September 29, 2003 — 8 PM

Wells Done

Canadian political columnist Paul Wells, about whom I’ve raved not infrequently, now has a weblog. And, in a sign I may be getting old, I am considering subscribing to the publication for which he writes, Maclean’s.

Until recently, Maclean’s was strictly a waiting room affair, but the magazine seems to have undergone a renaissance, full of insightful articles and more irreverent voices.

Speaking of insight and irreverence, I am really enjoying Maisonneuve, a young and novel magazine published here in Montreal. My initial reaction was that the aims of the magazine (“a new New Yorker for the younger generation”) err on the lofty side. After a couple of strong issues though, I’m reconsidering. There is room in the world for another general interest magazine that covers an eclectic range of topics, backed by strong writing and photography. And one that isn’t Atlantic or Harper’s, which these days are weighed down by yappy American political coverage. Best of all, there is (so far) a notable absence of vacuous fashion spreads hawking overpriced Diesel jeans and socialite-approved Manolo Blahnik stilettos.

Much of the magazine is only available in print, so it’s worth picking up a copy for, say, the excerpt from the new book by Bernard-Henri Lévy about the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl in Pakistan. But then again, there’s still a delicate sampling online, including a striking piece on alcoholic monkeys in the Caribbean, or last issue’s “iconoclastic study” of Williamsburg in Brooklyn.

Wondering where to pick up a copy? Why, there’s a thoughtful database to consult on locations to buy Maisonneuve in your favourite of ten provinces and fifty states. (So far, folks in Nunavut, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories are plum out of luck.)

Previously: This Is Pop

Subsequently: “recall race” site:www.ca.gov

September 2003
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