Friday, September 14, 2007

Books and Culture

When I travel, I usually carry (at least) one book that I plan to give away when I finish with it.  I like to try to read something either about the place where I am traveling, or by someone from that place.  It doesn’t always work out that way, but it is a nice thing to attempt.  In addition to the book(s) I carry with me, I bring back issues of periodicals that I haven’t yet gotten time to read.


I’ve spent the past ten days or so in Shanghai, and finished Nicholas Clifford’s The House of Memories (a novel about Shanghai) pretty quickly after I got here.  I’ve spent the rest of my time here touching up on The Tempest (on which I will lecture next week) and catching up on the past few issues of Books and Culture.

Books and Culture is one of my favorite periodicals.  It is usually full of insightful articles, and there is always at least one in each issue that seems to stick in my mind for some time.  I’ve already found myself in the past few days discussing articles from the issues of Books and Culture I’ve been reading with a friend — articles about Benjamin Franklin, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and a book review by Alan Jacobs about the process (and purpose) of reading novels.  I think these will be articles I will continue to think about and discuss for some time.

I think it is rare to find a periodical as well-made as Books and Culture, especially one intended for such a wide audience.  I am really enjoying the time to get caught up on it (I am behind by a couple of issues, still).  If it’s one you’ve not read yet, you might enjoy picking up a copy.  But be careful — it might make you think.
Posted by poetically challenged at 04:48:39 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Friday, March 16, 2007

Poetry Magazine

Poetry magazine is one of my favorite periodicals to read. As one of the real prestigous literary magazines, a poet who gets into Poetry can feel that s/he has “made it” at last.

Much of the poetry that appears on the pages of the magazine is good, but not always memorable. Out of last year’s 12 issues, the one I most remember is Todd Boss’s poetry. It was very good, and sticks with me. There were others that I enjoyed in the moment I read them, but Boss is one of those that I have sought out, looking for other publications by him and hoping to find a book to purchase.

Not every entry will jump out at the reader like that, but the thing is… some will. For me, that is enough reason to keep reading the publication.

But, even more, each issue is always entertaining, and usually has at least one thing to make the reader really think. When added to the occasional really memorable poem or poet, that makes Poetry the magazine I keep coming back to.

Posted by poetically challenged at 03:59:18 | Permalink | Comments (5)