Granta 156: Interiors

Granta: The Magazine of New Writing #156

by Sigrid Rausing (Editor)

Published four times a year, Granta is respected around the world for its mix of outstanding contemporary writing, art and photography. This summer issue of Granta features fiction by Jesse Ball , Eva Freeman , Okwiri Oduor , Tao Lin , Adam O'Fallon Price , Vanessa Onwuemezi , Kathryn Scanlan and Diane Williams . Granta 156: Interiors includes poetry by Kaveh Akbar , Sasha Debvec-McKenny , Gboyega Odubanjo and Nick Laird , as well as memoir by Chris Dennis , Debra Gwartney , Sandra Newman and Ruchir Joshi . With photography by Robbie Lawrence , introduced by Colin Herd , and Kaitlin Maxwell , introduced by Lynne Tillman .

Genres: Short Stories, Poetry, Nonfiction

248 pages, Paperback

Published July 29, 2021

About the author

Sigrid 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.

Reviews

[Chris]

I read the final line of Sigrid Rausing’s introduction, a quote from Barry Lopez’s final unpublished essay, and burst into tears.
This collection of poetry, essay, and photography is powerful and moving.
The Rausing and Chris Dennis commentary on Ghislaine Maxwell and child exploitation gave me greater insight into a matter—our local newspaper has just declared, and commented, and stammered through an open secret of a former high teacher and current cultural expert, and his cohorts, grooming, and sleeping with, students over a number of years.
Kaitlin Maxwell’s photography is powerful imagery of women. Robbie Lawrence’s “Stills” is haunting, as was Ruchir Joshi’s words and photos of Calcutta.
I enjoyed the writing of Vanessa Onwuemezi—“Cuba” captures a young woman both vulnerable and unshakeable—Jesse Ball, Adam O’Fallon Price, and Okwiri Oduor. Kathryn Scanlan’s short “A Place I’d Go To” was a delight.
Poetry by Kavah Akbar, Gboyega Odubanjo, and Sasha Debevec-McKenney was original and engaging.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual mixture of fiction, non-fiction and photography. I always end up spreading the magazine over a whole month rather than just reading it cover to cover which has the disadvantage that I often forget the details of the first articles before I finish the final one. Actually, in this case, the final one is an excerpt from Checkout 19 by Claire-Louise Bennett which I have already read, so I skipped that.

[Richard Seltzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine issue. The stories I enjoyed most were: In the Aftermath by Eva Freeman, Variations by Tao Lin, and A Last Chance in Whitefish by Adam O'Fallon Price. But I would prefer if they would stop publishing page after page of photos and instead published more fiction.

[simon crossley · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mixed bag of fiction and non-fiction but enough to entertain and ask questions.

The lead article by Chris Dennis about Ghislaine Maxwell was, for a topical matter, disappointing light on observation. In contrast ‘Stills’ by Robbie Lawrence left me unmoved. And Rushir Joshi drew me in with how he captures the symbolism of Calcutta creeking under the weight of the city and its growing pains.

Photo collections are usually very good or very esoteric. The soft pink light collection by Kaitlin Maxwell featuring her mother were curiously subversive in being normal at first sight but then odd when relooked at. Sometimes revealimng, sometimes sensual, sometimes not.

Checkout 19 by Claire-Louise Bennett was quirky in an overly observational and brain dump sort of way but left me wanting more.

The final piece by Debra Gwartney manages to combine the mundanity of the last days of her husband’s life with an argument, and the horror of an encroaching forest fire. The quote from Barry Lopez’ unpublished essay is poignant – “Today, it’s as if every safe place has melted into the sameness of water, and that we’re searching for the boats we forgot to build.’

[Charliecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I open a new Granta, I feel uncertain about what I' m going to read. Often, the first few pieces fail to move me. Then something kicks in, then something else, and by the end, there's more than enough there to justify the subscription fee.

Special mention to Sara Freeman (Tides), Okwiri Oduor (Mbiu Dash), Debra Gwartney (Fire and Ice) & Ruchir Joshi (Traces) a wonderful photo essay about Calcutta.

[Ray Quirolgico · Rating 4 out of 5]

The brilliantly poetic moments in this volume are sporadic but still quite shockingly poignant. In this current global pandemic, we have all faced our emotional interiors and sometimes lived in our physical interiors (in quarantine or not). This collection explores all of that in ways that are sometimes harrowing and sometimes uplifting. I ok not wish the emotional balance felt more steady and maybe ended on a stronger note.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This, the last of my Granta subscription, took a time to begin reading, in part because I had high hopes of what could be said of 'Interiors'. (I have a book of paintings inspired by that subject which never fails to uplift me). The final piece - Debra Gwartney's 'Fire and Ice' was heartbreaking. Rushi Joshi's 'Traces' educational; one or others, read a while ago and not made a note of, left an impression but on the whole my reasons for not renewing held up.

[Keith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have been a subscriber for nearly 40 years. Sadly, it’s been increasingly a case of diminishing returns. This issue feels like a particular low. It’s been a long time now since I relished a new Granta. Uninspiring writing isn’t what I had come to expect from Granta.

[Hari Brandl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost always enjoy reading an issue of Granta and this one is not an exception. I always find at least one new author I want to read more of and again, no exception in this issue. Yes, there were one or two entries that left me cold, but the others made up for that.

[Neil Kenealy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Granta is back to their edgy form with a collection with a big chunk of Americans and Nairobi Scotland and calcutta. Shout out to Claire Louise Bennetts excerpt from her new book called Checkout 19.

[Johan Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mijn favorieten

- Fotoessay van Kaitlin Maxwell
- Non-fiction van Debra Gwartney

[Andrew Neely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous.

[Melissaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a Granta so there is always something fantastic, new, baffling, miserable, ecstatic and profound within its covers.

[John Kelleher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fine issue.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Granta calls itself a magazine of new writing, but is in book form. There are a selection of different types of writing and some are better than others, or appeal to me more. I particuarly liked Tides by Sara Freeman and a Last Chance in Whitefish by Adam O'Fallon Price. Some were real life and some were a series of photos with explanations. Its a nice idea to get an introduction to new writers and experience something different.