The Rambler Magazine – March/April 2007

So this magazine rambles, big deal! We all do, and for this magazine, it’s a positive quality. What’s original about this magazine is that a portion of the short stories and poems are inspired by artwork and photography that can be found on the magazine’s website. In this issue, it’s the short stories that stand out. Some of the pieces are thought provoking, like “Short Letters I’ve Been Meaning to Write” by Dave Korzon.

So this magazine rambles, big deal! We all do, and for this magazine, it’s a positive quality. What’s original about this magazine is that a portion of the short stories and poems are inspired by artwork and photography that can be found on the magazine’s website. In this issue, it’s the short stories that stand out. Some of the pieces are thought provoking, like “Short Letters I’ve Been Meaning to Write” by Dave Korzon. Each short letter is to someone in the media or a personal acquaintance. He gives Barack Obama advice on how to quit smoking, and in another recalls with his wife, “Wasn’t it just the other day we made desperate-sounding plans to ‘get away’ from this place?” Other pieces are humorous and relatable, like “Thrill Life with Child” by Marianne Gingher, an ongoing series about a writer who is progressing through life with her scissor grinding husband and newly born son. The portion about her pregnancy is absolutely hilarious, in which she mentions that “[…] and once I have a baby tethered to me, my biggest outing will be waddling off to the grocery store.” But don’t block out the poetry, because pieces like “Tattooed Taxi Man” by Gretchen Fletcher and “I used to be a bill collector” by John Dismukes give some of the longer pieces solid competition. Overall, this issue is extremely compelling, and the interview with Will Shortz is a must read. The photography and art, which inspired some of the authors, also deserve praise, for without them, the written works may not have been created.
[www.ramblermagazine.com]