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The Happy Reader #11
The Happy Reader – Issue 11
This bookish magazine for summer 2018 presents a landmark interview with OLLY ALEXANDER and a free-roving parade through the novel THE BLACK TULIP.
OLLY ALEXANDER, lead vocalist with British pop group YEARS & YEARS opens up about being young, gay and famous, explains a key literary reference in a new song, and namechecks, among others, James Baldwin, Andrew Holleran and Flannery O’Connor.
The articles that follow strive to unlock the meaning of THE BLACK TULIP, an unputdownable novel set in the Dutch Golden Age, with contributions from DEBORAH LEVY, RICHARD BENSON, CHARLIE CONNELLY and NEAL FOX.
OLLY ALEXANDER, lead vocalist with British pop group YEARS & YEARS opens up about being young, gay and famous, explains a key literary reference in a new song, and namechecks, among others, James Baldwin, Andrew Holleran and Flannery O’Connor.
The articles that follow strive to unlock the meaning of THE BLACK TULIP, an unputdownable novel set in the Dutch Golden Age, with contributions from DEBORAH LEVY, RICHARD BENSON, CHARLIE CONNELLY and NEAL FOX.
64 pages, Paperback
Published June 7, 2018
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Penguin Classics
26 books260 followersFor 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.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 4, 2020
The first book of the year and I am already trying to game the Goodreads challenge as this is technically a magazine, not a book. But it is published by a publisher in a book-like format and it's about books, so as far as I'm concerned it counts. Please don't report me to the Goodreads police.
The Happy Reader is a biannual* publication produced by Penguin Books and sent out to the subscribers for very cheap (more info here).
The magazine consists of two parts. The first is an interview with a (usually British) celebrity who talks about the books that influenced them and literature in general (which I assume limits the pool of celebrities that can be interviewed for this). In this issue we have Olly Alexander, who, it seems, only reads books given to him by his ex-boyfriends, ex-flames, or previous one night stands. This is a very interesting concept to me because I don't think my ex boyfriends have had much literary influence on me or would even feel competent to try to gift me a book without prior advice and heavy hinting. On the other hand, I have given a mountain of books to all my ex-boyfriends or men I fancied, which now probably gather dust on their bookshelves. It is sad that I am absolutely incapable of buying people any other presents.
Other than his ex-boyfriends Olly talks honestly about fame and is refreshingly honest and doesn't repeat the same spiel that so many celebrities spit out about never wanting to be famous or caring about fame.
The second half of the Happy Reader revolves around a selected Penguin Classic book (that would've been announced in the previous edition) and this time it was Black Tulip by Alexander Dumas. When I say 'revolves' I mean that sometimes that orbit might be amazingly large. Here we have articles about mob thinking, a botanical diary, and a story about a somewhat creepy neighbour. They all relate tangentially to some of the central themes of the book discussed (and of course there is an article or two discussing the book in a more direct way).
All in all, a very pleasant way to pass two evenings (or one evening if you are dedicated) and I learned more about DeWitt brothers (of the famous meme about eating the Prime Minister you're dissatisfied with, which became more popular after we realised we are stuck Boris Johnson now).
*- meaning twice a year, rather than every two years, but considering I've just read their Summer 2018 issue maybe that would work better for me
The Happy Reader is a biannual* publication produced by Penguin Books and sent out to the subscribers for very cheap (more info here).
The magazine consists of two parts. The first is an interview with a (usually British) celebrity who talks about the books that influenced them and literature in general (which I assume limits the pool of celebrities that can be interviewed for this). In this issue we have Olly Alexander, who, it seems, only reads books given to him by his ex-boyfriends, ex-flames, or previous one night stands. This is a very interesting concept to me because I don't think my ex boyfriends have had much literary influence on me or would even feel competent to try to gift me a book without prior advice and heavy hinting. On the other hand, I have given a mountain of books to all my ex-boyfriends or men I fancied, which now probably gather dust on their bookshelves. It is sad that I am absolutely incapable of buying people any other presents.
Other than his ex-boyfriends Olly talks honestly about fame and is refreshingly honest and doesn't repeat the same spiel that so many celebrities spit out about never wanting to be famous or caring about fame.
The second half of the Happy Reader revolves around a selected Penguin Classic book (that would've been announced in the previous edition) and this time it was Black Tulip by Alexander Dumas. When I say 'revolves' I mean that sometimes that orbit might be amazingly large. Here we have articles about mob thinking, a botanical diary, and a story about a somewhat creepy neighbour. They all relate tangentially to some of the central themes of the book discussed (and of course there is an article or two discussing the book in a more direct way).
All in all, a very pleasant way to pass two evenings (or one evening if you are dedicated) and I learned more about DeWitt brothers (of the famous meme about eating the Prime Minister you're dissatisfied with, which became more popular after we realised we are stuck Boris Johnson now).
*- meaning twice a year, rather than every two years, but considering I've just read their Summer 2018 issue maybe that would work better for me
November 16, 2019
Tiešām ļoti interesanta otrā daļa. Apsveru meklēt rokā Dimā biogrāfiju, baigais čuvaks bijis.
July 24, 2018
Laikam pirmais THR numurs, kura otrā daļa man šķita interesantāka par intervijas daļu. Iespējams, tāpēc, ka nespēju īsti asociēties ar geju problēmām dzīvē un literatūrā.
'To travel is to live in the full meaning of the word,' Dumas wrote. 'The past and the future are swallowed in the present; one fills one's lungs, takes pleasure in everything and holds all of creation in the hollow of one's hand.'
'To travel is to live in the full meaning of the word,' Dumas wrote. 'The past and the future are swallowed in the present; one fills one's lungs, takes pleasure in everything and holds all of creation in the hollow of one's hand.'
June 19, 2018
i look forward to each issue of the happy reader and they never disappoint!
June 23, 2018
Sadly now only published twice a year. This issue has an interview with Olly Alexander (singer/actor) in the front half & articles with connections to The Black Tulip (by Dumas) in the back half.
June 21, 2018
My first issue and I was impressed - next time it will be Frankenstein so I'm looking forward!!!
August 30, 2018
Yes I know this is not actually a book, but I'm behind in my reading challenge!!!
I actually liked the interview more than the articles this time. Had no clue who this guy was, but he's lead quite an interesting life. Seems like half his books were given to him by ex boyfriends. I don't think an ex ever gave me a book!
I actually liked the interview more than the articles this time. Had no clue who this guy was, but he's lead quite an interesting life. Seems like half his books were given to him by ex boyfriends. I don't think an ex ever gave me a book!
June 28, 2018
4.5 stars. Please never stop existing, The Happy Reader.
March 12, 2025
Always an interesting and insightful publication.
December 30, 2018
Part 1 of The Happy Reader Issue 11 is an interview with Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander. Part 2 features articles on mob mentality, plant breeding, strange neighbours, awful in-laws and pigeon fancying; all thematically circling the Book of the Season: The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews