The old adage, rules are made to be broken has never been as well defended as in MISS THISTLEBOTTOM'S HOBGOBLINS. Throughout the book, Bernstein asserts that we have been indoctrinated with English usage rules that lack flexibility and evoke fear, confusion and frustration in writers. There are times when splitting an infinitive or ending a sentence with a preposition makes sense. Through a series of one-sided correspondences with Bertha Thistlebottom, an archetypal grade school English teacher, Bernstein addresses the community of rule mongering sticklers who have tried to squeeze the English language into a set of inflexible rules and outmoded definitions that only serve to stifle its growth and paralyze writers. In addition to his letters to Miss Thistlebottom, there are scores of entries where Bernstein debunks the rules of yesteryear with wit and intelligence and illustrates how to write effectively—without the worry of hobgoblins.

Miss Thistlebottom's Hobgoblins: The Careful Writer's Guide to the Taboos, Bugbears, And Outmoded Rules of English Usage

Reference

Theodore M. Bernstein

Encyclopedias & Subject Guides

Centro Books

It was love at first sight—the Vespa had everything he wanted—a few dents and scratches, saddle seats and temperamental electrics. When Moore sat on it for the first time, he felt like a sharp-suited, Ray Ban wearing young Marcello Mastroianni. Riding the back roads, visiting small towns, sleeping in haylofts, Moore shows us an Italy rarely seen—from picnicking in the Italian Alps to rattling through cobbled hilltop towns to gate-crashing France Mayes's villa. When Moore's girlfriend, Sally, joins him for two weeks on the road, his fantasy is complete, summer in Italy on a Vespa with too much chrome and a pretty girl riding on the back. But it is Sophia's delicate constitution we owe the greatest gratitude. Her need for constant pampering and frequent stops hypnotizes all those who gaze upon her. The locals, unaccustomed to foreign visitors, graciously invite Sopia (and Moore) into their homes, inns and restaurants to share their memories of their first Vespa; their first serious romance. Sophia forced Moore to slow down, gave him time to enjoy the simple beauty of Italy and its people—and let him experience Italy's dolce vita.

Vroom with a View

Travel

MOORE, PETER

Europe

Fort examines Italy through its food and the people who produce it. He discovers a land where regional differences are still alive and uncovers the rich connection between history, tradition and cuisine. The enticing sum of these parts—the food, producers, ingredients, consumers and eating occasions—is nothing less than a contemporary portrait of the country.

Eating Up Italy: Voyages on a Vespa

Fort, Matthew

While for many, a galloon of ice cream or a new convertible might be enough to ease the pain of a nasty break-up, this outgoing Aussie author needs a twelve-country, six-month journey snaking through Africa on a ridiculously small budget. And with all the twists and turns on this trip, Peter doesn't even have the time or the peace of mind to mourn love lost. From traveling through Lesotho's Kingdom Where Cattle are Allowed to Wander Freely into the Path of Oncoming Vehicles to escaping an angry mob by hiding in a Southern Ethiopian coffin shop, Peter once again finds himself in a land demanding his full attention, an amazing eye for detail, and an inexhaustible sense of humor.

Swahili for the Broken Hearted: Cape Town to Cairo by Any Means Necessary

Travel Writing

I See by My Outfit

In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. articulated his dream, JFK was assassinated, and zip codes were first introduced to the US. The world was monumentally changing and changing fast. But in the eyes of future fantasy author Peter Beagle and his best friend Phil, it wasn't changing fast enough. For these two twenty-something beatnik Jews from the Bronx, change was something you chased after night and day across the country on the trembling seat of a motor scooter.

I See By My Outfit

BEAGLE, PETER S.