cardulelia carduelis’s Reviews > McSweeney's Issue 80 > Status Update

The little comic/activity book from John Pham is great. And how the design of the folder and activity is a part of the story, are you kidding me??? The story is a bit meh but the set design and art style are interesting. Like the limited colour palette a lot.

The flower catalogue is a delight and is making me think of what flowers I'd like to try planting in our garden this year.

That Adrian Tomine sketchbook was a real treat. I've only read a couple of his graphic novels but I know him for his very clean style, bold outlines, and limited palettes. So seeing paneling and sketches and planning was really fascinating. I kind of wish we'd had access to an interview with him or something though to round it out.

I found some disrepancies with the crossword. Are they intentional? Or a mistake? Have emailed mcsweeney's to find out :D

Power couple is an odd one. I think it's about a couple trying not to fade into their own obscurity. But honestly I'm not sure. It was fun though and I liked the Bay area setting.

"At the time we were living in Vallejo in a house his parents had bought him, a lemon-yellow cottage with a holy view of the bridge." Woof. That's the dream.

Composure is another runner up for the short story prize. It's about a young violin teacher and him navigating his place in life and love and with his students. Particularly after one boy pulls off a limp handed grotesque caricature of gay during one of their lessons. This was written as if thought in passing. The fades coming by placing us in the middle of sentences. I'm not sure if it added anything.

6 stories are more like 6 prose poems. Surreal and perfect for the theming of this collection. I like the greedy hornet.

My friend Kevin. I hate the sight of him. Just stop, I say. You're not a bull.

On childhood: What I miss most, I think, are the feelings of awe and consequence.