Monday, August 17, 2009

Reader's Digest

The Reader's Digest is filing for bankruptcy in the U.S. Wow...never saw that one coming! When was the last time you started a conversation with the words, "I read the best article on ________ in the Reader's Digest this month." Ok, I know I'm being rather harsh here but even as a kid I thought the magazine was bland and boring. I never ran inside from the mailbox yelling, "Mom, the Reader's Digest is finally here!" (Though I do recall yelling that about 'Highlights', but we'll hold that for another post.)

So where have you seen a Reader's Digest lately? I've spotted a few at the doctor's office, a nursing home, the Dept. of Motor Vehicles, and thinking back, they were always lined up neatly on my grandmother's coffee table. And hey, whose parents or grandparents did not own a complete collection of Reader's Digest Condensed Books? Mine did. And still do.

The only thing I really liked in the magazine was "Laughter is the Best Medicine" which was usually in the very back. And every year in grammar school we made a Christmas tree out of them, like this one. They were cool because we were allowed to use spray paint in the classroom!

So it's an end of an era. Too bad we can't have that happen to The National Enquirer.


The words of this blog are the opinion of the writer. No harm was done to any Reader's Digests in the creating of this post. I apologize to anyone who is reading this who subscribes and/or avidly consumes this amazing relic of Americana :)

5 comments:

Jayne said...

I saw that just this morning in the paper and commented the same thing to hubby. So sad, and yes, sure wish it WERE one of the rag magazines instead.

Paula said...

and Humor in Uniform......the quotes at the bottom of the pages...+ Quoteable Quotes...+ the word definition page...

I was a bored kid...but that is where I read Old Yeller...visiting my Great Aunt Viola in Banning California...8 years old...during summer vacation...and we all know what a HOT spot Banning is.....

However it is like you say...and i haven't seen one in quite awhile...I didn't run yelling 'hey, look whats here' either, but it I was able to dodge a NAP and read it instead, like my Grandmother said, 'as long as you are quiet you can read, other wise you have to take a nap.'


memories...mmmmmmm...xoxoxo

Kay said...

Ya my husband's Grandma sends us a years subscription every year for Christmas, not anymore though! usually they stay in their plastic cover and go into the trash. Nothin' worth reading except the funny stories and jokes. I love that you made a Christmas tree out of them! But i want the Enquirer to stay! how else am i to know that obama is secretly 450 pounds and that the aliens and Jesus are fighting over who gets plant earth?? ya know i 've got to stay updated on stuff like that!

Donna said...

Believe it or not (and I'm thinking you will) I have had a subscription for the past 3 years and I understand completely why they are going out of biz. A friend sends us the subs. for Christmas. I can read it in less than half an hour. Still look at the jokes, but most of them are recycled - rarely find one that is good or new.

Utah Savage said...

I was always an intellectual snob where reading material is concerned. I made terrible fun of my mother's mother because the Reader's Digest was like the bible for her. She never threw away a copy.

Thanks for the visit today. I hope you come back. I loved your comment.