July 2004 Archives
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Letters From the Editor
Frequently Asked Questions
Hello? Are you there? How are you? What? Sorry? What’s up? Excuse me? Pardon me? When? Come again? What’s going on? Where? What do you mean? What’d...
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Birnbaum v.
Zoe Heller
Is the American publishing world a playground for pansies? Do all diners in fancy New York restaurants look European? Our man in New Hampshire talks to the novelist about her new book, love for boys, and respect for the prime minister.
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Stories
If on a summer’s vacation…
Now past the halfway-mark for summer, we’ve all either taken our summer vacations or we’re still planning where to go. For those of us who fall into the latter camp, beware your choices. THE WRITERS remember ways summer vacations have gone so horribly wrong.
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Listening
Two Lone Swordsmen, From the Double Gone Chapel
Isn’t this supposed to be techno? Er, electronica or whatever? And yet it sounds so un-manufactured. So handmade and crafted, these dark, brooding anthems that seem (intentionally) barely held...
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Gary Benchley, Rock Star
The First Rehearsal
It’s hard to stay focused when your girlfriend ignores you, your roommates are openly intimate, and your father calls with some unexpected advice.
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Personalities
Home, Jeeves, Jonathan
Wouldn’t it be nice, when you’re on the verge of a big mistake, to have a personal butler escort you home? Author Jonathan Ames thinks so, in telling Pitchaya Sudbanthad about his new book, what he’s learned recently, and what it’s like to write for TV.
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Reader Letters
Shiny Time Traps
Rosecrans, I think you are blowing the no-TV thing way out of proportion. I know plenty of people in New York who don’t own televisions—at least three in...
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The Non-Expert
More Miscellaneous Concerns
Experts answer what they know. The Non-Expert answers anything. This week we answer questions about how to avoid getting sick of and at the office, being sunburned while traveling at the speed of light, and the origins of the Spanish-American War.
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Letters From the Editor
This is Pitchaya Sudbanthad
It’s our pleasure to welcome Pitchaya Sudbanthad as our newest Contributing Writer. He’s written a number of great stories for TMN—about Nigella Lawson’s juicy tomatoes, the...
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People
Clear Cut Press
Editor Matthew Stadler and publisher Richard Jensen talk about turning books they love into beautiful publications, finding inspiration from distant sources, and how to recognize pomposity.
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Listening
Heligoland, Shift These Thoughts
If you are one of the people who can imagine music that’s a precise combination of His Name is Alive, the Cocteau Twins, and It’ll End in Tears-era...
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Stories
Weddingchanneled
Planning a wedding is a detailed job: narrowing down the wedding party, choosing flowers, and deciding between the white food processor and the chrome one. MACKENZIE DAWSON PARKS discovers the business of wedding registries, and learns how to make it work for her.
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Birnbaum v.
James Wood
Our man in New Hampshire talks with critic and author James Wood about his professional dilemmas, what makes for appealing style in fiction, and which stings more, getting panned as a critic or as a novelist.
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Letters From the Editor
TV Ration
Telling people I don’t watch TV always gets a look that says, “Listen jerk, don’t give me your self-righteous crap about being better than me, and please don’...
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Stories
My Sister Moses
Family BBQs can be great summer fun, until someone finds a dead body under the back porch. Then it’s time to bust out the cedar chips. James McLaughlin brings us a story of lawn maintenance, abusive parenting, and hot Marines.
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The Non-Expert
Dogs
Experts answer what they know. The Non-Expert answers anything. This week we cover the many different kinds of canine companions you could choose to collar as “your best friend.” Except for schnauzers.
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Gary Benchley, Rock Star
Getting the Band Together, Part III
Trying to complete his indie-prog band as a model of diversity, Benchley runs into trouble when racial profiling turns out to be a less-than-sensitive method for recruiting a bass player.
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Letters From the Editor
Rendezvous Houston
—The flight out of New York has been delayed because “We’re sorry, our plane hasn’t shown up yet! Grab yourself something to eat and sit tight! But don’...
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New York, New York
Cloaks and Daggers
When half of the world’s Hasidim live within a subway ride of each other, the disappearance of two teenage girls is big news, especially when they’ve run away to escape.
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Gallery
Jerusalem Journal
There’s no easy way to tour Israel on foot, especially when people are trying to steal your art supplies. Our staff illustrator returns to the land where his family’s been for more than 70 years.