Author: Martin H. Manser
Publisher: Bloomsburry
ISBN: 978-0-7136-7759-1

Do you know the difference between continuance, continuation and continuity? Or another word between artist and artiste? Or the difference between specially, especially and specialty? or maybe you ‘re confuse which word should use Muslim or Moslem?

If you are curious about what their differences in meaning or usage, then this book will really help you. Martin H. Manser, Language trainer and consultant and authored many English books has made this book as a fast way guide to correct your English in spelling, punctuation, grammar and usage. This book presents in A-Z style dictionary. But believe me this book is extraordinary. I believe you never read dictionary from A to Z but I am sure you will enjoy reading this book in A to Z style. The explanations are clear, reasonable, and cover both UK and US usage. The guide will solve all your spelling, usage and punctuation difficulties, as well as covering all the latest buzzwords and jargon. There are plenty of sensible examples for each entry, plus useful lists of collective nouns, foreign words and phrases, I highly recommend this book. I bought sixth edition of this book from Borders bookstore Singapore, price SGD23

Score 5 out of 5

I copy below from the cover of the book:

From the author:

Our language is changing faster than ever before, thanks to the influence of the media, e-mail, the Internet and text messaging. Modern communications are breaking down distinctions between formal and informal English, raising ever more questions as to how to speak and write correctly.

This fully updated edition of the bestselling “Good Word Guide” offers information and advice on spelling, grammar, punctuation, pronunciation, confusables and the latest buzzwords, and provides clear, straightforward answers to everyday language problems.

From other reviewer:

“. ‘This intelligent guide is an essential addition to the bookshelves of all readers and writers’ – “Good Book Guide”

‘ An entertaining and instructive guide.. countless examples of contemporary usage’
Yorkshire post

Want to get to know the author?
http://martinmanser.com/M/default.aspx

Author: Elizabeth Swire-Falker
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher:Riverhead Trade; Riverhead Ed edition (April 6, 2004)
ISBN-13: 978-1573223812
ISBN-10:1573223816

I got this book from Singapore National Library. Interesting title! But how is the content? Is it as interesting as the title?
First of all, this book is written by Elizabeth Falker, a lawyer who is struggling from infertility with trying IVF five times. She finally decided to give up with the struggle and pick adoption for her motherhood. So from the background, you will see that the book is more how she shared her struggling with infertility. she shared her own personal experience and offers insight into what challenges to expect along the way-from getting support to finding the right doctor into dealing with insurance. Heartfelt, honest and well-informed flowered with some jokes, the author gave a well-documented personal experience. However coz the author is not with medical background, don’t expect this book with the detail of medical treatment option. She though explored also about IUIs, IVF and some of mostly infertility related sickness but she tell in patient way not in doctor’s way. For me she’s lacking with medical theory and the medicine related. Should this book call a infertility survival handbook? Handbook for me is like a bible. Calling this book as a handbook is just not right.

I recommend you if you’re purchasing an infertility book you’re probably find it which is dealing with yourself. Infertility is a complex problem. You will not get good and complete inform from the book which covers all like this book. However if you just borrowed from library or friends, this book is OK to read. Yeah just OK not great.
Score: 3 out of 5

Below I copy from the cover of the book:

From the Author
People often ask me why I decided to write this book and why I chose to be so honest and straight-forward about what it’s like to be infertile. The answer is simple: I was confused by the information I found on infertility treatment and I felt tremendously isolated and alone. I was walking to my car after an acupuncture session one day and I was angry (why me?), frustrated (for every step forward it seemed we were taking two steps backward), confused (was the acupuncture really a waste of time and money?). But most of all I was scared – was I ever going to have the baby I dreamed of and longed for?
I wandered into a bookstore hoping to find “the one book” that could help me deal with my pain and confusion. Book after book was written by physicians who seemed to know nothing about what infertility was like for the patient (clearly these men had all impregnated their wives on the first try). They may have explained what a Hysterosalpinogram involved, but none of the books told me how absolutely horrific it was to live through or why it’s so important to have it done.
And so it began: endless research and a decision to go so painfully public with my own story that my family is still trying to recover (sorry guys!). I chose to be honest because I knew that if I was open about my experience then someone reading the book might not feel so isolated. The research I did for the book made me empowered – no longer fearful or confused, I was able to take power back and gain some control over my life. There was so much I didn’t know, so much that was unsaid about being infertile; I chose to change that. No one should feel alone and confused as they wander down the street aching for a baby. (And by the way, acupuncture does work. Research now proves that undergoing acupuncture during an IVF cycle increases pregnancy rates!)