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Here is why the London Review of Books is my absolute favorite periodical going: It can take a topic on which I would guarantee you I have absolutely no interest—in this case, the privatization of postal delivery services in Europe—and turn out a 9000-word piece that is engaging, compelling and makes you feel more informed for having read it. The downside to this is that I have stacks of LRBs lying around the house waiting for me to get to them, but as problems go that is far more preferable than everything else I confront. Do check it out.
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Perry Anderson's Brazil article from like two issues ago is also terrific!
@mkrotov I know, right? I read that over several days. It was like a fantastic mini seminar.
I do miss the LRB Personals terribly. David Rose, who came up with the idea in the first place and then closed the curtain on them, lives in Brooklyn, as it happens – let's all go down to their offices in DUMBO and stage an extremely polite sit-in.
It sucks a lot that the hilarious personals are gone, but in fact I think there have been some few personals in recent issues of LRB — but unfunny personals. Like unfunny at a New York Review of Books level of Upper West Side humorlessness. Am I hallucinating? I'm an ocean away from my stacks of LRBs so can't check.
LRB rules. Definitely miss the old personals, even though a lot of the comedic references went over my head.
You should start a book club.
Look — on Easter Sunday, when there was nothing left to talk about, we all retreated into the living room of my family's house here in Virginia. My father and his wife read the Sunday NYT; I was attracted to their newest issue of The Economist, with a front cover all about a fading California. (Surfer dude with droopy board on the cover — bet you saw that.)
I was interested by their article, and went on see an analysis of what's screwed up in France right now… but wouldn't you expect the English to be snarky and jealous of California and France? Well I would. And every time I consult that magazine, without failing to mention my admiration of how well they do coverage — I mean, they write about places most people in our country can't even find on the map! — I just keep hearing their bilious, bottled-up accents.
And then! Another thing, that bothers me, as someone who has always been interested in writing, as an American: Who do they think they Are, at the Economist?! No bylines. No editorial presence mentioned ever at all? Do they think they don't have to attribute their opinions to any writer, that wrote any given story. WHY. Do they think these stories are objective?!
I know: I changed the subject, and this may make me look like the biggest fool, so now lets change it back — I have been a book editor in New York in my time, a writer, and a voracious reader… so why The F have I never heard about the London Review of Books, ever?
(Hope it's not as anal, navel-gazing as the one out of your town at least… gave up on that 30 years ago. What's-his name's cartoons never saved it, even though they have sometimes been funny?)
I know — making friends!
Who is that cartoonist? It's not Ralph Steadman. Forgot?!
@alorsenfants You're thinking of the late David Levine. I liked the cartoons but I see what you mean.
Actually, of the book reviews currently Collyer-Brosing me, I get to the NYRB first, then the TLS, then the LRB, and if I make a mess changing the oil, well look at all these Bookforums.
"Lying around the house."
Alright — I took the bait — and chose a sample, and wasn't unimpressed. And if you have stacks of the magazine you don't have time for, well who knows? In the issue that you linked me to, I chose this piece to look at:
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v33/n07/pankaj-mishra/modernitys-undoing
Not at all stupid… but maybe overthought? And stuffy (as per usual over there.) Well I didn't finish it — TLDR — I am a boring Yank. Back to scrutinizing the Kentucky Derby field! Or something else that only lasts two minutes! Or something –
Oh… also… although I would if I was motivated… I have to pay to continue reading this?
Right as usual, lad. That's as apt a parable of global economic chaos as could scare the bejeebus out of anyone.
Thanks for sharing! I will check out the article!
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