adeleighpenguin's review against another edition
“She thought it was the misfortune of poetry, to be seldom safely enjoyed by those who enjoyed it completely; and that the strong feelings which alone could estimate it truly, were the very feelings which ought to taste it but sparingly.” -Jane Austen, Persuasion
I’ve always been more of a prose guy, myself. I struggle to slow down my mind for poetry and to really soak it in the way I think it deserves. There were about eight of the 40 poems in Ariel that I marked and felt I genuinely connected with. The subject matter is dark, but it’s all an interesting look into Plath’s life.
I feel overwhelmed by her daughter’s foreword. The obsession we can develop with artists who have committed suicide is uncomfortable, to say the least. There were poems of Plath’s, rejected by major publications before she died, suddenly everywhere. If I were Frieda, I would probably also feel defensive toward my mother’s life suddenly being poked at by millions.
I’ve always been more of a prose guy, myself. I struggle to slow down my mind for poetry and to really soak it in the way I think it deserves. There were about eight of the 40 poems in Ariel that I marked and felt I genuinely connected with. The subject matter is dark, but it’s all an interesting look into Plath’s life.
I feel overwhelmed by her daughter’s foreword. The obsession we can develop with artists who have committed suicide is uncomfortable, to say the least. There were poems of Plath’s, rejected by major publications before she died, suddenly everywhere. If I were Frieda, I would probably also feel defensive toward my mother’s life suddenly being poked at by millions.
kavyajanani's review against another edition
5.0
I am floored, stunned, astounded, and what not. Unlike others, I read this restored edition first, because that is how Sylvia had imagined the book to be. I am so happy that I got to see the fascimile of the original manuscript. I am so glad that I got to see Sylvia's handwriting and notes.
This woman is poetry's personification. She, herself, is a poem. And her poems cut deeply. Her words fill your heart with an inexplicable heaviness. Sometimes I feel that I have a soul connection with Sylvia. Her poems and her journal entries speak to me directly. I so want to inherit her creative soul and pour that energy into my own poetry.
At 30, Sylvia ended her life. At 26, I find my will to live, in her words.
I followed the same exercise I did for The Colossus. You can read about the exercise in this review: Review of The Colossus & Other Poems. Finally I picked out 32 poems (including the ones in the 1965 edition, published by Ted Hughes). Out of these 32 poems, I strongly recommend every reader to read these 17 poems:
1. Morning Song (19th Feb, 1961)
2. The Applicant (11th Oct, 1962)
3. Lady Lazarus (23-29th Oct, 1962)
4. Tulips (18th Mar, 1961)
5. The Jailor (17th Oct, 1962)
6. Lesbos (18th Oct, 1962)
7. The Courage of Shutting Up (2nd Oct, 1962)
8. Nick and The Candlestick (24th Oct, 1962)
9. Medusa (28th Oct, 1962)
10. Purdah (28th Oct, 1962)
11. The Moon and The Yew Tree (22nd Oct, 1961)
12. A Birthday Present (30th Sep, 1962)
13. Daddy (12th Oct, 1962)
Below are the additional poems from the 1965 edition:
14. The Munich Mannequins (28th Jan, 1963)
15. Paralytic (29th Jan, 1963)
16. Kindness (1st Feb, 1963)
17. Edge (5th Feb, 1963)
It is heartbreaking to know that the last two poems were written just a week before her suicide. I can't even fathom what she must have gone through while writing them, given that she was living alone with her two sick children and was sick herself.
This is the best poetry collection I have read till now. Why are you a miser, Goodreads? I wanna give so many stars to this, but I cannot.
If you're into poetry, you must read this collection. Thank me later.
P.S: These poems are not easily understandable and I don't recommend it to people who read only Rupi Kaur style poetry. These poems require deep analysis. You can also follow my exercise. And, this is the longest review I have written on Goodreads this year.
This woman is poetry's personification. She, herself, is a poem. And her poems cut deeply. Her words fill your heart with an inexplicable heaviness. Sometimes I feel that I have a soul connection with Sylvia. Her poems and her journal entries speak to me directly. I so want to inherit her creative soul and pour that energy into my own poetry.
At 30, Sylvia ended her life. At 26, I find my will to live, in her words.
I followed the same exercise I did for The Colossus. You can read about the exercise in this review: Review of The Colossus & Other Poems. Finally I picked out 32 poems (including the ones in the 1965 edition, published by Ted Hughes). Out of these 32 poems, I strongly recommend every reader to read these 17 poems:
1. Morning Song (19th Feb, 1961)
2. The Applicant (11th Oct, 1962)
3. Lady Lazarus (23-29th Oct, 1962)
4. Tulips (18th Mar, 1961)
5. The Jailor (17th Oct, 1962)
6. Lesbos (18th Oct, 1962)
7. The Courage of Shutting Up (2nd Oct, 1962)
8. Nick and The Candlestick (24th Oct, 1962)
9. Medusa (28th Oct, 1962)
10. Purdah (28th Oct, 1962)
11. The Moon and The Yew Tree (22nd Oct, 1961)
12. A Birthday Present (30th Sep, 1962)
13. Daddy (12th Oct, 1962)
Below are the additional poems from the 1965 edition:
14. The Munich Mannequins (28th Jan, 1963)
15. Paralytic (29th Jan, 1963)
16. Kindness (1st Feb, 1963)
17. Edge (5th Feb, 1963)
It is heartbreaking to know that the last two poems were written just a week before her suicide. I can't even fathom what she must have gone through while writing them, given that she was living alone with her two sick children and was sick herself.
This is the best poetry collection I have read till now. Why are you a miser, Goodreads? I wanna give so many stars to this, but I cannot.
If you're into poetry, you must read this collection. Thank me later.
P.S: These poems are not easily understandable and I don't recommend it to people who read only Rupi Kaur style poetry. These poems require deep analysis. You can also follow my exercise. And, this is the longest review I have written on Goodreads this year.
blakehalsey's review against another edition
5.0
Plath's manuscript as she intended it to be, it is thriving with bold and brave language making her one of the greatest American poets. These poems are real in the rawest sense, touching, nearly burning, every reader and hearer.