Review: The Art of Making Magazines by Victor Navasky, Evan Cornog

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

In this entertaining anthology, editors, writers, art directors, and publishers from such magazines as Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, The New Republic, Elle, and Harper’s draw on their varied, colorful experiences to explore a range of issues concerning their profession. Combining anecdotes with expert analysis, these leading industry insiders speak on writing and editing articles, developing great talent, effectively incorporating art and design, and the critical relationship between advertising dollars and content. They emphasize the importance of fact checking and copyediting; share insight into managing the interests (and potential conflicts) of various departments; explain how to parlay an entry-level position into a masthead title; and weigh the increasing influence of business interests on editorial decisions. In addition to providing a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the making of successful and influential magazines, these contributors address the future of magazines in a digital environment and the ongoing importance of magazine journalism. Full of intimate reflections and surprising revelations, The Art of Making Magazines is both a how-to and a how-to-be guide for editors, journalists, students, and anyone hoping for a rare peek between the lines of their favorite magazines. The chapters are based on talks delivered as part of the George Delacorte Lecture Series at the Columbia School of Journalism.
Essays include: “Talking About Writing for Magazines (Which One Shouldn’t Do)” by John Gregory Dunne; “Magazine Editing Then and Now” by Ruth Reichl; “How to Become the Editor in Chief of Your Favorite Women’s Magazine” by Roberta Myers; “Editing a Thought-Leader Magazine” by Michael Kelly; “Fact-Checking at The New Yorker” by Peter Canby; “A Magazine Needs Copyeditors Because . . . .” by Barbara Walraff; “How to Talk to the Art Director” by Chris Dixon; “Three Weddings and a Funeral” by Tina Brown; “The Simpler the Idea, the Better” by Peter W. Kaplan; “The Publisher’s Role: Crusading Defender of the First Amendment or Advertising Salesman?” by John R. MacArthur; “Editing Books Versus Editing Magazines” by Robert Gottlieb; and “The Reader Is King” by Felix Dennis

MY TAKE:

When I was younger, I really wanted to work in a magazine. I've only ever worked for a newspaper, but occasionally, I still wonder what it would be like to work in a magazine.

The Art of Making Magazines is a compilation of speeches/lectures delivered by some of the most well-known people in publishing. The topics of these lectures are very diverse so you can learn about pretty much everything there is to learn about publishing and writing and editing a magazine.

The thing about this book, though, is because it is a collection of speeches made by different people, not all pieces may be interesting or were written in a style that may be interesting for you. For example, I thoroughly enjoyed Ruth Reichl's and Roberta Myers' articles. I liked Ruth Reichl's article as it's about how she went from being a restaurant critic to becoming an editor. Her stories are very fascinating and you really get a feel for what goes on behind the scenes. As for Roberta Myers' article, I liked it because I find women's magazines fascinating. There are some articles that I found quite boring, though. Sometimes it was because of the topic, but sometimes it was because of the style.


This book is very informative, overall. If you're looking for entertaining behind-the-scenes stories, ala a nonfiction version of The Devil Wears Prada, you might not find as much as you would like of that here.

Thanks to NetGalley and Columbia Journalism Review for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. There are some really interesting stories in the articles.
2. There are a lot of tips you can use if you want to become part of the publishing industry.
3. There's something for everyone.

THE BAD:

1. Not all articles may work for everyone.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

For instance, when we do a Rome issue, everybody on the staff goes to Rome.

READ IT IF:

1. You've always wanted to work in a magazine.
2. You like reading or watching interesting speeches.
3. You want to know what goes into making magazines.

RATING: 



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Review: Auntie Yang's Great Soybean Picnic by Ginnie Lo

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Jinyi and her sister love visiting Auntie and Uncle Yang's home, where they enjoy dumpling-eating contests and backyard adventures with their cousins. One weekend, on a Sunday drive among the cornfields near Chicago, Auntie Yang spots something she has never before seen in Illinois. Could it be one of their favorite Chinese foods-soybeans?!
            Excited by their discovery, the families have their very first soybean picnic. Every year after that, Auntie Yang invites more people to share the food and fun. Pretty soon more than two hundred friends and neighbors are gathering at the picnic to play games and eat soybeans together.
            Unique illustrations painted on ceramic plates lend a quirky charm to this lighthearted intergenerational story. Auntie Yang's Great Soybean Picnic is a delicious celebration of family traditions, culture, and community that will have readers asking for seconds, thirds, and more.

MY TAKE:

I like children's books that focus on family so I had high hopes for this book.

In Auntie Yang's Great Soybean Picnic, the author recounts her childhood and how her auntie started a soybean picnic tradition.

This book was very interesting for me. I'm not Chinese, but my family does have a lot of gatherings and I'm very close to my cousins. The book was able to show the family dynamics well. The book was also well-written in that it was able to describe very well the events without going overboard. The book is kind of long, though, so this is more for older kids or for when you need to read your kid something that's a little bit longer than the average children's books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lee & Low Books for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. The story is fascinating in its own way.
2. The descriptions can make you really hungry.
3. It has nice lessons about family.

THE BAD:

1. The illustration style may not be everyone's cup of tea.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

There were steaming platters of Chinese meatballs with cabbage and bean threads, and spicy tofu with ground pork and salted black beans.

READ IT IF:

1. You are looking for a lengthy children's book.
2. Your child likes eating.
3. You like stories about families.

RATING: 



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Review: Monkey King Volume 1 Birth of the Stone Monkey by Wei Dong Chen

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Cited as one of the greatest Chinese novels, MONKEY KING (The Journey to the West, 西游记) follows the adventures of Sun Wu Kong, born from a stone on Spring Mountain and given the title of the Handsome Monkey King, who seeks to learn the secret of eternal life. Under the tutelage of the Buddhist Master Puti, Sun Wu Kong becomes incredibly powerful, but his hubris grows until he has run afoul of the gods, who dispatch an army to Spring Mountain to subdue the Monkey King, who has declared himself the "Emperor of Heaven."

MY TAKE:

I first became acquainted with The Monkey King through the movie The Forbidden Kingdom. In the film, Jet Li's Monkey King is quite serious, although in flashbacks, it's clear that The Monkey King is quite mischievous.

In The Monkey King, we learn about the origins of The Monkey King. The Monkey King is playful, a joker, but he can come across as a jerk. He's the kind of character whom you find likable some times and extremely annoying the next. Kinda like Spongebob Squarepants. :D

The book's best parts are the funny lines said by The Monkey King. The corresponding illustrations are perfect for the lines. It reminds me a little bit of The Avatar. The Monkey King does remind me a little bit of Aang, although a much angrier and slightly annoying version of Aang.

Thanks to NetGalley and Myrick Marketing & Media LLC for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. You learn more about the legend of The Monkey King.
2. There are lot of fun moments in the book.
3. The illustration style is a perfect blend of East and West.

THE BAD:

1. The character summary at the start of the book may spoil the story for you.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

"Handsome Monkey King"? You're right. I am Handsome!

READ IT IF:

1. You like reading about ancient Chinese legends.
2. You enjoyed The Forbidden Kingdom.
3. You like funny/annoying heroes.

RATING:



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Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

In Illinois, soybeans were grown to feed cows and pigs, not people - but in China, soybeans were one of the most important foods of all.

Review: Three Kingdoms Volume 1 Legends from China by Wei Dong Chen

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

At the end of the second century, the lands of ancient China are thrown into turmoil when the Han Dynasty collapses, and when a tyrant overthrows the weak emperor, a group of regional lords forms an army to restore the nation. But bravery and valor are soon stifled by ambition and cunning, and the coalition dissolves before the battle is even won. Now, a new group of heroes must emerge if China is to survive. Based on one of the most popular and influential novels ever written,Three Kingdoms is an epic adventure of heroism and villainy, honor and deceit, and overcoming individual failings to serve a greater purpose.

MY TAKE:


I'm fascinated by Chinese history so anything related to that or ancient Chinese legends is a must-read for me.


In Three Kingdoms Volume 1, we are introduced to Bei Liu, Yu Guan and Fei Zhang, three fierce warriors who took a blood oath to restore the glory of their country. The book is part comic book, part history textbook.


At the start of each chapter, you read a summary of what will happen in the chapter. There's also a map so you get to imagine better where each part of the story takes place.


I'm not too fond of the combination of the coloring and the illustration style. It seems like the soft tones of the coloring didn't match well with the strong lines.

As for the story, I didn't feel a connection with the characters and it got confusing near the end because so many new characters were introduced. There were also some typos and the use of "cease" instead of "seize". Hopefully this is corrected by the time the book comes out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Myrick Marketing & Media, LLC for the e-ARC. Publication date of Three Kingdoms Volume 1 Legends from China is on September 4, 2012.


THE GOOD:

1. You learn more about Chinese history.
2. The personalities of the heroes come across easily.
3. The battle sequences are interesting.

THE BAD:

1. There are some typos.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

Indeed. Let's toast to our victory.

READ IT IF:

1. You like learning about Chinese history.
2. You like anime and manga.
3. You like reading about military tactics.

RATING:

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

FROM NETGALLEY:

Auntie Yang's Great Soybean Picnic by Ginnie LoThe Quick Fix by Jack D. FerraioloThe Icarus Project by Laura Quimby

Review: Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

A letter from Santa Claus: In this special twenty-first-century edition, select lines have quietly slipped from the pages. Here at the North Pole, we decided to leave all of that tired old business of smoking well behind us a long time ago. The reindeer also asked that I confirm that I have only ever worn faux fur out of respect for the endangered species that are in need of our protection. This includes my dear friends the arctic polar bears. Publishers note: It was our sincere pleasure to act on Santa’s express wishes. As the direct link between the exposure to the depiction of characters smoking and youth initiation to nicotine has been well established, we were compelled to make these recommended changes. This influential poem has been at the very center of holiday reading for close to two hundred years, and our wish is that it will remain vivid and treasured for many generations to come.
Clement C. Moore (1779–1863) is widely regarded as the very poet of Christmas Eve. Much of the way we have come to celebrate December 24th is based on his portrayal of a jolly Santa, who along with his team of reindeer brings happiness to children and joy to the world. Twas the Night Before Christmas was originally published in the New York Troy Sentinel newspaper in 1823. It has become the most famous poem in the English language. In 2011, various editions of this enchanting poem spent thirty-six weeks on the New York Times best-seller’s list in the children’s category.

MY TAKE:

I remember reading the original Twas the Night Before Christmas when I was a child and liking the whole idea. For some reason, though, I don't remember any references to smoking. But then again, that was so many years ago already, so I decided to read this edited version.

Twas the Night Before Christmas is a poem about what happens to one house on the night before Christmas. This edited version takes out all of the smoking references.

I am not a fan of smoking so this was a great idea for me. While most smokers I know started because of peer pressure, it never hurts to keep kids away from the thought of starting a bad habit.

Removing some lines doesn't seem to have changed the essence of the poem, so that's great. The poem is a classic so it's important to not alter it too much.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookmasters for the e-ARC. Publication date of Twas the Night Before Christmas is on September 4, 2012.

THE GOOD:

1. The classic is still intact.
2. It's a beautiful poem.
3. Children will like the illustrations.

THE BAD:

1. Older readers may prefer a more serious drawing style.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

The stockings were hung
by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas
soon would be there.

READ IT IF:

1. You like the original poem.
2. You want to introduce your children to the book.
3. You are looking for a nice book to read to your kids.

RATING:



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