The Happy Reader - Issue 3

The Happy Reader #3

by Penguin Classics

A dazzling date with the comedian AZIZ ANSARI, plus a sun-drenched odyssey through the pages of Corsican travel classic GRANITE ISLAND.

62 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2015

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]

I'm trying to complete my Happy Reader collection, and found this one for a stupid amount of money. It was worth it though. And I really want to visit Corsica now.

[Dioni · Rating 4 out of 5]

First half is the interview with Aziz Ansari the comedian. I know Aziz from watching some of his stuff on Netflix. His stand-up comedy is funny, but it doesn't come across as well in a written-up interview I think - his side was way too conversational, and there was an excess usage of "like". It's also a thin disguise to promote his new book, so there's quite a bit of talk about non-fiction. The fact he doesn't spend much time on fiction is a bit disappointing, but luckily the second half of this Happy Reader revolves around a non-fiction book: Granite Island: A Portrait of Corsica by Dorothy Carrington.

I went in not having read the Penguin book, thinking that I might as well catch up with my Happy Reader issues, as I don't know when or whether I'd get to the travelogue at all. But after reading, I am now convinced that I should read it one day. Sounds like a fantastic travelogue - by a woman nonetheless, pretty rare at the time I'd say (published in 1971). Corsica itself sounds fascinating as the island where Napoleon was born in. It's culturally, linguistically, and geographically close to Italy, but is a French territory.

[Georgie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only found out about this publication recently but so glad I gave it a try! This was the first issue I could get a hold of, and I'm glad because the Aziz Ansari interview was a great start. The layout and design was absolutely beautiful, as was the accompanying imagery. Not sure the writing of the interview flowed all that well...but it wasn't unreadable, just felt a bit unnatural and choppy. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the second half, particularly as I didn't have time to read the classic beforehand, but it was actually really well done! There was more variety than I expected and I enjoyed doing some offline article reading for once.

[Jeff Howells · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer edition of this new Penguin Books quarterly. This time featuring an interview with comedian Aziz Ansari about his reading habits plus a number of articles that riff off the subject of Corsica...I wish it was published more frequently to be fair...

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a terribly interesting interview, especially in a magazine for readers - the subject matter skips around, and Ansari readily admits he's not much of a reader himself and struggles to recommend anything outside of a book on Motley Crue he read once. The second half on Corsica, though, was great.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't say I was very impressed with this issue. I wasn't interested in the interview and the rest of the articles weren't very interesting either.

[Gemma Mahadeo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 out of 5