Issue of August 4, 2008

August 4, 2008

AUGUST 4, 2008

THE TALK OF THE TOWN
Home Ec Dept.: Soup to Nettles
How to be a good Russian housewife.
by Julia Ioffe

Q. What's the "guy" equivalent of this episode? Is the author of the book more or less absurd than the recipient trying to use it?

Fitness Dept.: Kranking It
A new workout from the inventor of Spinning.
by William Finnegan

Q. First, there's a bike with no locomotion. Now, you don't even sit on it. Next big stupid fad? Imaginary stationary bike?

Dear Diary Dept.: The Cross-Eyed Queen
Queen Claude’s prayer book, at the Morgan Library.
by Rebecca Mead
Q. What's the surprise in this article? Is RM dishing medieval snark?

SHOUTS & MURMURS
Play Nice
by Simon Rich
Q. Funny? Why? What kind of humor is it?

THE MILITARY LIFE

A Soldier’s Legacy
What a major killed in Iraq couldn’t tell.

by Ben McGrath

Q. Are there truths found in Rogers' story? What surprised you? What should happen with the insurance money? With his possessions?

BOOKS
Brenda Wineapple on Emily Dickinson.
by Judith Thurman
Q. What's new in Wineapple's biography?

THE CURRENT CINEMA
“In Search of a Midnight Kiss.”
by Anthony Lane
Q. Does AL like this movie? What's his zinger this time? Would you see it?