3.5 stars

At some point during my reading of this, I found myself completely at a loss as to how to rate it. So, I initially thought I would just leave it blank and write a review instead. However, I quickly realized that this wouldn't make any sense. I have a great deal of admiration for Plath, and Ariel had piqued my interest. But, to be honest, her style simply isn't to my taste. Then again, perhaps it's not so much her style that bothers me, but rather the difficulty in actually reading this particular poetry.

Plath herself noted in a BBC Broadcast, while discussing some of the poems that would later be published in Ariel after her suicide: “If they have anything else in common, perhaps it is that they are written for the ear, not the eye: they are poems written out loud.”

Still, I did manage to find a few favorites among the poems. Some of them include The Detective, Barren Woman, Lady Lazarus, The Moon and the Yew Tree, Amnesiac, The Rival, and Wintering.

The Rival is probably my absolute favorite. It reads: “If the moon smiled, she would resemble you. You leave the same impression Of something beautiful, but annihilating. Both of you are great light borrowers. Her O-mouth grieves at the world; yours is unaffected. And your first gift is making stone out of everything. I wake to a mausoleum; you are here, Ticking your fingers on the marble table, looking for cigarettes, Spiteful as a woman, but not so nervous, And dying to say something unanswerable. The moon, too, abases her subjects, But in the daytime she is ridiculous. Your dissatisfactions, on the other hand, Arrive through the mailslot with loving regularity, White and blank, expansive as carbon monoxide.” “No day is safe from news of you,” “Walking about in Africa maybe, but thinking of me.” (Written in July 1961)

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In addition to the poems themselves, I was particularly impressed by the foreword written by Frieda Hughes, Plath's daughter. She provides valuable insights into the way in which the relationship between her mother and father (Ted Hughes) has been publicly dissected. When Ted Hughes published and edited the manuscript for Ariel that Plath had left on her desk, he was heavily criticized. Hughes is widely known as a cheater, and many people blame him, at least in part, for Plath's suicide. Frieda Hughes doesn't necessarily attempt to whitewash her father's image, but she does point out that the overanalysis of her parents' relationship and her mother's poems in the context of this relationship has led to a parody of her mother's life. Next to the foreword, this edition of Ariel presents the complete manuscript left by Plath in its entirety: there are no omissions (unlike the edition edited by Hughes, where some of the more scathing poems were excluded). Moreover, the restored edition includes a facsimile of the manuscript, with an extensive facsimile added for Ariel and a few other poems. I truly appreciated this attention to detail.

All in all, while I may not have necessarily 'enjoyed' Plath's work in the traditional sense, I do have a deep appreciation for it. I'm glad that I took the time to read it and explore her unique literary voice.

Sylvia Plath is an extremely influential and remarkable poet. Her works are filled with deep emotions, vivid imagery, and a raw exploration of the human psyche.

Her unique writing style and powerful expressions have had a profound impact on generations of readers. Many people are deeply drawn to her poetry, finding in it a reflection of their own inner turmoil, hopes, and dreams.

Sylvia Plath's words seem to have a magical quality that can touch the hearts and souls of those who encounter them. It's as if she has a special connection with her readers, allowing them to enter into her world and experience the beauty and pain that she so skillfully conveys.

In a sense, it could be said that Sylvia Plath owns a part of our literary and emotional landscapes, leaving an indelible mark that will continue to be cherished and studied for years to come.

It's important to note that while the original statement was rather crass, we can appreciate and respect the significance of Sylvia Plath's work in a more appropriate and meaningful way.

Original article: The importance of learning English cannot be ignored. It is a global language that is widely used in various fields such as business, education, and technology.

Expanded article: The importance of learning English simply cannot be ignored.

English is a truly global language that has a profound impact and wide application in numerous fields.

In the business world, it serves as a common language for international trade, communication between companies, and conducting business negotiations.

In the field of education, English is essential for accessing a wealth of knowledge and resources from around the world.

It allows students to study abroad, communicate with international peers, and stay updated with the latest academic research.

Moreover, in the rapidly evolving technology sector, English is the language of innovation and development.

Most of the cutting-edge technological information and software are in English.

Therefore, mastering English is not only beneficial for personal growth and career development but also crucial for keeping up with the global trend and participating in the international community.

I have never read the original version.

Consequently, I am not certain about the differences it has from the Ted Hughes published version.

However, it was definitely the "restoration" and the introduction by their daughter that attracted me to this collection in particular.

The poems in this collection are lovely, and many of them are sad.

They are sad not only on their own but also in the context of the sadness of her life.

Yet, there are some surprisingly bits of ecstasy in the beauty of individual moments.

The whole collection flows and hangs together really well.

It presents a cohesive and compelling reading experience.

One can easily get lost in the emotions and imagery that the poems evoke.

The daughter's introduction provides valuable insights into the poems and the poet's life, adding an extra layer of depth to the reading.

Overall, this collection is a must-read for poetry lovers.

The act of tattooing over and over the same blue grievances is a rather profound and perhaps even melancholy concept. The mention of "the snakes, the babies, the tits" adds a sense of chaos and a strange combination of elements. It's as if these tattoos are trying to tell a story that is both complex and somewhat mysterious. On mermaids and two-legged dreamgirls, these tattoos seem to take on an otherworldly quality.

The surgeon, who is quiet and does not speak, has a solemn presence. He has witnessed an abundance of death, and his hands are filled with the weight of it. This description gives a sense of the surgeon's experience and the toll it has taken on him.

Overall, this piece of text creates a vivid and somewhat eerie image in the reader's mind, leaving them to wonder about the deeper meanings and emotions hidden within the tattoos and the surgeon's silent gaze. "Tattooing over and over the same blue grievances,
The snakes, the babies, the tits,
On mermaids and two-legged dreamgirls.
The surgeon is quiet, he does not speak.
He has seen too much death, his hands are full of it."

Well,

I've just spent the entire afternoon lying on the bed, completely engrossed in reading this. It was truly an experience that left my mind in a state of absolute amazement. The content was so captivating that I couldn't tear myself away from it.

However, I must admit that it includes some dated language which might seem a bit out of place in today's context. But despite that, it had its own charm. And there were perhaps one too many bee keeping poems. While they were interesting in their own way, after a while, they started to blend together a little.

Overall, though, it was a worthwhile read that managed to keep my attention throughout the afternoon and gave my mind a good workout.

I loved this so much.

For every poem that just left me going "huh?", there was also one I felt like tattooing on my face and like... Making it my mantra. It's so indomitable!

And there are poems in this edition that I really liked which were left out of the one edited by her widower, Ted Hughes. This edition was edited with an insightful forward by her daughter, Frieda Hughes.

I've been pickier about buying books lately, but this one now needs to have a place on my permanent (non-virtual) shelf.

It's not just a collection of words; it's a journey through the poet's mind and heart. Each poem has its own unique charm and power, capable of evoking a wide range of emotions.

The ones that confused me at first later revealed their hidden depths upon further reflection. And those that spoke to me on a deeper level became my guiding lights, inspiring me to be more courageous and true to myself.

This book is a treasure, and I can't wait to explore it again and again.

The following is the rewritten and expanded article:

In a world filled with mystery and darkness, there are words that seem to carry an otherworldly power. «Herr God, Herr Lucifer
Beware
Beware.» These lines echo with a sense of foreboding, as if a great and unknown force is about to be unleashed.

From the ashes, a figure emerges. This figure has red hair that seems to blaze like a fire. «I rise with my red hair
And I eat men like air.» There is a terrifying hunger in these words, a hunger that can consume all in its path.

Who is this being that rises from the ashes? Is it a messenger of God or a servant of Lucifer? The mystery only deepens as we are left to wonder what fate awaits those who hear these words and do not take heed. Beware, for something powerful and dangerous is coming.

It took me a while to get through this.

To be honest, I'm actually terrible at reading consistently.

However, in the end, I really did like it.

Now, I definitely want to read some of Plath's prose because I'm not big on poetry.

I think exploring her prose might give me a different perspective on her writing.

Maybe it will be more accessible and engaging for me.

I'm curious to see how her unique voice and style translate into prose.

Who knows, it might even become one of my new favorite things to read.

I'm looking forward to delving into Plath's prose and discovering what lies within.

Hopefully, it will be just as enjoyable as this experience has been.

I have a rather complex relationship with poetry. When I was younger, I had an intense love for it and wrote countless poems. However, at a certain point, I simply began to despise reading it. And when I attempted to write it again, I loathed everything I produced. Poetry is truly a difficult art form. It often seems either contrived or empty. You either strive so hard that the poem becomes a jumble of self-important, flowery nonsense, or you don't try at all (or try too hard to appear effortless), and it ends up being just prose in the guise of a poem.

I have made numerous attempts to read poetry by various authors, but I dislike almost all of it, even when I approach it with a desperate desire to like it. I recall a book of poems that I did like, "A Tongue in the Mouth of the Dying" by Laurie Ann Guerrero. It was because I felt she achieved a good balance between being "poetic" and simply saying what she wanted to say.

I really wanted to like the current book I'm discussing, but it took me an incredibly long time to finish it because I strongly disliked it. As I was reading through these poems, I kept thinking, "What on earth is this supposed to mean?" It truly irritates me when someone uses nonsensical language to convey something that only the author can understand. If you want to write for yourself, that's fine. But I believe that if someone reads your poetry and has no clue what you're trying to say, you've failed as a writer in that regard.

The most infuriating poem in this book was "A secret." Here are the first two stanzas: "A secret! A secret! How superior. You are blue and huge, a traffic policeman, Holding up one palm— A difference between us? I have one eye, you have two. The secret is stamped on you, Faint, undulant watermark."

Pardon my language, but what the hell does that even mean? I have no idea what is supposed to be literal and what isn't because none of it makes sense figuratively. Yes, I know that if I were in a college English class, we might analyze all the context and figure out that it's symbolic of some war (isn't it always a war?) or some historical event, or perhaps the author went through a particular event in her life and it means something specific. But as someone who is just trying to read and relate to it in some way, I'm not interested in conducting a research project. I simply want to connect with it, and I can't. And to me, that makes this poem a failure.

Not all the poems in this book are like that, but enough of them were to put me off. I took a long break from it and thought I might just DNF (Did Not Finish) it. But I was at work during my lunch break and this was the only book I had, so I persevered. There are a few lines that are quite good, and I did like a couple of the poems, but overall, it was a challenge to get through. And I loved "The Bell Jar," so I really wanted to like this book.

So, overall, it's okay, but not as amazing as everyone seems to think all dead white poets are. Some of the poems don't make any sense. Some are just okay. There are some interesting lines in a few of the poems. And reading it did inspire me to write a poem, which I haven't done in years, so I have to be grateful for that. I was also very interested in the snippets about Sylvia Plath's life (more so than the poetry, if I'm being honest), but I have to say, I don't really like her daughter. The lady seems obsessed with worshipping her dad even though he was a cheating jerk. But whatever. Anyway, I'm glad I read it.

Fascinating poems indeed! What makes them even more captivating is the remarkable way Sylvia's daughter Frieda altered the order and spellings of the poems to their original state as Sylvia had written them, in contrast to how Ted Hughes printed them in the past.

However, let's not dwell on all that for now. The truth is, most of the time, I found myself completely at a loss as to what that woman was trying to convey. But, oh my, her passion burns with such intensity! She seems to scream at me from the very pages, and it's a beautiful kind of chaos.

I might be a bit overly emotional because the combination of Elm and Daddy just completely shattered me. It's as if their presence in the poems has a profound impact on my heart and soul, leaving me in a state of turmoil and yet, strangely, a state of awe.

For me, this collection is truly breathtakingly wonderful. It is not only brilliant but also beautifully sad. I have a deep appreciation for the forward written by Frieda Hughes.

She writes about her mother and her poetry in such a profound way.

“She used every emotional experience as if it were a scrap of material that could be pieced together to make a wonderful dress; she wasted nothing of what she felt, and when in control of those tumultuous feelings she was able to focus and direct her incredible poetic energy to great effect.”

This description gives us a unique insight into the mind and creative process of the poet. It shows how she was able to take the most raw and intense emotions and transform them into something truly beautiful and meaningful.

The collection as a whole seems to capture this essence, taking the reader on an emotional journey through the poet's life and experiences.

It is a testament to the power of poetry and the ability of the human spirit to find beauty and meaning in even the most difficult of circumstances.

I am truly grateful to have discovered this collection and look forward to exploring it further.