Reviews

Ariel by Sylvia Plath

inesadsdias's review against another edition

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5.0

"Dying
Is an art, like everything else.
I do it exceptionally well.

I do it so it feels like hell.
I do it so it feels real.
I guess you could say I've a call."

Lady Lazarus

jazzy_cat's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

ameliadewhurst's review against another edition

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4.0

an amazing collection of very intense and controversial poetry

namal's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

rie_shyanne's review against another edition

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5.0

Gut wrenchingly beautiful.

guarinous's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

imogen_reads_books's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

elianepiera's review against another edition

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5.0

i adore her

macabresiren's review against another edition

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5.0

Sylvia Plath is one of my favorite people. Maybe I never got to meet her, but, from reading her letters home, her diaries, The Bell Jar (about a dozen times by this point in my life,) and every piece of poetry I have been able to get my hands on - I *feel* like I knew her. I fall in love with her every time I hear her voice in my head.
Although I had read almost all the writings in Ariel prior to actually buying the book, I still relished rereading every one of them. She speaks to me, my former "troubled" youth, and my life now even. I never rush through her writings, as I am prone to do with many other books. (I live with (now) untreated ADHD, and at times find it difficult to make my way carefully through a book.) I always, always, always give her my full attention, as if I were listening to a dear friend speak.

From Ariel, I chose "Tulips" as my favorite work. Reading it 5-6 times over before officially "finishing" the book. I kept returning to it, reading it over, even out loud to myself. So many of Ariel's works are haunting (to me) and paint a vivid mental photograph. Sometimes they inspire a memory, or two. As usual, a work of Sylvia's made it to my "favorites" list.

poetryinthepity's review against another edition

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3.0

I didn’t want any flowers, I only wanted
To lie with my hands turned up and be utterly empty.
How free it is, you have no idea how free——
The peacefulness is so big it dazes you,
And it asks nothing, a name tag, a few trinkets.
It is what the dead close on, finally; I imagine them
Shutting their mouths on it, like a Communion tablet.