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Granta: The Magazine of New Writing #144
Granta 144: Generic Love Story
An issue on gender and power
Devorah Baum reads Grace Paley to find out what women want
Stella Duffy looks for LGBT voices in the #MeToo debate
Fernanda Eberstadt remembers the 70s drag scene in New York
Debra Gwartney breaks her silence
Ottessa Moshfegh gets what she wants
TaraShea Nesbit revisits her lost childhood
Brittany Newell deconstructs Paris Hilton's sex tape
Lisa Wells on the process of revisiting trauma
Also: new fiction from: Tara Isabella Burton, Paul Dalla Rosa, Tommi Parrish, Sally Rooney, Miriam Toews, Zoe Whittall and Leni Zumas
Plus: poetry by Momtaza Mehri and Fiona Benson
And photoessays by Sébastien Lifshitz and Tomoko Sawada, introduced by Andrew McMillan and Sayaka Murata
Devorah Baum reads Grace Paley to find out what women want
Stella Duffy looks for LGBT voices in the #MeToo debate
Fernanda Eberstadt remembers the 70s drag scene in New York
Debra Gwartney breaks her silence
Ottessa Moshfegh gets what she wants
TaraShea Nesbit revisits her lost childhood
Brittany Newell deconstructs Paris Hilton's sex tape
Lisa Wells on the process of revisiting trauma
Also: new fiction from: Tara Isabella Burton, Paul Dalla Rosa, Tommi Parrish, Sally Rooney, Miriam Toews, Zoe Whittall and Leni Zumas
Plus: poetry by Momtaza Mehri and Fiona Benson
And photoessays by Sébastien Lifshitz and Tomoko Sawada, introduced by Andrew McMillan and Sayaka Murata
- GenresAnthologiesFictionPoetry
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2018
7 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Sigrid Rausing
45 books52 followersSigrid Rausing is Editor and Publisher of Granta magazine and Publisher of Granta and Portobello Books. She is the author of History, Memory and Identity in Post-Soviet Estonia: The End of a Collective Farm and Everything is Wonderful, which has been translated into four different languages.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 12, 2018
The book blurb gives you a good idea of what is found in this edition of Granta. The articles are, as usual, a mixed bunch of fact and fiction and a mix in terms of personal appeal. An article about a girls’s experience with a paedophile whilst not explicit is uncomfortable to read. An excerpt from Sally Rooney’s upcoming novel is a chance to preview the one remaining book I need to read from this year’s Man Booker long list. Photo articles including one about cross-dressers showing part of a collection of found photographs from the 1880s to the 1930s are interesting. It is a mixed bag, but well worth reading for the relevance of its subjects.
August 15, 2018
A rather uneven anthology for me, but it's because I don't have the life experience (or curiosity? or ability to understand?) to grasp some of these n0n-(for me) generic love stories.
I did so enjoy the pictures of cross dressing, especially the ladies' weddings, because I had some knowledge of them. And I found the cosplay pictures of Murata's guises or "selves" by Tomoko Sawada both disturbing and revealing since my granddaughter loves to film herself in various (dis)guises.
Devorah Baum's essay "What Do Women Want?" was most provocative for me though. I've loved Grace Paley's work for many years and the steady march of "Wants" next to musing on #Timesup and Trump left me thinking about time and time-awareness and aging and formation of new relationships and a host of other thoughts I will share with friends and some family members. In this issue where so many explore sexual, personal, psychological and political subjects, I am left with Baum's thoughts on Trump.
"It's hardly surprising, then, that Trump excites people, arousing, as he does, not only the fanatical ardour of many who say they want him, but the impassioned disgust of those who say they don't. So it's worth pondering whether this frenzied 'love him or loathe him' fascination for Trump can tell us something about what we all might want. Or to put it more provocatively, what if, when it comes to predator Trump, it's we, his audience, who are the real predators, perversely relocating out deepest want - for less certainty about who we are, how we got here and what we ultimately want - onto the altogether unknowing? What we may have fallen for, in other words, could be ignorance. Although ignorance of the wrong kind. But even a mistaken object of desire can suggest something of what it is we might really want. So what we perhaps want, at a time when there seems no time to waste, not for any of us, not even for the millennial young, is another way of wanting, another way of experiencing time passing, another way of writing history."
I did so enjoy the pictures of cross dressing, especially the ladies' weddings, because I had some knowledge of them. And I found the cosplay pictures of Murata's guises or "selves" by Tomoko Sawada both disturbing and revealing since my granddaughter loves to film herself in various (dis)guises.
Devorah Baum's essay "What Do Women Want?" was most provocative for me though. I've loved Grace Paley's work for many years and the steady march of "Wants" next to musing on #Timesup and Trump left me thinking about time and time-awareness and aging and formation of new relationships and a host of other thoughts I will share with friends and some family members. In this issue where so many explore sexual, personal, psychological and political subjects, I am left with Baum's thoughts on Trump.
"It's hardly surprising, then, that Trump excites people, arousing, as he does, not only the fanatical ardour of many who say they want him, but the impassioned disgust of those who say they don't. So it's worth pondering whether this frenzied 'love him or loathe him' fascination for Trump can tell us something about what we all might want. Or to put it more provocatively, what if, when it comes to predator Trump, it's we, his audience, who are the real predators, perversely relocating out deepest want - for less certainty about who we are, how we got here and what we ultimately want - onto the altogether unknowing? What we may have fallen for, in other words, could be ignorance. Although ignorance of the wrong kind. But even a mistaken object of desire can suggest something of what it is we might really want. So what we perhaps want, at a time when there seems no time to waste, not for any of us, not even for the millennial young, is another way of wanting, another way of experiencing time passing, another way of writing history."
April 2, 2022
a truly gorgeous collection of the good, the bad, the very bad, and the ugly when it comes to love stories. never have i read so many extracts of stories at once but the sequence and the pace was set oh-so perfectly.
should i be saving money? yes.
am i going to go and buy many of the texts featured? most likely.
reading the granta magazines has been such an eye opener to books and novels that i may have never even thought of picking up.
i could never recommend this edition enough.
should i be saving money? yes.
am i going to go and buy many of the texts featured? most likely.
reading the granta magazines has been such an eye opener to books and novels that i may have never even thought of picking up.
i could never recommend this edition enough.
March 5, 2023
Well now I’ve read some Sally Rooney.
Read
December 2, 2018Another engaging collection of stories, poetry, memoir, and critical and photo essays.
Tara Isabelle Burton's story of a woman falling into an abusive relationship as the United States falls into an abusive government is the most memorable piece for me. Leni Zumas' "That" shows a writing ability I want to read more of.
Ferdnanda Eberstadt has a startling memoir of her friendship with artist Stephen Varble and New York City in the 1970s.
The collection of photos of turn-of-the-century cross-dressers had the effect of normalizing this fashion. "It ain't no new thing" as Gil Scott Heron said about something very different.
This Granta is a collection, primarily, of women's stories, of abuse, of seduction, of abortion, of being seen, of not being seen. A compelling collection.
Tara Isabelle Burton's story of a woman falling into an abusive relationship as the United States falls into an abusive government is the most memorable piece for me. Leni Zumas' "That" shows a writing ability I want to read more of.
Ferdnanda Eberstadt has a startling memoir of her friendship with artist Stephen Varble and New York City in the 1970s.
The collection of photos of turn-of-the-century cross-dressers had the effect of normalizing this fashion. "It ain't no new thing" as Gil Scott Heron said about something very different.
This Granta is a collection, primarily, of women's stories, of abuse, of seduction, of abortion, of being seen, of not being seen. A compelling collection.
May 5, 2022
This issue on Gender and Power turns out to be mostly about rape and #MeToo. Less than 2 years after being issued, it already feels dated, very much of 2018, if not 2019.
There are a few good pieces: the title comic strip has promise but feels incomplete, Andrew Motion’s piece and the photographs of cross-dressers from the olden days are great, there are good, but bitter & hopeless stories about working in high fashion retail and driving through a desert.
Mostly though this issue is full of rants from women either seething with victimhood or dismissive of those who cannot manipulate men through their desires and banal pieces stating the fairly obvious on only moderately interesting topics. Also, for a British magazine it is rather unbalanced towards North American writers.
There are a few good pieces: the title comic strip has promise but feels incomplete, Andrew Motion’s piece and the photographs of cross-dressers from the olden days are great, there are good, but bitter & hopeless stories about working in high fashion retail and driving through a desert.
Mostly though this issue is full of rants from women either seething with victimhood or dismissive of those who cannot manipulate men through their desires and banal pieces stating the fairly obvious on only moderately interesting topics. Also, for a British magazine it is rather unbalanced towards North American writers.
October 9, 2018
Just picked up a subscription for this magazine. I’m not sure if it should review like a book. But it is in some cases holding as many stories as a small collection. For me, the subscription and the access to the archives has more value, to peruse the classic authors who have written.
This edition focused on the patriarchy and issues of gender did not hit me that well. That said, certainly I am not the market for it but I did read the articles with an open mind and feel I might have picked up a bit more perspective than I otherwise I might have had. And that, certainly, has value.
To me the stories of note in this collection are
Comme by Paul Dalla Rosa : An odd story about a high end boutique store in Australia. Run by a very driven young man things begin to go South when he hears of a pending visit by one of the senior members of the company. His nerves, his relationship with his staff, even with his boyfriend all suffer at precisely the wrong time.
I’ve Seen the Future: Baby, It’s Muder by Tara Isabella Burton : The story begins in Florida, the morning after the election. A young woman, our nameless narrator, a d a young man named Henry have got together to watch the end of America a she calls it. Neither actually believing Trump would win they really expect to view the first woman being elected. However as she starts to tell us their history, not a couple, but as a couple of on and off fuck buddies and claims that the first three times they had sex that they killed Bowie, Prince, and then caused Brexit, that their choosing to get together 9n election night might have a very ominous meaning. As we all know it did, and the rest of the story as they return to New York with their feelings of pain, sadness, and preposterously, guilt we follow along. This is a strong story.
Jailbait by Ottessa Moshfegh : One of the It authors of the moment this story focuses on a seventeen year old college freshman who, wanting to be a writer, reaches out to a sixty five year old author, very well known, for writing advice. We see that she sends a picture with the note, she evidently feels he might have a propensity to be more willing to offer something to a young, attractive, woman such as herself. They begin to meet, she mostly listens to him talk, he does not think much of her writing, but when she turns eighteen , his talk becomes overtly sexual. Soon, she tires of him, he realizes there is noth8ng to happen. This is a case where the young woman is far from the victim. Using the man’s lust against him to get what she wants without losing anything of herself.
Normal People by Sally Rooney : Without doubt the prize of the collection is this story by the Irish Rooney. We have a popular high school boy named Connor Waldron. Popular, handsome, athletic he has good friends and a pretty girl. He does not have wealth. His family is poor. Living with his Mom who cleans for a very wealthy family whose daughter goes to school with him. We don’t know the beginnings but as the story rolls we see that these two,have just had sex, Marianne’s first time. We soon learn that, despite her wealth she is not popular, she is not unattractive, but she is not pretty. She also will do anything for Connor. He has become aware of this, how easily he could debase her for his gratification or amusement. He does not want to but they both have an unacknowledged agreement that they will not act as if they are friends, much less lovers, when they see each other. She would,,of course, but she knows to push for this would be to lose him.
We rejoin the story six weeks later. She has joined the group. She is with Karen, an actually nice girl who is certainly trying to make her feel welcome. Eventually they are joined by Rachel, the prototypical mean girl, she also happens to be Connor’s girlfriend. She is outwardly dismissive, if not mean to her, a situation that is mortifying embarrassing for Marianne. At this Rachel is surprised when Connor rebukes her and offers to drive the upset girl home. He instead takes her home. It is clear to Marianne that he has decided he cares not who knows about their feelings and relationship. While we certainly would have doubts about Connors behavior as the story ends and she feels “ for the first time as if, perhaps, she does deserve to be loved “ that maybe his growth will continue and they will live happily ever after or, at least, whatever today’s version of that is.
This edition focused on the patriarchy and issues of gender did not hit me that well. That said, certainly I am not the market for it but I did read the articles with an open mind and feel I might have picked up a bit more perspective than I otherwise I might have had. And that, certainly, has value.
To me the stories of note in this collection are
Comme by Paul Dalla Rosa : An odd story about a high end boutique store in Australia. Run by a very driven young man things begin to go South when he hears of a pending visit by one of the senior members of the company. His nerves, his relationship with his staff, even with his boyfriend all suffer at precisely the wrong time.
I’ve Seen the Future: Baby, It’s Muder by Tara Isabella Burton : The story begins in Florida, the morning after the election. A young woman, our nameless narrator, a d a young man named Henry have got together to watch the end of America a she calls it. Neither actually believing Trump would win they really expect to view the first woman being elected. However as she starts to tell us their history, not a couple, but as a couple of on and off fuck buddies and claims that the first three times they had sex that they killed Bowie, Prince, and then caused Brexit, that their choosing to get together 9n election night might have a very ominous meaning. As we all know it did, and the rest of the story as they return to New York with their feelings of pain, sadness, and preposterously, guilt we follow along. This is a strong story.
Jailbait by Ottessa Moshfegh : One of the It authors of the moment this story focuses on a seventeen year old college freshman who, wanting to be a writer, reaches out to a sixty five year old author, very well known, for writing advice. We see that she sends a picture with the note, she evidently feels he might have a propensity to be more willing to offer something to a young, attractive, woman such as herself. They begin to meet, she mostly listens to him talk, he does not think much of her writing, but when she turns eighteen , his talk becomes overtly sexual. Soon, she tires of him, he realizes there is noth8ng to happen. This is a case where the young woman is far from the victim. Using the man’s lust against him to get what she wants without losing anything of herself.
Normal People by Sally Rooney : Without doubt the prize of the collection is this story by the Irish Rooney. We have a popular high school boy named Connor Waldron. Popular, handsome, athletic he has good friends and a pretty girl. He does not have wealth. His family is poor. Living with his Mom who cleans for a very wealthy family whose daughter goes to school with him. We don’t know the beginnings but as the story rolls we see that these two,have just had sex, Marianne’s first time. We soon learn that, despite her wealth she is not popular, she is not unattractive, but she is not pretty. She also will do anything for Connor. He has become aware of this, how easily he could debase her for his gratification or amusement. He does not want to but they both have an unacknowledged agreement that they will not act as if they are friends, much less lovers, when they see each other. She would,,of course, but she knows to push for this would be to lose him.
We rejoin the story six weeks later. She has joined the group. She is with Karen, an actually nice girl who is certainly trying to make her feel welcome. Eventually they are joined by Rachel, the prototypical mean girl, she also happens to be Connor’s girlfriend. She is outwardly dismissive, if not mean to her, a situation that is mortifying embarrassing for Marianne. At this Rachel is surprised when Connor rebukes her and offers to drive the upset girl home. He instead takes her home. It is clear to Marianne that he has decided he cares not who knows about their feelings and relationship. While we certainly would have doubts about Connors behavior as the story ends and she feels “ for the first time as if, perhaps, she does deserve to be loved “ that maybe his growth will continue and they will live happily ever after or, at least, whatever today’s version of that is.
November 16, 2018
Another brilliantly edited collection from Granta features some poignant and timely pieces on gender and power reflecting many dimensions of the #MeToo movement discussion currently happening. I particularly enjoyed the pieces in this collection by Eberstadt, Toews, Newell, Duffy, Parrish, Burton, Gwartney, Nesbit, Moshfegh, and Zumas. Everything in the collection was beautiful and energetic, and I found myself gasping at some poignant lines that communicated the hard and striking voices unveiling lifetimes of struggle and repression. One of my favorite Grantas in recent memory, this particular issue urges readers to listen, to observe, and to raise a flag in the front lines of today’s changes in gendered power dynamics.
September 9, 2018
A mixed set of material which certainly made me think and also entertained me ; I guess this is the aim of the publication. A couple of the pieces I had to give up reading as I could not understand them ( they both involved psychoanalysis and too much introspection for me!) A few of the essays and excerpts I very much enjoyed but the poetry as ever left me non the wiser ~ I will persevere with this and hope one day enlightenment will dawn.
August 31, 2019
I LOVED THE FIRST STORY. This is the first time I have read the magazine Granta and I really liked it. It explored the roles of genders very well with various stories and poems. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more soon.
October 11, 2018
It's a mag. Some of its great, some okay, some didn't move me.
November 1, 2018
A mixed bag of essays and stories. Some very thought provoking and some required a bitnof effort to get through them.
November 29, 2018
Harrowing, powerful. Best to read in small doses.
January 6, 2019
some very powerful material in this volume
August 28, 2019
I usually like more of the articles in Granta - here, maybe 2 were enjoyable. I'm not prudish but there are some quite uncomfortable reads in here - and they say nothing new about sex and power.
October 3, 2019
Nja. Jeg skjønte det kanskje ikke, men jeg syns ikke det var så veldig bra.
May 7, 2020
Dit nummer deed me meer lezen van Sally Rooney en Ottessa Moshfegh.
Ook Stella Duffy kon me bekoren.
Ook Stella Duffy kon me bekoren.
October 20, 2025
A volume exploring patriarchy reveals so much more than that: a world of possibilities that emerge from engaging with differences. And that imperative feels ever so timely.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews