The Paris Review, Issue 205, Summer 2013

by Lorin Stein (Editor), Emma Cline (Contributor)

Michael Holroyd on the art of biography: “I believe in private life for the living, and I think that when one is dead one should be a little bit bolder, so that the rest of us may have some record of how things actually were.” And Hermione Lee: “Some cynical biographer said to me, Make sure it’s a good death. Make sure you’re not picking someone who just declined.” Imre Kertész on the art of fiction: “Perhaps I’m being impertinent, but I feel that my work has a rare quality—I tried to depict the human face of this history, I wanted to write a book that people would actually want to read.”

New fiction from Lydia Davis, Ben Lerner, Robert Walser, Gillian Linden, David Gates, and Emma Cline, and an essay by Kristin Dombek.

Poems by Patrizia Cavalli, D. Nurkse, Henri Cole, Geoffrey Brock, Gretchen Marquette, Karl Kirchwey, Donna Stonecipher, Rachel Hadas, CHarles Harper Webb, and Henk Rossouw. A portfolio from the collection of Annette and Peter Nobel.

Genres: Short Stories, Poetry, Contemporary

260 pages, Perfectbound

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

Lorin Stein is an American critic, editor, and translator. He was an editor of The Paris Review.

Reviews

[jonrowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

the paris review is my new best friend. my new drug. my new happy place. i read every word on every page and it is all beautiful, even the things i maybe don't like.

[Roos · Rating 4 out of 5]

First finished on November 15th, 2013.

[Lanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful. Perfectly observed story about two girls on the cusp of growing up.

[Ned · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good interview with Hermione Lee.
Also of note poems: 'From “Model City”' by Donna Stonecipher; 'A Hundred Years from Now' by Karl Kirchwey;
Labeled as Non-Fiction: "Letter from Williamsburg" by Kristin Dombek is an early 21st century New York view of a kind of depression

[Elizabeth McIntosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it slightly strange reviewing a journal on here??? All I’ve read this month is the Paris Review. 10/10 on the Holroyd interview, feels like I need to read Strachey’s biography.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marion ????? u ok????

[Erik Eckel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A favorite July tradition, repeated for the third straight year this season, is reading the Paris Review summer issue beachside, with a fresh roll of NECCO wafers. The New England Confectionary Company’s candies don’t hold up well to the Gulf’s humidity, however, and quickly turn soft. The same proved true for my interest in the quarterly’s interviews, which I normally find very intriguing.

Despite issue #205’s interviews with deserving sources--Michael Holroyd, Imre Kertesz and Hermione Lee--my attention wasn’t captured. Blame it on my, and my fickle summer interests, rather than the publication or personalities, however.

For me, The Paris Review recently hit new heights when it was publishing Roberto Bolano’s The Third Reich in installments. But alas, the novel came to an end and we’re back to an assortment of poems, works of fiction and the occasional non-fictional entry.

While different readers always find pleasure and disappointment within the same material, I only found myself really enjoying a few pieces in the latest issue, notably David Gates’ The Curse of the Davenports and Kristin Dombek’s Letter From Williamsburg, neither of which left me feeling particularly joyful, happy or redeemed and the latter of which I was surprised served as the issue’s non-fiction submission.

[Heather Pagano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really responded to the first story and to several of the poems in this issue. Stuff I didn't respond to didn't stink, it just didn't particularly resonate with me. That's pretty much what I want out of the Paris Review- some really stellar stuff that speaks to me, and exposure to ideas and points of view I wouldn't normally encounter.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

strong issue. holroy and lee interviews were excellent. poems by patrizia cavalli and donna stonecipher (what a name!) also wonderful. and ben lerner's story was great.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Lerner wins, but Gillian Linden is a close second.

[T P Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. The art of biography pieces for Holroyd and Lee are illuminating and interesting. However, the fiction is pretty poor and the there's no much of note in the poetry.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good enough to make me want to read her book.