was maybe 2002 or 2003?
For Christmas in 2009 I hit a book jackpot for Christmas: J&V gifted me a couple issues of the McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, as well as the illustrated copy of.....
....The Elements of Style (illustrated), by Strunk/White/Kalman.
It is so beautiful.
So I came across The Elements of F*cking Style somehow while online, and I knew I needed to read it. Though I wouldn't really say either of the first two copies I have are "light reading," this one definitely is.
In the introduction, which is titled, "Introduction, or How I Learned to Stop Writing Like a Three-Year-Old and Love Grammar," the authors explain why this guide is important:
It has sold more copies than Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code combined, and is about as dry as the obituary section of your local newspaper.
The Elements of Style was first published in 1918. Think about that for a moment. In 1918, gay meant happy, opium derivatives were prescribed for headaches, and top hates and monocles were un-ironic fashion choices.
--The Elements of F*cking Style, pages 1
They continue to explain that the aim of the book is to "guide you through the painful world of English grammar and style by using sex, drugs, and fucking swearing. Why? Because we're into that shit."
So for example:
10. Pronouns are a real bitch.
Pronouns can be a real bitch, making good writers look stupid and poor writers look like complete morons. When to use me, myself, or I? The easiest way to remember I versus me is to drop the other person from the sentence and see if it makes sense:
My dad got my brother and I drunk last night. (wrong)
My dad got I drunk last night. (wrong)
My dad got my brother and me drunk last night. (right)
My dad got me drunk last night. (right)
--The Elements of F*cking Style, pages 16-17
You have to read the rules for the examples to make any sense. Examples like, "A decent homemade sex tape requires: good lighting, attractive participants, and a tripod. (wrong)" just don't make sense unless you've read the rules under #7: A Colon is More Than an Organ That Gets Cancer. The authors are forcing you to learn while being amused.
Anyway, I think the jackpot would be an illustrated copy of this book, amiright?!
This post is part of a weekly series on "What I'm Reading." I'll be talking about whatever book I happen to be reading, and you can look for this series every Friday.