Does Anyone Read Magazines?

The answer is yes, Suna loves magazines. The view from either side of “my” chair at the ranch house will tell you so.

I’m worried that they will all go away, though. They get thinner and thinner. Then they go quarterly. Then they’re only online (bye Newsweek).

Sometimes I feel like I’m keeping the entire industry going. But I like them. They’re a happy surprise when I check the mail. I never know what I’ll get to learn about. And, in some cases, they’re something pretty and harmless to take my mind off real life.

I just love the variety of writing styles and topics. And I have so many interests. I wish I had a magazine for each of them! But I’d have no time to pursue those interests if I did.

Believe it or not, I’ve cut down lately. Some for financial reasons, some for the aforementioned trend of magazines folding. But here are some I read, and why:

• New Scientist: it’s a weekly from the UK. I like it’s perspective. But once my inexpensive first year is over, it will go.
• Science News: Lee has subscribed for decades. It summarizes research for lay people, but has no agenda. It’s weekly and US focused.
• Interweave Knits. Most wonderful knitting magazine left. We almost lost all the Interweave publications. I had to cut a couple others, but I still get this one. Great writing.
• Knitter’s. Basically I like the folks who run this and want to give them money. Benjamin Levisay is a great human. I hardly knit anymore but want to support the industry.
• Texas Parks & Wildlife. I volunteer for them as a Master Naturalist. Plus they deserve my support. Also great photos and articles by people I know.
• Texas Highways. Used to be for ideas of places to go. Now for info on places I miss.
• Western Horseman. Best horse and western lifestyle magazine. Fantastic writing. Great photography. I learn so much history and horse lore. They have a wonderful monthly feature on women of the west.
• Horse and Rider. I think. This used to be two monthly magazines and is now one quarterly one. Lots of horse health information and at least some of the horses aren’t quarter horses.
• Equus. Okay I like to look at horses.
• InStyle. I’ve read this since it started. Fashion stuff but pretty darned feminist. Escapism.
• HGTV. Well, I renovate houses. It’s practically work related. Rather lightweight and overly trendy.
• This Old House. See above, but more practical information and less trend-focused.
• Architectural Digest. Not what it used to be. I miss the really long articles on architecture. But I love all the interesting buildings around the world.
• Psychology Today. I just love it. It’s fun and often helpful. Not all that scholarly, but at least it has references.
• Lion’s Roar. Buddhist stuff. You learn a lot about the different traditions and get good ideas for personal growth.
• Mother Jones. To get me all riled up about stuff. Hard to read sometimes. Makes me sad.
• Condé Nast Traveler. It comes for free. Too many expensive places I’ll never get to go to.
• Woman’s Day and Good Housekeeping. For recipes and silly craft ideas. Relaxation reading.
• National Geographic. I love all the biology, botany, geography and other research they share. Still informative after all these years.
• Southern Living. This used to be more interesting, but I still like to learn about different places, and see more interiors. And there are recipes.
• Veranda. No idea why I thought I needed another home decor magazine. I guess I like to look at houses.
• Living Bird. This comes from my Cornell Labs membership to support their work. I like it better than other bird magazines.
• AARP. I don’t ever get to this, though there are occasional articles I like. Still loathe to admit I’m in the demographic.

See, I’m supporting an entire industry. At least it keeps me off Facebook, so people will stop looking down on me for it. Too bad. I also like far-flung friends.

So, any recommendations? What periodicals do you enjoy? Do you read on paper or online? Do you save any? So many questions. Gotta get back to reading.