Recommendations for good book related Magazines?

[jankensan]

I've been trawling the internet in search of some magazines with fiction books as their focus but as yet been unable to find anything. Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

I'm reluctant to subscribe to new books magazine as looking at the back issues it doesn't really cover the kind of fiction I like...

 

Edited to add: Sorry, the title has been changed to book related 'magazines' but I am actually looking for zines. As in collective works by independent writers/ groups. Can it be changed back? Thanks

Edited February 12, 2010 by BookJumper

[BookJumper]

It might help if you told us what kind of fiction you do like .

[jankensan]

Yeah, thought that after I posted...

 

That's the rub. I don't have a particular genre I go nuts for which is why I think I'm struggling with finding something suitable.

 

I like Stephen King, Cormac McCarthy, Brett Easton Ellis that kind of thing. But also read a lot of books about climbing/ mountaineering, manga, and Japanese horror/ crime novels.

 

Then I also like history. Particularly Japanese, Russian and French history. French Revolution, Japan in WW2 and relations with Burma and then anything about the Russia really.

 

I'm thinking gothic, horror, edgy but not sci fi...

[Niveus]

What are some titles of periodicals that will inform you about the latest authors, latest books from your favorite authors, and new books in different genres?

[BookJumper]

Books Quarterly is pretty good, you can get it from Waterstone's for a few pounds (if you're in the UK, that is) but it's free if you have a Waterstone's card which is also free, so how can you lose ?

[chesilbeach]

I think it's actually really difficult to find a good magazine about books. All the ones I've found and liked have stopped being published, and the only ones I know about are newbooks which I find a bit bland, and the Waterstone's one BJ has already mentioned, but is obviously very much geared to selling the books so objectivity isn't its strong point.

 

I tend to more often browse through the online newspaper book pages - usually either the Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books) or The Times (http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/). I prefer the Guardian as I find it better organised than The Times, but both cover a wide range of books and book related issues.

[StephenKingman]

I would also like to read a magazine about books, even if it was only out a few times a year. Its often hard to know exactly what books are coming out and when.

[chesilbeach]

I would also like to read a magazine about books, even if it was only out a few times a year. Its often hard to know exactly what books are coming out and when.

 

I would recommend getting one of the broadsheets on a weekend then. I promise I don't work for them, but I do seem to be pushing their paper a lot, but I like the Guardian for their book coverage. The Saturday edition has a books supplement which covers both fiction and non-fiction, mostly looking at the latest hardback releases, which will give you a heads up for what will be out in paperback later in the year. I read their books website regularly to find out about new releases and it's easy to catch up using the archives if you miss a few weeks worth.

[StephenKingman]

I would recommend getting one of the broadsheets on a weekend then. I promise I don't work for them, but I do seem to be pushing their paper a lot, but I like the Guardian for their book coverage. The Saturday edition has a books supplement which covers both fiction and non-fiction, mostly looking at the latest hardback releases, which will give you a heads up for what will be out in paperback later in the year. I read their books website regularly to find out about new releases and it's easy to catch up using the archives if you miss a few weeks worth.

 

Thanks for the advice i am going to check out that website straight away! Even if nothing catches my eye, its good to know that there are places to find information on all the latest releases.

[chesilbeach]

Just had another thought ... (I'm on a roll today )

 

I often check out publishers websites. They'll obviously be promoting their new releases, and will have additional information, and sometimes interviews, with their authors. Some of the bigger ones, like HarperCollins, will have various imprints specialising in different genres or authors so you can narrow it down to the genres that interest you. They'll also sometimes produce email newsletters which you can subscribe to that will give you advance notice of new releases, and will even have competitions occasionally to win copies of new books.

[runner]

if you sign up for a waterstones card you get the quarterly book magazine free on production of the said card in store

[BigWords]

There is still Book & Magazine Collector (which you should be able to pick up just about anywhere), which has publishing credits and book information, and it is published once a month. I'm not sure if it is still going, but there was a paperback-sized quarterly called (I think) Slightly Foxed (not sure on the name, and I don't have a copy to hand) which runs (ran?) short essays by lots of very smart people who get to the point quickly. The writing magazines (Writer's Forum and assorted other titles) sometimes run features on authors, though more for people who wish to emulate their literary heroes. Reader's Digest, while becoming more dated by the year, is a fine place to look for excerpts of titles you may wish to peruse later... I'm running out of suggestions... Maybe there are some small press titles which might interest you in regard to specific authors, but a lot are filled with music reviews, comic strips and other material as well. This Way Up is good, and smart, though (again) I'm not sure if it is still running or not.

[poppyshake]

Books Quarterly is pretty good, you can get it from Waterstone's for a few pounds (if you're in the UK, that is) but it's free if you have a Waterstone's card which is also free, so how can you lose ?

 

I love that magazine, it's one of my favourites to curl up with, with a cuppa .. and then I trawl the internet looking at some of the titles that have caught my eye.

I was totally intrigued by the big advert they ran for Dan Rhodes's books (on the back cover of the current issue) ... the line 'fairy tales for grown ups' had me hooked .. anyway he's on my TBR now.

[chesilbeach]

I love that magazine, it's one of my favourites to curl up with, with a cuppa .. and then I trawl the internet looking at some of the titles that have caught my eye.

I was totally intrigued by the big advert they ran for Dan Rhodes's books (on the back cover of the current issue) ... the line 'fairy tales for grown ups' had me hooked .. anyway he's on my TBR now.

 

Jenny Colgan recommended his books in her blog earlier in the year, and I've added them to my wishlist to try after having a look at them, but I'm trying not to buy any new books at the moment, so haven't got round to them yet. Would love to hear what you think when you've read it.

[BookJumper]

I was totally intrigued by the big advert they ran for Dan Rhodes's books (on the back cover of the current issue) ... the line 'fairy tales for grown ups' had me hooked .. anyway he's on my TBR now.

The last issue I picked up came with a free copy of Rhodes's Anthropology and 100 Other Stories but I must say I was less than underwhelmed by it; you can find my scathing review here. I'd happily give you my copy but I'm afraid I've already abandoned it on a bus for someone to rescue .

[poppyshake]

The last issue I picked up came with a free copy of Rhodes's Anthropology and 100 Other Stories but I must say I was less than underwhelmed by it; you can find my scathing review here. I'd happily give you my copy but I'm afraid I've already abandoned it on a bus for someone to rescue .

 

Ah that's disappointing then, I didn't get a free copy with my mag ... but sounds like I didn't miss much.

My Mum has bought me a copy of his book 'Gold' .. which is a novel so fingers crossed it will be better than his short stories.

I'm a great sucker for illustrations and book covers and I liked the look of his ... oh well, never judge a book and all that.

[runner]

I love that magazine, it's one of my favourites to curl up with, with a cuppa .. and then I trawl the internet looking at some of the titles that have caught my eye.

I was totally intrigued by the big advert they ran for Dan Rhodes's books (on the back cover of the current issue) ... the line 'fairy tales for grown ups' had me hooked .. anyway he's on my TBR now.

 

i think it is an excellent mag interviews with authors and book recommendations...the last one i think had an interview with Patrick Gayle...when is the next mag due?

[poppyshake]

i think it is an excellent mag interviews with authors and book recommendations...the last one i think had an interview with Patrick Gayle...when is the next mag due?

 

Was that the one with Audrey Niffenegger's twins on the front (from 'Her Fearful Symmetry' cover)?, if so there is a new issue out now.

[ned]

The Sunday Times has a pretty decent portion of their Culture section devoted to the weeks newest releases. It is usually about 8 - 10 pages

[Cookie]

Books Quarterly is pretty good, you can get it from Waterstone's for a few pounds (if you're in the UK, that is) but it's free if you have a Waterstone's card which is also free, so how can you lose ?

 

When I last went in Waterstones I paid and showed my card and I didn't get a magazine! Do you have to be signed up for a certain amount of time or have to ask for it or anything? Or have I been diddled?

[poppyshake]

When I last went in Waterstones I paid and showed my card and I didn't get a magazine! Do you have to be signed up for a certain amount of time or have to ask for it or anything? Or have I been diddled?

 

You have to ask for it .. but you don't have to buy anything (if you have a card).

[Cookie]

You have to ask for it .. but you don't have to buy anything (if you have a card).

 

Thanks! I will have to get one the next time I'm in town!

[BookJumper]

It must all depend on the helpfulness of the bookseller, I replaced my lost card when I was last in a W and the lovely girl at the till said, 'you know, you can get a free copy of Books Quarterly with this - do you want it?' so I said 'yes, please' !

[BigWords]

Book And Magazine Collector, a leading reference publication, has come to an end as of issue No. 328 (Christmas 2010), marking the end of an era for many book collectors. The publication ends, suitably, with some ghost stories (because it's Christmas) and I can't help but get the feeling that this is one title whose ghost will continue to haunt bookshops with thoughts of what may have been... I will be the first to admit to choosing certain issues over others - I didn't pick up some of the issues with a more modern emphasis - but the occasional delve into truly rare and beautiful books were amongst my favorite articles published in any magazine over the last couple of years. The Editorial has the following remark:

 

Unfortunately in recent years there has been a decline in the hobby, this coupled with the present economic climate has resulted in the regrettable decision to cease publishing this title.

 

That first part, especially - a decline in book collecting - struck me as odd. When you consider that the economic situation means that more people will be reading instead of (for example) going to the cinema, or day trips to the shops, or taking trips to other parts of the UK - in short, any activity which costs money - then it seems that reading would be on the uptake. I can't wrap my head around the logic that an economic crisis, which has improved in recent months, is to blame. I'll take their word that the situation is dire enough to warrant a cancellation of a title which has improved so dramatically in what is quite a short space of time, going squarebound, with added color pages, more biographical data, elements of cultural commentary and a much more attractive cover design.

 

This may not seem like such a big deal, but if you take a moment to think about the things which the title has survived - the turbulent 1970s, the Thatcher era of quantity over quality, the dumbing down of news in the last decade or so - the standard to which it aspired becomes even more of a cultural loss for Britain, and the book world as a whole. I may have to start buying newspapers for their book sections, though I am loathe to spend money on newspapers... We desperately need some kind of a replacement for the title, before the heritage of serious book information in a monthly publication is lost forever. Something akin to a literary Smash Hits or NME just wouldn't be the same...

[jankensan]

Hi All

 

It's been about a year since I posted this thread originally and in that time I have found a great publication called 'Cemetary Dance Magazine'. It's a US publication so it's quite pricey but it is by far and away the best mag I've ever read. It's packed with short stories, reviews and recommendations and for horror/ sci fi/ fantasy fans like myself it's perfect.

 

I've tried books quartely from Waterstone's and didn't enjoy it, as it was too mainstream (and I don't mean that offensively, I'm just not into regular fictions as much as the fantasy side of things).

 

So if anyone is still looking out there I would recommend Cemetary Dance. You can buy it on ebay or they do have a website where you can subscribe. Perfect for Stephen King, Cliver Barker etc fans.

 

Cheers

J