Apr
15
Magazines that are books, or books that are magazines, terrify me. The sheer size of the issues provides unnecessary pressure to read the beasts from cover-to-cover (especially when you factor in the Canadian subscription rate for an American publication) even though, magazines, typically, aren’t read in this way (from cover-to-cover).
The book-mags miss the bites most publications have whittled their features down to (surveys, Q&As, Top 10 lists and more) but somehow never really shed the whole I’m-not-a-book-just-a-big-thick-mag status. (Perhaps if these volumes were catalogued in the fiction aisle, instead of the magazine aisle at bookstores, the significance of what these book-mags are all about might change.)
So imagine my surprise when I was actually drawn to a book-mag this last week, neatly shelved at the library. (No deterring context of any kind; and no subscription pressure either!)
Based in Portland, Oregon, Tin House is a fabulous book-mag featuring fiction, poetry, interviews and reviews from established authors, new voices and heavyweights in the literary world – asking colleagues the kinds of questions only good friends could do and be privy about.
I actually looked into many issues before settling on the Summer Reading 28 2007 issue. The Tom Grimes interview with Roddy Doyle is fantastic (and has stirred up a big desire to read more Doyle, including The Commitments.) Sarah Shun-lien Bynum’s “Sandman” offered the kind of insight and “tightness” to her writing, I hope to achieve one day with my own work. Added bonus? The book-mag was my first introduction to reading Stephen King; something I have managed to avoid doing my entire life.
With all the back issues stored at the library, it’s hard to say which issue of Tin House I’ll check out next. For now, I’ve got less than a week before the book-mag is due. Although I’ve conquered my fear of these weighty, wordy beasts (a wolf in Schappell’s clothing!) the library’s late fees is about all the pressure I can currently take!
Comments
