Ellen Jovin

How could I resist this title? I found myself laughing out loud and sharing some parts with my husband because they were so funny. And this is a book about grammar! The premise is as unique as the author – Ellen Jovin, professional writer, presenter, and trainer with facility in multiple languages and expertise in English grammar and business communication issues. In 2018 Ellen decided to set up a table (with sign) in a park near her New York home. Calling it “Grammar Table,” she was ready to answer and discuss any grammatical question that passersby wanted to ask. And the table became very popular. Turns out people have questions and opinions about all things grammar.

Ellen’s website explains what happened next: “Within six months Ellen and her husband, Brandt Johnson, decided to take the table on the road. They visited 47 states before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and Brandt filmed the grammar action. In 2022, they brought the table to the last three states: Alaska, Hawaii, and that faraway land of Connecticut.

"Ellen talks about grammar with writers, editors, construction workers, salespeople, teachers, students, small children, doctors, dancers, seniors, and anyone else who uses words in this world. She creates community. Fan-favorite topics include the Oxford comma, spaces after periods, semicolons, “which” versus “that,” and whether you can end a sentence with a preposition (hint: you can!).

"But this story transcends grammar. It's the story of an epic quest, in a time of deep social division, to connect with America and bring us all closer together. Over grammar? Yeah. Say goodbye to your preconceptions. Say hello to Grammar Table.”… (altro)

I liked the premise of this book - the traveling grammar table. The author shares the discussions she has with people who visit her grammar table as she and her husband travel around the country. This book brought back memories of sentence diagrams and all those pesky terms of words and tenses. I was pleased to discover that I had retained a good amount knowledge of my English language - it's just not something I think about every day, although I do love reading and learning about linguistics. This book would be very entertaining for those well-versed in English and those wanting to learn more about grammar… (altro)