The Happy Reader – Issue 10

The Happy Reader #10

by Penguin Classics

Former Pulp frontman JARVIS COCKER is a voracious bookworm and an ideal addition to the Happy Reader pantheon. In this winter issue he discusses his reading habits and literary foibles with the great poet SIMON ARMITAGE. Accompanied by glorious photographs by ALASDAIR McLELLAN, the chat covers everything from the stories of Carson McCullers to the dreams of Carl Jung.

In part two, a pretend-perfect society is ruthlessly satirised in YEVGENY ZAMYATIN’s early sci-fi novel WE. The book inspires an interview with MARIA ALYOKHINA from dissident punk band PUSSY RIOT plus writings on state-controlled love lives, patriotic poetry, weather manipulation and cosmic links between Russia and California, with contributors including WILL SELF, NICHOLAS LEZARD, RICHARD GODWIN and HARRIET ALIDA LYE.

Genres: Nonfiction

64 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2018

About the author

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, providing readers with a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. We focus on bringing together the best of the past and the future, using cutting-edge design and production as well as embracing the digital age to create unforgettable editions of treasured literature. Penguin Classics is timeless and trend setting. Whether you love our familiar black-spine series, our Penguin Classics Deluxe Editions, or our Penguin Enriched eBook Classics, we bring the writer to the reader in every format available.

Reviews

[Claire (find me on Storygraph) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best magazine ever. I wish it would go back to being quarterly, and I wish I could find more of the past editions. This issue was not as intensely captivating as some of the previous ones, but I loved it all the same. And I've already bought the next book, wheee!

[Anne]

I didn't find this as interesting as the other issues I've read, but it's still a nice literary magazine which is definitely worth reading.

[Laura Frey (Reading in Bed) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sure, I'll count this as a book. Good issue, I loved the interview with Jarvis Cocker and as usual, the articles about this season's book were of varied quality, but mostly pretty good.

[Jeff Howells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly only being published twice a year now rather than quarterly, The Happy Reader is worth reading just for the interview in the front half of the magazine (this issue it’s Jarvis Cocker).

[Maria Lianou · Rating 3 out of 5]

A literary magazine worth reading. I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous ones, but still it was good. I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with Jarvis Cocker's interview. I enjoyed more some of the articles in the back and I will definately seek to read We by Yevgeny Zamyatin.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first half of this. He really made me want to passionately consume more music and poetry. The second half was more hit and miss with concecting to the articles. Overall I am glad I subscribed to this magazine.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Austra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bookish conversation was a treat, but the second part of this issue wasn't as good as I've grown to expect from THR.