News & Notes

Listen to Poems from Our July Issue

Our July issue features two captivating—and very different—poems about animals. One is a gorgeous, ruminative piece that makes me feel as grounded as a stone in a stream. The other is a loving ode to a headstrong pet who can teach us all a lesson about taking charge of our lives.

Thoreau and Me

Read an Essay from an Upcoming Issue

If I had to pick a Sun author who comes closest to achieving a truly simple existence, it would be the poet Sparrow, who writes, “I don’t live off the grid, but I’m close. I live right on the edge of the grid.” Fittingly he wrote the following tribute to Henry David Thoreau.

The essay will appear in a forthcoming print issue of The Sun, but we’re sharing it early online in celebration of Thoreau’s birthday today, July 12.

Holidays in The Sun

Selections from the Archive

Our July issue features an essay by longtime Sun contributor Dave Zoby in which he describes driving across the Canadian wilderness en route to Casper, Wyoming, on Canada Day. Zoby didn’t realize it was Canada’s national holiday until he tried to visit a bakery that was closed for the day. Such can be the case for an American abroad.

It’s one of many pieces published in The Sun where a holiday plays a central role. To celebrate Independence Day, here are a few that have appeared in our pages over the years.

Taking Care

Selections from the Archive

The Sun’s June 2024 issue opens with Mark Leviton’s interview of Emily Kenway about the prevalence of people providing at-home care for loved ones. Caregiving is “a fundamental fact of loving someone with a human body,” Kenway observes, and many other pieces in the issue reflect how universally that care is needed. Keep reading for selections from our archive that explore the kaleidoscope of emotions that come with being responsible for another person’s well-being—devotion and grief, fear and comfort. Whether you’re giving or receiving care, we hope you’ll find a piece that speaks to you.

Listen to Poems from Our June Issue

Some of the poems I enjoy the most are about relationships. It amazes me how, in ten or twenty lines, authors can capture anything from a single memorable encounter to a lifelong connection. Three such poems are featured in our June issue with recordings of the authors reading their work.

Listen to Poems from Our May Issue

Most of us turn to fiction or memoir for great storytelling, but sometimes poetry fits the bill just as well. Listen as the authors’ recordings bring the three poems featured in our May issue to life.

Fun in The Sun

Selections from the Archive

The Sun isn’t exactly renowned for its humorous writing—readers are more liable to call us a sad magazine than to liken us to Mad magazine—but the truth is we like to laugh as much as the next gang of editors. If you enjoyed Finn Cohen’s interview about comedy with Kliph Nesteroff this month (“Two Guys Walk into a Bar”), or laughed at Andrew Gleason’s essay “Occupation: Fool,” then take a look at some of the funnier pieces we’ve printed.

Listen to Poems from Our April Issue

Listen to the authors read the three poems featured in our April issue. These poems all touch on themes of what we give away or leave behind.

Photo Essays That Tell a Story

Selections from the Archive

We’re always happy when a photo pairs nicely with a piece of writing, and particularly when a whole photo essay can complement other work in the magazine. We’ve printed quite a few over the years. Keep reading for a selection of photo essays from our archive to scroll through after you’ve read some of the pieces in our April issue.

The Love of the Game

Selections from the Archive

Mac Crane’s essay in our March issue, “Loving a Sport That Doesn’t Always Love Me Back,” explores the author’s complex relationship with athletics and identity. Keep reading for selections from our archive that capture the beauty, transformation, and intensity sports bring to our lives.