Recently I had the choice between using some credit card points to get a magazine subscription or a weed eater. I chose the weed eater. Being an avid reader I even surprised myself with this decision, but I have a problem with magazines. I like to browse, but can never really commit to the full experience.
Next magazine is a case in point. I pick it up, skim through, and immediately feel that a) I lack any form of self-discipline, b) I am stuck on a rut and need to change jobs/husbands/or start jogging and c) I need a skin care regime.
Every now and then I spot Time, or The Economist, and then quickly walk away. I have tried Variety, but don’t know the movies they are writing about, and never get the jokes in Private Eye. New Idea is ideal for the supermarket queue, and If I choose to I can always read New Zealand Snowboarder and New Zealand Fishing World at home, courtesy of family members.
It is about this point that I feel so pleased that I have a local library (and one with a cafe) where I can browse, flick and discard at my leisure. Every now and then I take a magazine home, and having read one, or at the most two articles, I feel very pleased that I didn’t take out that subscription, or spend $10.00 at the supermarket.
I am constantly amazed at the variety and depth of the magazine collections at Christchurch City Libraries though, and it would be great to hear about some of your favourites, perhaps I will find something that is worth subscribing to?
15 October 2009 at 6:32 pm
The Doctor Who magazine is great if you’re a fan and I also really like Good Reading magazine because it’s all about books and I always find something new to read.
15 October 2009 at 9:09 pm
Jane, what you need is New Weekly mag. Who needs cake recipes or spicy bedroom hints when you can see “stars without their make-up” and marvel at Lindsay Lohan’s trout pout. I love it!
16 October 2009 at 2:49 am
Jane, what you need is New Weekly mag. Who needs cake recipes or spicy bedroom hints when you can see “stars without their make-up” and marvel at Lindsay Lohan’s trout pout. I love it!
Sorry, forgot to add great post! Can’t wait to see your next post!
16 October 2009 at 8:42 am
Magazines are a fun time with no commitment. But sometimes they leave you sad. Not NZ Gardener though – I want to take that mag home to my parents and introduce it to all my friends.
It’s great.
16 October 2009 at 8:45 am
I have always been a bit of a magazine hound … but have now honed it down to 1 – Sunday Times Style. 2 – Vogue (British) and 3 – Q magazine (two of these you can see in the photo attached to this post). Fabbo
16 October 2009 at 11:26 am
New Weekly seems to fit into “can read in the supermarket queue” catagory Joycie. Nz Gardener – just makes me feel guilty and envious. Yes I should be in the garden, not reading a magazine for heavens sake! Yep, Good Reading – like that, but I read that for my work so it doesn’t count. I think what I need is a magazine that is all about people who don’t look good (with or without make-up), have run down houses, hate gardening, wouldn’t know what a life coach was, and have no idea about movies, music or art.
18 October 2009 at 8:31 pm
i’m a magazine junkie, far too many subscriptions to list (but includes world sweet world, nz gardener, the listener) as well as sucker for new magazines in the bookstores.
they are one of my real indulgences, they are fleeting in some ways, but i re-read them, i get inspired by them, i cut out pictures for scrapbooks of ideas, i read the reviews on music and books to influence my purchases, i read them online as well as in print, i give them away, i share with freinds, i get inspired by the adverts …
*sigh* am not really sure what it says about me, but i am a fan.
20 October 2009 at 3:33 pm
Oh Sweet Pea, you put me to shame. I too could do all of this, (but I won’t of course be cutting out pictures from the library copies….). However being inspired by the adverts is surely taking this all too far? Have you considered a life coach??