Favorite Magazines...

[ragandbone]

Originally Posted by catinthedark

The trick: you have to read it constantly!! I read it everyday, and only rarely do I finish it before the next issue arrives. I'm somewhat anal about it, so I read from start to finish - I never jump ahead. If I do finish it, I read a few pages of whatever novel I'm working on, but as soon as the next issue arrives, it's like Christmas all over again.

I know, and I used to do that - even reading the art listings - but I have a toddler, I work at home, and I have been spending an inordinate amount of time on a very addictive online forum ( ) so something had to go. I always read the film reviews, the short story, and at least one of the longer articles. I also do sonething super-dorky: if I read a particularly great issue, or an amazing sotry or article, I sharpie "save" on the cover, and write down the reason I am saving it. I have a stack of these from way back.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by ragandbone

I can never keep up with my New Yorkers, and often give them away, or freeze my membership. I have had a subscription continuously since I was 18 (40 now) but that is only because my mother gave me one when I moved to San Francisco, and she continues to give me a subscription every year - whether I want it or not!

Child, you should see my library of New Yorker's. My grandmother subscribed for years and gave them to me when she was finished reading them. I used to rip them open and race to the pages containing Pauline Kael's reviews. That was one of the joys of my childhood. Kael was my crack, even though I didn't know what she was talking about half the time considering my age. But I've still got them all for the most part, only I cut out her reviews and have them in notebooks.

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Originally Posted by dissention

Child, you should see my library of New Yorker's. My grandmother subscribed for years and gave them to me when she was finished reading them. I used to rip them open and race to the pages containing Pauline Kael's reviews. That was one of the joys of my childhood. Kael was my crack, even though I didn't know what she was talking about half the time considering my age. But I've still got them all for the most part, only I cut out her reviews and have them in notebooks.

One of my English professors subscribed to the New Yorker. We were actually friends so I used to borrow hers and read it...I got addicted kind of.

[ragandbone]

Originally Posted by dissention

Child, you should see my library of New Yorker's. I used to rip them open and race to the pages containing Pauline Kael's reviews. That was one of the joys of my childhood.

Once, when visiting my mother, in the 80's, she showed me that she had purchased "Purple Rain" because of Pauline Kael's obsession with this movie. My mother the mystery. Oh yes, and she has a garage full of New Yorkers. If I am at her house for the next earthquake, I look forward to reading through all of them. In the ruins of LA, I will put on her embroidered denim pantsuits from Joseph Magnin's circa '76 (also in a box in the garage) and I will empty her cabinet or cordials.

[David]

Originally Posted by ragandbone

Once, when visiting my mother, in the 80's, she showed me that she had purchased "Purple Rain" because of Pauline Kael's obsession with this movie. My mother the mystery.

Your mother the mystery, indeed!

Kael didn't like "Purple Rain" & certainly wasn't obsessed with it ...

[estranged4life]

none.

Havent felt like renewing my subscription to Guitar Player (Among others).

[David]

Originally Posted by ragandbone

If I am at her house for the next earthqauke, I look forward to reading through all of them. In the ruins of LA, I will put on her embroidered denim pantsuits from Joseph Magnin's circa '76 (also in a box in the garage) and I will empty her cabinet or cordials.

Better than reading old New Yorkers, get this instead:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/089...83155&v=glance

This is one of the best magazine parodies of all time. You will be howling with laughter that literally hurts your stomach & possibly breaks or at least bruises your ribs.

If you can't find a copy, I can mail you this copy if you promise to mail it back after reading it!

[ragandbone]

Originally Posted by David

Your mother the mystery, indeed!

Kael didn't like "Purple Rain" & certainly wasn't obsessed with it ...

Owee, that smarts!

I should have framed my story to indicate that my mother felt that PK was oddly interested in Prince. I think she was surprised that Pauline Kael would even pay attention to the film, and that it would be reviewed in the New Yorker. I don't think I indicated whether or not Pauline Kael liked "Purple Rain". I don't recall if she did but if you do recall, or if you have the review, then I will take your word for it. The review was in 1984, and I don't have a copy, although I remember my mother showing it to me.

The only references I found online are (predictably) not verifiable; one quoted Kael as having compared Prince to James Dean, but not for his acting ability, and another had Kael calling Prince a "cutie" when he danced. If those comments are indeed part of Kael's review then I can see why my mother was intrigued, especially by a comparison to James Dean.

The mystery of mom is in the randomness of her tastes. She liked classical music, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan when I was a kid, and she mostly disliked my music. I dont know why, but she loved Purple Rain. My mother is a voracious reader, she lists Alice Munro, and Thomas Mann as her favorites. There is no theme, except she seems to be something of a romantic voyeur.

[ragandbone]

Originally Posted by David

Better than reading old New Yorkers, get this instead:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/089...83155&v=glance

This is one of the best magazine parodies of all time. You will be howling with laughter that literally hurts your stomach & possibly breaks or at least bruises your ribs.

If you can't find a copy, I can mail you this copy if you promise to mail it back after reading it!

Thanks, that is generous of you, but I think I can find that at the library.
I am especially intersted in the "Annals of Sand" series.

I always found their used of the editorial "we" in the Talk of the Town amusing - I sort of miss it.

[ragandbone]

Originally Posted by David

Harper's runs good stuff from time to time. Some years back, it had an interesting cover story on the Shakespeare/Bacon/DeVere thing, with all sorts of critics, including Harold Bloom, chiming in.

I missed that. How interesting! Do you have an opinion on the Shakespeare authorship issue?

It is usually the cover story, or the name of a short story author I like, that will get me to pick up Harper's, but I always enjoy reading the index and I see now that it is online:
http://www.harpers.org/HarpersIndex2005-10.html

[rbs3676]

Vanity Fair (If, for nothing else, Dominck Dunne's diary entries)
Architectural Digest (Yes, Sparky it does get lame from time to time...)
The Advocate
Out
Rolling Stone
Gourmet

I also subscribe to THE BANNER which is the Provincetown, MA weekly paper...

rbs

[David]

Originally Posted by ragandbone

Owee, that smarts!

Don't be sad. I was being David-witty.

I should have framed my story to indicate that my mother felt that PK was oddly interested in Prince. I think she was surprised that Pauline Kael would even pay attention to the film, and that it would be reviewed in the New Yorker.

Kael was like that: very at odds with the urbane genteelism at the New Yorker. Her editor, Shawn, sometimes kept her from reviewing things that she wanted to write about, like "Deep Throat." She & the magazine were a very weird fit, but ultimately an amazing one.

I don't think I indicated whether or not Pauline Kael liked "Purple Rain". I don't recall if she did but if you do recall, or if you have the review, then I will take your word for it. The review was in 1984, and I don't have a copy, although I remember my mother showing it to me.

The review was anthologized in "State of the Art" in 1985 or '86. Kael liked a lot of Prince music, but said the movie was a "mawkish fictionalized bio" & "pretty terrible": "The narrative hook is: Will the damaged boy learn to love?"

The mystery of mom is in the randomness of her tastes. She liked classical music, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan when I was a kid, and she mostly disliked my music. I dont know why, but she loved Purple Rain. My mother is a voracious reader, she lists Alice Munro, and Thomas Mann as her favorites. There is no theme, except she seems to be something of a romantic voyeur.

Your mom sounds a lot like Pauline Kael!!

[David]

Originally Posted by ragandbone

Thanks, that is generous of you, but I think I can find that at the library.
I am especially intersted in the "Annals of Sand" series.

You will love it. All the New Yorkerish quirks & mannerisms are lampooned by expert parodists. Naturally, the more familiar you are with the magazine's past & general style (& specific features & all the various names of writers & editors over the years), the funnier you'll find "Snooze."

[ragandbone]

Originally Posted by David

Your mom sounds a lot like Pauline Kael!!

She might be, in her eccentricities, but she is unable to articulate what it is she likes about any art, music or literature, or even the television and radio she consumes, so she would never be a critic.

I don't think she would enjoy a pardoy of the New Yorker as much as I am sure I will.

[DavidMn]

High Soceity At least when I was a teenager and sorta liked looking at girls.....