Lengthy, hysterical, off-the-cuff rant removed because I remembered in time (thank god for the think-twice nature of LJ!) that probably no one would enjoy my rant and that definitely it would hurt some feelings. Not to mention snap the comment character limit like bubble gum.

The extremely abbreviated version of said rant is: the New Yorker review prompted me to read Eats, Shoots & Leaves, because Menand so irritated me that I figured anything that got up his nose was something I'd probably like. Now that I've read Eats, Shoots & Leaves (which, for the record, is not a perfect or error-free book, just an excellent, light, and fun one), Menand's review of it bothers me even more.

If you do read the panda book, I'd like to know if your reaction to it is similar to mine. 'Satiable curiosity, you know. I've saved my rant, so if you do want to see it later (and you agree in advance that it is in no way directed at you, 'cause it wasn't, and also that I am not liable for deaths from boredom that occur during the course of the rant, 'cause I probably am but I don't carry rant insurance), you still can.

(That icon looks just like a line drawing from an old shorthand book I got out of the library once. May I, may I ask what it is?)