A review by soshivaniofher
Salaperäinen puku by Sylvia Plath

5.0

a lot has been talked about sylvia plath, her ‘confessional’ style of poetry, and of course, her infamous head-in-the-oven death. in this anthology of short stories and a poem, written for her kids and published posthumously, plath emerges as a versatile writer.

the titular story “the it-doesn't-matter suit” is equal parts funny, charming, and intriguing which reflects plath’s multiple facets. it revolves around the world of a misfit max nix and stresses upon the importance of the construction of self and individuality. the illustrations not only make each story more enticing but also provide a more fascinating visual interpretation of plath's words. one can't stop themselves from imagining what a pleasure it would have been to have read this book in one’s childhood.

having been romanticized as a poet writing eloquently about grief and her experiences with neuroses, plath is seldom represented as a happy figure, much less a children’s literature writer. what makes the book more appealing is its cover. the bright solid yellow colour which represents warmth, happiness, and sunshine, all of such qualities infused together on the same pedestal as sivvy (plath’s nickname). i can affirm that someday i shall read this book to my kids.