Friday, February 1, 2008
Weird, Groupie-like Reading Goal
I think of Sylvia Plath every February; she took her life on February 11, 1963. Her poetry is stunningly personal and painfully beautiful. I am going to reread her Collected Poems (including the fifty "early poems" in the appendix) by February 11. Then I might go on to reread The Bell Jar or Ted Hughes' Birthday Letters. We'll see. Any Plath fans out there? Anyone ever set weird, groupie-like reading goals?
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11 comments:
Christine, as you probably could guess, I am a fan of Sylvia Plath :) I can't remember what I ever read of hers first, whether it was any poetry or The Bell Jar, though. Hmm. This is going to bother me (you know how I get!). Ooh, I think I even have a paper saved circa freshman year of high school I did--I'll try and find it to show you. I'm sure it's quite funny by now :D
Anyway, of all of the confessional poets, she and Anne Sexton were always my favorites, and her incredible fragility always made me want to cry. Especially as she is complete proof of how your mother/father relationships sometimes CAN totally screw you up for life. And yet, at the same time, there is such strength in some of her poems as well, such hints of optimism, it saddens you to read them knowing how it all ends. Especially reading The Bell Jar, which is basically like her reimagining her life. It ends so hopefully with the beating of her heart "I am, I am, I am" and yet...the pull of the current was too strong on her.
2 Sylvia tidbits having to do with me:
I have the majority of her poem "Mushrooms" memorized from when I used it as the cover page of a biology paper I did junior year of high school. It pops into my head on occasion. --can also be likened to things taking over
I learned the word "infinitesimal" from her, which I think is just a beautiful word. While you would think it means something huge and expanding, like infinite, it actually means something extremely small.
Dammit, Christine, now I'm going to have to go and read through MY copy of Complete Poems. Because now all of my favorite random lines are flying through my head at a rapid pace.
Like I didn't have enough to read :)
Perhaps we can compare and contrast our favorites at a later date? :D
*panting and drooling*
Martha, so glad you love her, too!
Favorite poems of mine: The Thin People, Full Fathom Five, Metaphors, You're, Stillborn, Candles, Morning Song, I Am Vertical, Poppies in July, Poppies in October, Lady Lazarus, Child, and Balloons.
But my most favorite is Tulips.
And Mushrooms is wonderful.
Such a sad, sad story. I wish she could have gotten the help she needed.
my favorite Plath poem is Mad Girl's Love Song. not sure what book its from.
One of my favorite lines from Full Fathom Five:
Father, this thick air is murderous./I would breathe water.
Gah, but can the utter simplicity of desiring death be summed up so eloquently?
Hmm. Don, you need to jump on here before I start getting all emo or something *cough* :D
ok, here I am.
Not a big Plath fan (or one at all, really) but like seeing the passion she brings out in you guys.
Rock on, and stay away from the oven.
Say, is "ben" our barista Ben? If so, hi old friend! If not, hi stranger.
I have not read any Plath (please don't whip me with wet noodles), but I intend to.
My sophomore year of high school, a friend and I made a pact that we would read the entirety of The Lord of the Rings before the first movie was released. We traded books back and forth and made our goal with time to spare. I recall us standing outside the theater in the cold, waiting for it to open, and squealing in excitement. Good times.
Once or twice a year, I'll read through all of my Animorphs books, from beginning to end. I don't set a timeline for myself, I just have to get through the whole series. It's fairly easy, since I can finish one or two books a day. Fast and fun. (And I still cry at some points.)
I am currently reading and buying all the material I can find on Plath. Just started a new website and need to brush up on my p's and q's. She is quite simply the most intriguing author / poet I have had the pleasure of reading.
Nice to meet you, Dan. Thanks for posting here. How can I gt a hold of SP's short stories? Those interested in Plath can click on your name and see your blog.
Hi, Don! Yes, that's "our" Ben.
Ben, I don't know Mad Girl's Love Song. Must look up!
Martha, SP has some of the best last lines in poetry ever. Surprising, confident, and leaves the reader aching.
Ben: We possess him.
MWA HA HA!!!! *cackle*
Christine-
I am sad this post will end. *sniff* Now I must go run and post about Clash of the Titans!! *runs*
Hey don, yeah, its me! How ya feeling?
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