On The Insider: Sexiest Magazine Covers of All Time
Find Articles in:
all
Business
Reference
Technology
News
Sports
Health
Autos
Arts
Home & Garden
advertisement
advertisement

Content provided in partnership with
Thomson / Gale

Lighten up!

Commonweal,  May 7, 2004  by John Grogan

I want to congratulate you on running Bill McGarvey's gently snide review of Robert Coles's recent unfortunate book on Bruce Springsteen ("Born in the U.S.A.," March 26). If I might offer a piece of advice as a somewhat younger reader: articles like McGarvey's are all too rare in the magazine. I do not mean simply the subject matter. Rather, I liked the tone and McGarvey's willingness to criticize a legend like Coles who strayed well beyond his expertise. As I am sure you have heard before, Commonweal lacks humor and edge. The issues confronting our society and church are, of course, grimly serious, but does our press have to be so earnest and boring? Take a look at what Caitlin Flanagan is doing in the Atlantic--serious, trenchant social criticism that is laugh-out-loud funny. Some of your writers can be scandalously funny--Mark Massa, for one--and they should be encouraged to let forth. I imagine it is easier suggested than accomplished, but I want to encourage whatever attempts you are making to break the mold.

JOHN GROGAN

Philadelphia, Pa.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Commonweal Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning