tavie.com

From: Tavie
To: magazine@nytimes.com
Subject: Kenken? Whywhy?
Date: Sun, Jun 21, 2009 1:20 am

Dear Editor,

I've been a fan of your magazine since I was 16 years old. For the past
14 years, I've looked forward to my weekly fix of crossword puzzle,
second puzzle and interesting articles (in that order.) The New York
Times Sunday Magazine is the only periodical I read regularly, the only
magazine I subscribe to. The crossword and secondary puzzles are
literally the highlight of my week, most weeks.

I appreciate the new design, I appreciate that these are tough economic
times. I like the new typeface. It's all very cool. Last week, I
flipped to the second-to-last-page first, as is my custom, to check out
the puzzles. I was disappointed to see a Kenken puzzle in there, but
figured that I'd see good ole Emily and Henry appear next week.

This evening I picked up my magazine and flipped to the last page, my
heart aflutter with anticipation, with trepidation. And I was right to
be nervous, for not only is there ANOTHER Kenken, but there are the
dreaded words, "The Acrostic Puzzle is online."

It may not seem like a big deal to you - certainly, I have access to a
computer, and as a home delivery customer, I have access to the online
puzzles. Having the puzzle in the magazine is a small detail, but it's
important to me. Many weeks I won't finish both puzzles in one sitting,
and I won't have a chance to read through the entire magazine all in
one gulp. Most weeks I carry the magazine around in my oversized purse
with me all week, chewing through the tougher puzzles, enjoying the
flow of ink onto paper. I choose my purses based on dimension - if the magazine won't fit in it, I won't buy it. I'm particular about the pens I'll use to do
the puzzle (mechanical pencil only for diagramless) and by the end of
the week, the issue has become an old friend to whom I must say
goodbye, dogeared and wrinkly and ready to make its journey to a
recycling center.

This Kenken thing is a cruel blow to me, Editor. I love sudoku, but I
have no love for Kenken. Kenken and I don't understand eachother. I
want to see Henry and Emily again, want to carry them around with me
all week.

Please, please, please reconsider moving the acrostic to online-only.
You're breaking my heart.

Sincerely yours,

Octavia Phillips

Why are you in Tavie's head? 1:20 AM | shower me with attention