The Devil Inside

I just read this book, after a long vacation from leisure reading. It was one of those great experiences where you fall asleep only after fighting it tooth and nail just so you can get to the end of a chapter, only to wake up again the next morning wondering when you'll be able to steal another hour to read more.

I haven't read much of Jodi Picoult's other works, except for My Sister's Keeper, which haunted me for days. I loved it, aside from the ending. Terrible ending. In any case, the way she gets into a teenager's mind in both of these books simply amazes me.

The entire premise (walking through the various stages of self-created hell) is told not just by explaining the story of the family's own sins, but also through a comic book version of their tribulations. (This complete with amazing graphic novel drawings by Dustin Weaver, who I'm told is a famous dude who does this stuff. I don't do comic books, gang. I skipped those pages, to be perfectly honest.)

But it's clever and smart and the rest of the story is filled with powerful twists and turns. Great way to get me back on the reading-for-fun bandwagon. It's been far too long.

Lay Down Sally

It's been awhile since I've posted anything, so you might wonder what finally motivates me to step up to the plate.

Is it a socially vital injustice that burns me to the core?

Perhaps an unbelievable movie that I felt utterly compelled to discuss?

Not so much.

It's the undeniable need to confess that I love Grammar Girl , which like most successful podcasts and web sites (and, ultimately, big-number book deals and the like) is based on a really simple concept. You see, Grammar Girl is me! In most jobs and classes and relationships that I've ever had! Except online and with notes, which is nifty. And, also, it's not me. I'm too lazy to have thought of it.

Never mind that. It's good stuff, I tell ya.

This CNN article explains the purpose well, but as an example: her most recent podcast discusses why Eric Clapton got it wrong in the song title I've used as my blog post title. Do you SEE why this is so very, incredibly valuable!? It affects (note: not effect, people; "a"ffects) all the really important, big-impact aspects of modern civilization in the English-speaking world!

On a more micro level: for those of you who have called or e-mailed me with an apostrophe question or to review that letter you're about to send for your latest dream job (Yes, you. And you. And you, too.), please bookmark this url.

Easy lessons. Helpful reminders. And tidily organized. I love this stuff.