giving up heat, grazia, and the sun newspaper - AIBU in asking...

[superv1xen]

...intelligent mnetters to suggest some alternative reading material for me?

i am mortified to admit to being a regular sun reader so feel free to flame me for that alone.

my local shop sells only the sun, the mirror, the star and the daily express (says it ALL about the area i live in tbh ) so i bought the express this morning instead, but found it to be mostly like the sun but with slightly longer words. and no dear deirdre

i have realised heat and grazia and their ilk serve only to make me feel like shit about myself from all different angles "try this diet!" "wear these clothes - except only if you are a 20 yo model" "look at these beautiful people you could never look like in a million years" etc etc ad nauseum

so. any suggestions?

[LittleMissFlustered]

I got a free online Times subscription with my iPad, so I read that as well as The Independent, The Grauniad (intentional spelling) and the local bumwipe. I am an avid beeb news reader/watcher too. Any wonder my eldest is a current affairs geek?! :o

[superv1xen]

i too loved heat since it came out

but think that in the last few years it has gradually got worse and worse. but it may be just me getting older, i'm 31 now and the other day it dawned on me that i am old enough to have kids who would read it (i haven't, they are only 2 and 5 but still...) and i can't stand their obsession with the only way is essex and all its ilk, i am just not interested and don't watch it.

i like top sante for its healthy recipes so will probably still buy that, its only monthly anyway

i also read classic rock (me and dh have a subscription) as i'm really into old rock music and also i get to know about new bands from it. and unlike nme/kerrang etc it isn't aimed at kids

i hate OK etc because i couldn't give a shit about looking at pictures of posh people at parties, who cares?

i gave in and bought grazia today though :(

[BsshBossh]

I gave up Heat too because of its fixation with first Jordan and then Cheryl Cole. Never pick it up now.

[mippy]

I only get craft magazines, because they have charts and such. I do like the new Mollie Makes, it's like an interiors type mag for people who have far too much fabric.

The Sun's probably the only publication I will never read if it's left on a train. The Mirror always seems less trashier, though I haven't read it since I left home (my mum used to get it). I like the Sunday Times supplements and (yeah, I know) You magazine with the Mail. Weirdly, Yours magazine is quite good.

[handsomeharry]

Private Eye is very funny. I also like Vanity Fair but it takes ages to read.

[aStarInStrangeways]

I quite like Nylon for looking at clothes and that. DH bought me a copy a while ago and they had interviews with female actors, designers etc. that actually asked reasonably intelligent questions rather than simpering over boyfriend or lack of.

Otherwise yes, Private Eye, Independent/I for actual reading. It says a lot that the only mag I can really bring myself to pay money for these days is Good Food. Oh, and occasionally Total Tattoo, although I've stopped that since not having any money to get any work done.

Heat is evil, awful awful product. All the sleb mags are, but I particularly loathe Heat. Still read it when I find it lying around, even though it makes me fulminate.

[smearedinfood]

I gave up as I got sick of Jordan..

[smearedinfood]

Easy Living, they had Mariella Frostup last month and I have a girl crush on her. This months Cath Kidston shopper is quite nice as well.

[chirpchirp]

The Only Way is Essex finally cured my 12 year Heat addicition. Went cold turkey and don't miss it at all! I read the Guardian on-line and browse the BBC website.

[wandawings]

I love Essentials mag. It has a bit of everything without the annoying skinny models that make me want to eat donuts on their behalf.

[Thingumy]

I can't see myself buying a weight watchers magazine-what do they contain other than low fat recipes?

I buy i most days and a mixture of The Times or the Guardian at the weekend-I used to only buy the Guardian but now prefer The Times.

Magazines that I buy are Physiologies,Living,Red and the very occasional Country Living and I don't buy those monthly anymore.

My Grandmother buys World of Interiors and BBC homes and antiques and donates them to me after reading.

I used to buy a vegetable growing mag and a family history but once you've bought regularly,the issues don't really vary much.

I've cut back on my magazine buying once they started to hit £3.50+ a issue

[BsshBossh]

I do read books too (one a week!).

[BsshBossh]

I am addicted to love magazines, so much so that I ask for subscriptions to them for my birthday/Xmas. I am subscribed to Red and Easy Living (both an excellent mix of culture, relationships, self-improvement, health, fashion, beauty and food articles - bit more grown up than Elle, She and even Marie Claire IMO), Good Housekeeping which I have to hide from everyone because they laugh at me for being so middle-aged (but I'm 40 - I am middle-aged!) and Psychology magazine. I also read the weekend FT, Guardian and Observer and BBC News online (everyday). I highly recommend the daily 20p version of The Indy and also The Week if you want to keep up with news/politics but don't want it to be too overwrought or over-complicated.

[littlemissboden]

eww they are all awful - yes you can find something more worthy, I just read on line. the only magazine i buy is national geographic and weight watchers.

[wellwisher]

Private Eye, The Economist, Wired, The Spectator

[whackamole]

I like Xbox mags Can't be dealing with gossip mags anymore, although I loved Heat in my yoof.

And I only really read the Metro. Lots of books, I prefer books.

[iwanttoseethezoo]

I like Prima... for the knitting patterns. Shoot me now. I like it.

[enidroach]

I have stopped getting a daily paper - I read them online - the guardian site is good and if you want celeb twaddle the daily mail online is packed with it. I still tend to get an Observer on a sunday or the saturday guardian as they come with magazines and extra sections and so can be read thoroughout the week.

Agree with others the 20p independent is good for daily news

[JamieAgain]

Yes, Private Eye, or The Week

[GetOrf]

I used to spend a bloody fortuine on magazines.

I now have STOPPED and only read the New Scientist. Have even stopped buyinb the Sunday Times which I thought I would never do.

I pounce on them when I see them at the dr though

And go on the Daily Mail website to get my fix of crap sleb stories.

[Squitten]

We get The Observer every Sunday and that takes about 4 days to get through. I also get Empire for movie news and National Geographic magazine - science, tech, nature, environment and culture and the most stunning photography

[VivaLeBeaver]

Glad I'm not the only one who lives in New York in my head. I read the New York Times and love planning theatre trips, looking at the property listings for my new apartment, etc all from dreary, rural East Midlands.

[AlpinePony]

The lady and horse & hound.

[Fenouille]

Yy to radio 4 podcasts - the news quiz and I'm sorry I haven't a clue are always good.