Obsessing about magazines and reading.
Feb. 9th, 2010 11:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rainbowunicorn_readsOn obsessing about reading
The very first thing I do when I get my hands on a book or a magazine, regardless of whether it's new or old, is to open it to a random page and inhale the comforting smell of its binding.
It instantly transports me to a happier place, where there are no looming deadlines or other worries--just me and bound paper, with a smattering of words I have yet to get acquainted with. I particularly love the scent of our local magazines--a smell I've come to associate with "me time" and possibilities, owing this perhaps to my previous job at a magazine publishing company.
I cannot recall when my love affair with books and magazines started, but I do know that since I was small I have religiously collected young adult paperbacks, magazines found lying around our house like Food, or Parents, and obsessively filed those kiddie supplements found in our newspapers.
I had bad grades in elementary since I'd rather max out my library card than study. I think I was "Borrower of the month" in our library a bit too often. Instead of socializing, I hurriedly ate my packed lunch at my chair, and spend time at the library with those imaginary friends found between pages, who lived in far more interesting worlds, I thought then. I'd lug home those thick, hardbound books with a mishmash of stories and varying illustrations that are really for kids abroad, and ignore jeering comments of "Nerd" by my classmates and comfort myself with the thought that I could instantly escape school bullies and bad grades and friends who are not really friends the moment I open my books. This might be the reason why I am hooked on fairytales and happy endings and avoid the grittier Palahniuk-style works. Shallow as it might seem, my reasoning is simple--real life is already harsh sometimes, and I wouldn't want to escape to something equally horrifying. Horror stories are different, though, since it's equally comforting to just shut the book when things get too scary. Since I also have a short attention span, I could easily teleport from one fictional world to another, in just a simple flick of a finger as I open another book.
My short attention span is partly to blame for my magazine fetish, though. And my love for color and typography. There's just something decadent about opening a newly-bought magazine on your favorite topic leisurely, taking time to absorb the beautiful photographs, or over-analyzing the profile interviews, or feeling that winkle of pleasure to know that someone is also as obsessed as you are with a particular topic as represented by that magazine.
I read magazines I love from cover to cover and relish even ads and letters to the editor. NYLON magazine readers are particularly creative, with handmade cards declaring their love for NYLON and for the NYLON mag lifestyle. Bitch zine readers, on the other hand, are a feisty, opinionated bunch. If you know me well enough, you'd know that I have plenty of tiny obsessions and these are encouraged by the variety of affordable mags on related topics found in my usual bookstore haunts. I obsess to the point of obsessing about my obsessions (if that made any sense) which led me to reflect on why I love each unique mag. (Plus I also love creating lists, haha).
My favorite magazines and why they rock my socks:
1. BUST- They always feature girls who deserve to be featured on the cover, and they have an extensive interview with thought-provoking questions. They contain articles about modern feminist movements all over the world and inspire me to start a revolution myself. Plus they have a DIY section, a well-researched review section, unique fashion editorials featuring real girls, funny comics and illustrations by modern up-and-coming artists. Bust, for me is the perfect blend of modern feminism (and ideals) and old-school nostalgia, if you ask me to describe it. As a bonus, also has that infamous "one-handed read" section that makes it different from your usual glossy mainstream mag.
Also see: Venuszine and Bitch - Venuszine is like a thinner version of Bust, since it has less pages but is equally enjoyable. Bitch is the angrier, less glossy, more informed version. Reading Bitch is like reading an investigative report on a theme, since each issue is focused on themes like "Genesis" or "The Wired issue". There's just so much injustice towards women discussed in Bitch, and I often end up angry at mankind after reading it. But still, you have to admit it's a gutsy and very informative magazine.
2. Craft zine and Readymade- Both are craft magazines, but Craft is quirkier and funnier, with projects ranging from deconstructing shirts into skirts to japanese juggling toys. Readymade is more focused on industrial design/woodwork and construction themes, with lawn chairs from old crates, or lamps from cd cases etc.
3. Blueprint and Domino- They're both sadly out of print, which saddens me to no end. Blueprint, from Martha Stewart publications is a mishmash of interior decorating tips, household tips and also appears like a catalog that revolves on a theme, a la Domino. Domino features cool homes, offers decor tips too, and is just like a dream house book, since most of the stuff here are pricey. I look at both magazines for decor inspiration, since both feature cheap decor ideas, like blowing up a picture of the simple things you love and framing it against a brightly-colored wall.
4. Martha Stewart Living- When Martha means "Good things" I believe her, especially since the diy ideas here are simple but lovely, inexpensive but impressive, proving that 'good' doesn't necessarily mean expensive. The styling and photography within these pages amaze me, with its bold and effortless color combos.
5. Women's Health- I'm not an exercise and fitness buff, nor do I engage in miracle diet plans. I do wish I could revert to my college weight though, only with more muscle. Women's Health makes me want to devote myself to achieving my healthy ideal weight NOW. They have useful facts about which food and exercise combination suits you most and they suggest dishes that are tasty and easy to cook. All those buff toned women inside are great motivators too. I'm so glad they have the local version from Summit, with healthy food that you can actually buy here. Not so keen about the price though, the back issues from abroad are much cheaper.
6. NYLON- I first saw NYLON fresh from college, when I was filled with idealism and had high hopes for my future. A lot has changed since then, but I still love NYLON. Not as much as I love Lula or BUST, but love it just the same. The fashion spreads are glorious and very inspiring. Sometimes, however, I feel old when I read NYLON since it's too scenester-y and indie--guess i'm not a part of that scene. haha.
7. Lula and Frankie- Already posted about my obsession with Lula and Frankie in a previous post. They give me sweet dreams, they're modern fairytales in magazine format. If they were real girls I would be crushing on them majorly, maybe stalking them, like a creep. Big time.
Looking at my reading list is enough to give me good vibes:
The very first thing I do when I get my hands on a book or a magazine, regardless of whether it's new or old, is to open it to a random page and inhale the comforting smell of its binding.
It instantly transports me to a happier place, where there are no looming deadlines or other worries--just me and bound paper, with a smattering of words I have yet to get acquainted with. I particularly love the scent of our local magazines--a smell I've come to associate with "me time" and possibilities, owing this perhaps to my previous job at a magazine publishing company.
I cannot recall when my love affair with books and magazines started, but I do know that since I was small I have religiously collected young adult paperbacks, magazines found lying around our house like Food, or Parents, and obsessively filed those kiddie supplements found in our newspapers.
I had bad grades in elementary since I'd rather max out my library card than study. I think I was "Borrower of the month" in our library a bit too often. Instead of socializing, I hurriedly ate my packed lunch at my chair, and spend time at the library with those imaginary friends found between pages, who lived in far more interesting worlds, I thought then. I'd lug home those thick, hardbound books with a mishmash of stories and varying illustrations that are really for kids abroad, and ignore jeering comments of "Nerd" by my classmates and comfort myself with the thought that I could instantly escape school bullies and bad grades and friends who are not really friends the moment I open my books. This might be the reason why I am hooked on fairytales and happy endings and avoid the grittier Palahniuk-style works. Shallow as it might seem, my reasoning is simple--real life is already harsh sometimes, and I wouldn't want to escape to something equally horrifying. Horror stories are different, though, since it's equally comforting to just shut the book when things get too scary. Since I also have a short attention span, I could easily teleport from one fictional world to another, in just a simple flick of a finger as I open another book.
My short attention span is partly to blame for my magazine fetish, though. And my love for color and typography. There's just something decadent about opening a newly-bought magazine on your favorite topic leisurely, taking time to absorb the beautiful photographs, or over-analyzing the profile interviews, or feeling that winkle of pleasure to know that someone is also as obsessed as you are with a particular topic as represented by that magazine.
I read magazines I love from cover to cover and relish even ads and letters to the editor. NYLON magazine readers are particularly creative, with handmade cards declaring their love for NYLON and for the NYLON mag lifestyle. Bitch zine readers, on the other hand, are a feisty, opinionated bunch. If you know me well enough, you'd know that I have plenty of tiny obsessions and these are encouraged by the variety of affordable mags on related topics found in my usual bookstore haunts. I obsess to the point of obsessing about my obsessions (if that made any sense) which led me to reflect on why I love each unique mag. (Plus I also love creating lists, haha).
My favorite magazines and why they rock my socks:
1. BUST- They always feature girls who deserve to be featured on the cover, and they have an extensive interview with thought-provoking questions. They contain articles about modern feminist movements all over the world and inspire me to start a revolution myself. Plus they have a DIY section, a well-researched review section, unique fashion editorials featuring real girls, funny comics and illustrations by modern up-and-coming artists. Bust, for me is the perfect blend of modern feminism (and ideals) and old-school nostalgia, if you ask me to describe it. As a bonus, also has that infamous "one-handed read" section that makes it different from your usual glossy mainstream mag.
Also see: Venuszine and Bitch - Venuszine is like a thinner version of Bust, since it has less pages but is equally enjoyable. Bitch is the angrier, less glossy, more informed version. Reading Bitch is like reading an investigative report on a theme, since each issue is focused on themes like "Genesis" or "The Wired issue". There's just so much injustice towards women discussed in Bitch, and I often end up angry at mankind after reading it. But still, you have to admit it's a gutsy and very informative magazine.
2. Craft zine and Readymade- Both are craft magazines, but Craft is quirkier and funnier, with projects ranging from deconstructing shirts into skirts to japanese juggling toys. Readymade is more focused on industrial design/woodwork and construction themes, with lawn chairs from old crates, or lamps from cd cases etc.
3. Blueprint and Domino- They're both sadly out of print, which saddens me to no end. Blueprint, from Martha Stewart publications is a mishmash of interior decorating tips, household tips and also appears like a catalog that revolves on a theme, a la Domino. Domino features cool homes, offers decor tips too, and is just like a dream house book, since most of the stuff here are pricey. I look at both magazines for decor inspiration, since both feature cheap decor ideas, like blowing up a picture of the simple things you love and framing it against a brightly-colored wall.
4. Martha Stewart Living- When Martha means "Good things" I believe her, especially since the diy ideas here are simple but lovely, inexpensive but impressive, proving that 'good' doesn't necessarily mean expensive. The styling and photography within these pages amaze me, with its bold and effortless color combos.
5. Women's Health- I'm not an exercise and fitness buff, nor do I engage in miracle diet plans. I do wish I could revert to my college weight though, only with more muscle. Women's Health makes me want to devote myself to achieving my healthy ideal weight NOW. They have useful facts about which food and exercise combination suits you most and they suggest dishes that are tasty and easy to cook. All those buff toned women inside are great motivators too. I'm so glad they have the local version from Summit, with healthy food that you can actually buy here. Not so keen about the price though, the back issues from abroad are much cheaper.
6. NYLON- I first saw NYLON fresh from college, when I was filled with idealism and had high hopes for my future. A lot has changed since then, but I still love NYLON. Not as much as I love Lula or BUST, but love it just the same. The fashion spreads are glorious and very inspiring. Sometimes, however, I feel old when I read NYLON since it's too scenester-y and indie--guess i'm not a part of that scene. haha.
7. Lula and Frankie- Already posted about my obsession with Lula and Frankie in a previous post. They give me sweet dreams, they're modern fairytales in magazine format. If they were real girls I would be crushing on them majorly, maybe stalking them, like a creep. Big time.
Looking at my reading list is enough to give me good vibes: