I don’t know how they do it. A weekly magazine that covers culture and current events, and includes well chosen fiction from today’s most interesting writers. As a bonus we get to enjoy some of the funniest cartoons to be found on the planet. Hats off!
Had to write this after reading stories from two recent issues. ‘Amundsen’, by Alice Munro, is included in the August 27 issue. Ms. Munro has been turning out stories for a long time. Of late she’s dabbled in some more extreme content, but ‘Amundsen’ is pure traditional Munro. The tone is remarkable throughout, a flat matter-of-fact key that perfectly suits the subject matter. She is a master who deserves all the accolades that have come her way. We’re lucky to have new material from her.
‘Birnam Wood’ by T.C Boyle is in the September 3 issue. It’s not the typical over-the-top T.C. Boyle that we’ve come to expect. The story is actually quite subtle and understated. Not at all what I expected. I was pleasantly surprised to see that he has the flexibility to do something different.
Kudos to The New Yorker for doing this week after week. Yes, the magazine has changed quite a bit over the last twenty years. It’s shorter. Lots more ads. A bit less intellectual. Also less stuffy. But for my money it’s the best American magazine out there.
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