TNY weekend reader: they say God laughs at all our plans
(image: carolita johnson)
Having moved to a new apartment, I haven’t received my last two issues of The New Yorker (and have duly notified the proper authorities).
As a consequence of this gap in my service, I began the week by reading half of Atul Gawande’s “The Score” on my cell phone on my way downtown. I read the other half (on the same cell phone) on the ride back uptown (it’s a long ride!), and by the time I reached my new address in Hamilton Heights, I was congratulating myself on having successfully avoided pregnancy all these years. (Horrifying!) See Emdashes for a “Letter From a Pregnant Person on Atul Gawande,” and while you’re at it, check out her “Pick of the Issue.”
The next piece I read on my cell phone (and I’d like to point out that the screen is exactly one and a quarter inches by one and five eighths small), was Joyce Carol Oates’ “Landfill.” Those who pay tens of thousands of dollars—or more!— to enter university sometimes prove they are worth the investment, but sometimes they don’t and they end up in the landfill along with all that moola, metaphorically speaking, usually. But, in this case, a real landfill is where we meet the hapless, sadly incompetent but dearly paid-for remains of Hector Campos, Jr.
Next, Ian Frazier speaks to us about his tragic eating disorder, in “Thin Enough.” His irony veils his pain. Yes, in fact, it blankets it, like a layer of melted american cheese over a huge tuna salad on rye. Mmmm.
I would have liked to read Milan Kundera’s “What is a novelist?” But I’ll have to wait till I nick a copy of the magazine from someone, because it’s not online. Same goes for Mark Singer’s “Escaped,” although the inspiration for the story is the star of the video you can see online only, in “Runaway.” See escaped killer Richard McNair give a cop two different names (Robert Jones, and then Jimmy Jones) within 10 minutes, and still get away with his blessing. Slick.
Lastly, as is usually the case for sports, Matt Dellinger (also our well-loved TNY softball coach) interviews Roger Angell, in “The Veteran.” Here you’ll learn what makes Dellinger feel nostalgic. Also, what Angell thinks of the chances of a Subway Series this year, and what makes a good fiction editor. He should know.
