The Paris Review, Issue 232, Spring 2020

by Emily Nemens (Editor)

Rachel Cusk on the Art of Fiction: "I still don't really know where a book comes from, like a child doesn't know where babies come from." Nathaniel Mackey on the Art of Poetry: "By making breath more evident, more material, more dwelled-upon, they make black breath matter, implicitly insist that black lives matter."

Fiction by Senaa Ahmad, Jesse Ball, Rebecca Makkai and Clare Sestanovich.

Poetry by Griffin Brown, Billy Collins, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, Jeffrey Harrison, Zoë Hitzig, James Longenbach, Jayanta Mahapatra, G. C. Waldrep, and Kevin Young.

Nonfiction by Beth Nguyen. A portfolio by Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum, with an essay by Edwidge Danticat.

Genres: Poetry, Short Stories, Fiction

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2020

About the author

Emily Nemens’s debut novel, The Cactus League, was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and named one of NPR’s and Lit Hub’s favorite books of 2020. Her stories have appeared in BOMB, The Gettysburg Review, n+1, and elsewhere; her illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker and in collaboration with Harvey Pekar. Nemens spent over a decade editing literary quarterlies, including leading The Paris Review and serving as co-editor and prose editor of The Southern Review. She held the 2022–23 Picador Professorship (University of Leipzig) and teaches in the MFA program at Bennington College. She lives in central New Jersey with her husband and dog.

Reviews

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite in this issue: Andrew Martin’s story, “Childhood, Boyhood, Youth” and Beth Nguyen’s “Apparent” - I’m interested to read more by both of them. Also liked poetry by Billy Collins and John Skoyles. Rare issue where I didn’t care much for either interview.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a classic collection fashion, some hits and misses in this. Standouts for me were Apparent by Beth Nguyen, Let's Play Dead by Senaa Ahmad, and the poems by Jeffrey Harrison, Margaret Ross and Jayanta Mahapatra.

[Tilda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The absolute highlight was the artwork of Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum, which was so arresting and beautiful I had to keep returning to it. Also enjoyed the interview with Rachel Cusk, the Jesse Ball piece
and the piece by Beth Nguyen. The poetry largely left me cold (it always does, I wish it didn’t). Solid.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm totally in love with this literary journal it's always filled with the most innovative contemporary short stories, poetry, art and interviews. Every month an in depth writer's interview will both inspire and intimidate me. Absolutely enthralling.

[Chris Lee-Francis]

Giving a star rating seems weird.

'Let's Play Dead' by Senaa Ahmad was an incredible short story, and the interview with Nathaniel Mackey was excellent.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tend to agree with some of the other reviewers that this edition was not one of the strongest.

I enjoyed the interview with Rachel Cusk; LOVED the short story “Let’s Play Dead” by Senaa Ahmad - amazing; also really liked the short story “A Story for Your Daughters, a Story for Your Sons” by Rebecca Makkai, which reminded me of Marquez in its subject matter and pathos.

Like many, I struggled to connect with much of the poetry. I thought Liza Watkins’ “Trust: View of Property” had some really nice elements, especially its rhythm; and Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum’s paintings were glorious.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a literary magazine: and it's very good at being what it is. Some of the stories and poems in here are better than others, but most of it is obviously operating on a much higher literary level than me. I found the interviews boring, but maybe that would be different if I knew who the interview subjects were. Basically, if you like modern literary fiction; you might like this. If you have no interest in reading something along the lines of Infinite Jest, I'd give it a pass.

[Kaiju Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those issues where I found nothing bad but also nothing truly wowed me. I love Rachel Cusk's writing, but this interview fell flat. Stories by Ahmad, Makkai, and Bryant were all well above average.

The Second Olga by Skoyles, Rare Bird by Harrison, and Suite for Pugin by Waldrep were all excellent poems.

But this is all relative. The worst this issue has to offer is consistently well above average.

Enjoyed it.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Try harder, Emily.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly a good read, the short stories were very good, the interviews were okay, the poetry was forgettable.

[Jacqueline Nyathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's Play Dead was amazing.

[Ellie Botoman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kamran Sehgal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly average issue, the interview with Nathaniel Mackey was the standout for me.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Issue 232 is a fourth rate edition of a first-rate literary magazine, a breath-taking waste of prime literary space. The first 98 pages lack any sting of truth.

I ran into Barnes & Noble with $25 to spend and ten minutes before our Stay-In Place order waning. PR's fiction has been on an upswing in recent years. I took a shot.

Clare Sestanovich's lead piece 'By Design' is simply a boring story about a boring woman doing boring things without sympathy or payoff. It could be written off as a well-placed fluke of mediocrity, a too-powerful agent landing her a prime spot in a prime literary mag. But the next 70+ pages are just as dull. Even Beth Nguyen's bio has all the heat edited out.

Finally on Page 98 is Jeffrey Harrison's 'Rare Bird,' and the issue starts to look up for a moment. Unfortunately it doesn't save the book; the drivel keeps on and on and even Billy Collins can't buoy the works.

This is the point where I dropped 232 into the trash - some things don't even deserve recycling.

I tore out 'Rare Bird' and saved it, though.

Emily Nemens, whoever you are, you owe me $20.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2020 Read Harder - Literary Journal

[Skywalker Hu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too many poems...would like more interviews.