giovianna's review against another edition
5.0
winder's style is so glamorous and reminds me a lot of sylvia plath's in itself. very well done, captures the energy of that summer brilliantly
offbalance80's review against another edition
4.0
While I'm not a huge fan of Sylvia Plath's writing, I definitely can appreciate her place in the feminist pantheon. It is only the pedestal on which Plath has been placed that gets addressed in this book. Winder's well-researched account presents not a dour poet, but a bright and lively young woman exploring the fashion world in 1950s new york. Sylvia Plath was a vivacious blonde who loved parties and fashion - who knew? The best part was how fun this book was to read - it's a breezy, magazine-like account, but one that suits the subject matter well. Anyone interested in the history of magazines, or to find a more balanced account of Sylvia Plath's young adulthood should definitely check this out.
aschwartz184's review against another edition
3.0
I generally eat up any Sylvia Plath biography/memoir. I find the woman and her mind fascinating - she is definitely one of my favorite writers of the 20th century. Unfortunately, there's only so much to tell about a person's life. Author Elizabeth Winder can be lauded for her strategic focus: Plath's summer of 1953, at which time she interned at 'Mademoiselle' magazine, fueling Plath's semi-autobiographical novel known as 'The Bell Jar.'
Utilizing this focus, Winder takes us into the perceptions of Plath's college-age stint as a guest editor alongside half a dozen other young ladies. These co-editors are interviewed, informing a narrative of activities, sentiments, and even meals. It's intriguing to learn that in those days Plath was not the dark and morose creature she's been painted as in most other biographies. She was really a friendly, highly intelligent, fashion-conscious woman, too introspective to be understood by all.
Sadly, half-way through accounts of this monumental summer, the book falls a bit flat. Winder writes in brief phrases throughout - perhaps overly conscious of our ADD generation. Seemingly an effort to recapture the reader's focus, the author mixes in curious formats: the bizarre 'Dictionary of Adolescence' for example. The text boxes scattered about every chapter are a bit distracting, too; though the photos of ads from that period are captivatingly interesting.
For a different look at Plath's short life, this book is worth consideration. It lacks the depth that Plath exudes, though, and I don't believe she would approve of such a 'fluffy' scrutiny.
Utilizing this focus, Winder takes us into the perceptions of Plath's college-age stint as a guest editor alongside half a dozen other young ladies. These co-editors are interviewed, informing a narrative of activities, sentiments, and even meals. It's intriguing to learn that in those days Plath was not the dark and morose creature she's been painted as in most other biographies. She was really a friendly, highly intelligent, fashion-conscious woman, too introspective to be understood by all.
Sadly, half-way through accounts of this monumental summer, the book falls a bit flat. Winder writes in brief phrases throughout - perhaps overly conscious of our ADD generation. Seemingly an effort to recapture the reader's focus, the author mixes in curious formats: the bizarre 'Dictionary of Adolescence' for example. The text boxes scattered about every chapter are a bit distracting, too; though the photos of ads from that period are captivatingly interesting.
For a different look at Plath's short life, this book is worth consideration. It lacks the depth that Plath exudes, though, and I don't believe she would approve of such a 'fluffy' scrutiny.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
3.0
Recommended by Jane.
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Spain%2C%20parties%2C%20work%20winder__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Spain%2C%20parties%2C%20work%20winder__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
This is the third Plath bio I've read this year, and it was by far my favorite. Winder concentrates on the Mademoiselle magazine summer, the events and experiences that led directly to the writing of The Bell Jar. Even if didn't feature Plath, the book would have been fascinating. Fashion, social mores, relationships between men and women are touched upon. It is interesting to see how post-war, pre-feminist society helped make (and in some cases unmake) a young woman of that era, particularly a young woman with talent and intelligence and a desire for more (all of which Sylvia was). As a reader you still had to deal with Plath's complexities and contradictions, but you saw her thourgh the eyes of the young women who spent that summer with her. And to be honest, it was nice not to have to think about Ted.
kegifford's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.5
A gossipy account of the summer that served as the basis for The Bell Jar. Pretty fluffy.