Read the Funny Pages? No, not the Post’s other reason for reading the Sunday paper (the first, of course, being Page Six), but the New York Times Magazine’s attempt at illustrated humor. Don’t be afraid to say “no,” since that’s how we answered that question, too. And while we’re guessing a vast majority of Magazine readers will answer similarly, that’s not keeping the Times from taunting respected writers, comics, and illustrators from adding scarlet letters to their careers.
Bestselling author Scott Turow makes his debut in the next “Sunday Serial,” the popular feature in The New York Times Magazine’s “Funny Pages.” Readers can look forward to Mr. Turow’s legal thriller, “Limitations,” an original work commissioned by The Magazine, which begins on Sunday, April 23, and will appear in 16 weekly installments.
If by “popular feature” they mean “most popularly ignored,” then yes, this just might be an accurate press release. Not one that interests us very much, however. The full release Turow will come to regret, after the jump.
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Bestselling author Scott Turow makes his debut in the next “Sunday Serial,” the popular feature in The New York Times Magazine’s “Funny Pages.” Readers can look forward to Mr. Turow’s legal thriller, “Limitations,” an original work commissioned by The Magazine, which begins on Sunday, April 23, and will appear in 16 weekly installments.
Filled with the trademark mystery and suspense that has made Mr. Turow an international phenomenon, the novel involves an appeals court judge presiding over a panel hearing of a disturbing rape case. The serial will be published later this year in book format by Picador as a trade paperback original. Mr. Turow’s previous award-winning books include “Presumed Innocent,” “The Burden of Proof,” “Personal Injuries” and “Reversible Errors.”
“The Sunday Serial,” which showcases genre fiction, is one of the main features of “The Funny Pages,” launched in September 2005. Elmore Leonard, whose serial, “Comfort to the Enemy,” ended in December, was the first contributor, followed by Patricia Cornwell, whose serial, “At Risk,” ended yesterday.
The section also includes “The Strip,” exclusive full-color weekly strips featuring stars of the graphic novel; a new comic by Jaime Hernandez, whose credits include “Love & Rockets” and the award-winning “Penny Century.” It debuts April 23. A humor column, “True-Life Tales,” which highlights the best young humor writers on the circuit, also continues. If readers miss an installment of “The Sunday Serial” or want to catch up on “The Strip” or the humor column, “The Funny Pages” section is available at NYTimes.com/magazine.
The New York Times reaches 5 million print readers on weekdays and 7 million print readers on Sunday (Source: 2004 Scarborough Study), as well as 1.6 million users who visit NYTimes.com everyday (Source: Nielsen//NetRatings-March 2006).
The New York Times Magazine ranked second in 2005 among all PIB – (Publishers Information Bureau) measured magazines for total ad pages. Its regular contributors include Lynn Hirschberg, Michael Lewis, Jeffrey Rosen, Matt Bai, James Traub, Daphne Merkin, David Rieff, Noah Feldman, Peter Maass and Susan Dominus.
About The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT – News), a leading media company with 2005 revenues of $3.4 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, nine network-affiliated television stations, two New York City radio stations and 35 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company’s core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.