kristinaray717's review
3.0
The Bell Jar was one of my favorite books in my twenties. Recently I came across this short story by Sylvia Plath, having no idea it existed, and had to read it. This was an early story written by Plath but rejected and never published until 2019. I found it creative and thought-provoking.
It’s about a young adult getting on a train with her parents prodding. She is very apprehensive about this train going to the ninth kingdom, and as we read, we also become uneasy. What the hell is going on?
The meaning of this allegory isn’t going to scream at you. It’s subtle, ambiguous, and can be looked at in various ways. Obviously, fans of Sylvia Plath will want to check it out, but anyone who likes weird fiction would probably appreciate it.
It’s about a young adult getting on a train with her parents prodding. She is very apprehensive about this train going to the ninth kingdom, and as we read, we also become uneasy. What the hell is going on?
The meaning of this allegory isn’t going to scream at you. It’s subtle, ambiguous, and can be looked at in various ways. Obviously, fans of Sylvia Plath will want to check it out, but anyone who likes weird fiction would probably appreciate it.
nikki_mcclaran's review
4.0
A short but thought-provoking read. Is it about suicide? Is it about choosing your own fate? Is it optimistic or dark... or maybe simultaneously both? It seems no one knows, but maybe that's why it works.
cstefko's review against another edition
3.0
3.25 stars
Probably only of interest to Plath fans, but a quick and interesting read nonetheless. She's very effective at creating a mood of unease and mystery. This story serves well as a fable, but I wanted a little more depth/detail for the protagonist. It's impossible to read the train journey as anything other than a suicide metaphor, knowing Plath's eventual fate.
Probably only of interest to Plath fans, but a quick and interesting read nonetheless. She's very effective at creating a mood of unease and mystery. This story serves well as a fable, but I wanted a little more depth/detail for the protagonist. It's impossible to read the train journey as anything other than a suicide metaphor, knowing Plath's eventual fate.
heynazli's review against another edition
5.0
OHA BEN NE OKUDUM?? okurken sürekli aklıma anna karenina geldi…
laurenkd89's review
4.0
Sylvia Plath submitted this pithy short story to Mademoiselle magazine when she was a student at Smith College. It was rejected. Plath toyed around with cutting it down and resubmitting it, eventually producing a (still unpublished) chopped-up version of the story with a less morose ending. This story is the uncut version that was submitted to the magazine, in its full glory.
It's fascinating to see the progression of Plath's works. This was written in her early days of creative writing, where she was experimenting with prose as a medium rather than poetry. It's filled with lavish details, exquisite attention and descriptions awarded to the interior decorations of the train, the fizzy ginger ale that Mary Ventura orders in the food cart, the whizzing landscapes that pass them by. Much like [b:The Bell Jar|6514|The Bell Jar|Sylvia Plath|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554582218l/6514._SY75_.jpg|1385044], Plath's prose is rife with rich scenery and poetic descriptions.
Pretty soon after starting to read, you are hit over the head with the fact that this is an allegory. What leaves me scratching my head is what exactly the allegory IS. It's unclear what piece of the metaphor each item or character plays and what the eventual message is supposed to be. Is it about life in general? Suicide? Infanticide? Depression? However, instead of being upset at the opaqueness of the story, I relished in the journey. I have the same approach to poetry, honestly - I care less about unpacking the deeper meaning and more about enjoying the gorgeous writing. By the end of this short work, I wasn't terribly worried about what sad or happy ending Mary Ventura finds for herself, but I loved the writing that got her there. I'm just glad to read more Plath.
It's fascinating to see the progression of Plath's works. This was written in her early days of creative writing, where she was experimenting with prose as a medium rather than poetry. It's filled with lavish details, exquisite attention and descriptions awarded to the interior decorations of the train, the fizzy ginger ale that Mary Ventura orders in the food cart, the whizzing landscapes that pass them by. Much like [b:The Bell Jar|6514|The Bell Jar|Sylvia Plath|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554582218l/6514._SY75_.jpg|1385044], Plath's prose is rife with rich scenery and poetic descriptions.
Pretty soon after starting to read, you are hit over the head with the fact that this is an allegory. What leaves me scratching my head is what exactly the allegory IS. It's unclear what piece of the metaphor each item or character plays and what the eventual message is supposed to be. Is it about life in general? Suicide? Infanticide? Depression? However, instead of being upset at the opaqueness of the story, I relished in the journey. I have the same approach to poetry, honestly - I care less about unpacking the deeper meaning and more about enjoying the gorgeous writing. By the end of this short work, I wasn't terribly worried about what sad or happy ending Mary Ventura finds for herself, but I loved the writing that got her there. I'm just glad to read more Plath.
honnari_hannya's review
3.0
Sylvia Plath for beginners. I thought it was an interesting enough short story, but it wasn't super strong in terms of form or message, as compared to the writing Plath grows up to produce. Good for teenagers interested in getting into literary fiction.