4.5 (I'm not really sure)

The writing in this collection is absolutely gorgeous. It has a certain charm that draws the reader in from the very beginning. I found myself completely immersed in the stories, some of which were cute and heartwarming, while others were extremely painful and tugged at my heartstrings.

I really wanted to give this book 5 stars because of the overall quality of the writing and the engaging nature of most of the stories. However, towards the end, the last few stories started to feel a little bit boring. They didn't have the same level of excitement and新鲜感 as the earlier ones.

Despite this small drawback, I still think this is a great collection of stories that is well worth reading. The author has a real talent for creating vivid characters and telling engaging stories that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

There is a certain feeling that grips me every time I reach for the work of Sylvia Plath; it could be called a conflict. The story of the writer's death and what led to it is deeply ingrained in our cultural consciousness. It is clear that from this perspective, Sylvia has long since departed and left behind a strange portrait in pale colors. However, when I actually reach for her creativity, the word that she left behind, I cannot suppress the feeling that she cursed her mortality, this strange sorceress, that somewhere in the texts life stirs, a heart beats hidden in trust under the desks. It breaks out to say hello, in longing it does not cease.

In the work of Sylvia Plath, there is a strange beauty, partly related to sadness, and partly to memory, often seeming foreign and distant; it reminds me of the moment when one returns in front of one's former house, in which one has not been for so long, and observes it from the distance of the lawn. The writer often tells of events that carry tragedy with them, of experiences that were a burden, but through her language and style we see that all this is her own, and perhaps this is the most important thing. The reading of the stories reminded me of a thought that Julia Fiedorczuk expressed in her Insignificance. She undertakes a reflection that if truth is not beautiful, then beauty is there to make it possible to live. In the review of the Polish writer's novel, I pointed out that perhaps in this case beauty is there to remind oneself that this is still our home. When meeting Sylvia, I took this hypothesis even further; in a world full of both overwhelming experiences and unadulterated death, the author through her work built her home. She set a boundary and always returns to it. She does this with the help of rich and complex metaphors, fairy tales and images, on the one hand so close to us, and on the other different, distorted, softened, which take our breath away and open up new dreams, hopes that we will tightly hold on to, bittersweet myths about what will happen. When Plath speaks of something, all experiences become equally important for the reader, but we cannot mirror the way in which the author moves among them, with a light, cautious step, almost not touching the ground. We feel that she is so close, and at the same time already very far away, where no one can harm her. I imagine her standing on the shore of the great water that she loved so much, out of reach of my fingers, but perhaps not of my echo. Although this image may remind of death, I only mean what is related to life.

I know that the image of Plath as a writer that I have just presented may be unclear and not very fruitful; it was difficult for me myself to find my way in the feeling in which Sylvia left me. However, I can certainly leave you with a few conclusions. First of all, throughout the stories, the image of the author as an extraordinary woman, brilliant, ambitious, insanely intelligent and extremely sensitive shines through. Secondly, the writer's style teaches attention and a deep knowledge of every word. Thirdly, regardless of whether Sylvia soars and reaches out her hand to us, or sits next with a chain around her bones, this is the space that she showed us, to which she invited us and where we are ready to be with her.

I did not expect all these feelings when I began to explore the texts of Sylvia; I did not predict what images she would leave behind. I know that her works and person do not suit everyone and this is understandable, but I think that it is worth allowing oneself to be surprised.

Sylvia, you have created a secret place of hideaways on the border of what has passed and what has remained. I will return there again sometime, and I hope that I will still be amazed by you.

This is an extremely sharp short story! It is filled with fantasy. It revolves around a very peculiar metaphor about Johnny Panic or the mental illness, the sickness. The best Sylvia Plath, always brave, always original

Officially, we are "cutting the vein" on Silvia Plath.

I cannot, and I do not want to objectively evaluate.

This simple statement holds a certain degree of complexity. There are times when we find ourselves in a situation where objective evaluation seems either impossible or undesirable. Maybe the subject matter is too subjective in nature, making it difficult to apply objective criteria. Or perhaps our personal biases and emotions prevent us from being truly objective.

It could also be that we simply do not have the necessary information or expertise to conduct an objective evaluation. In such cases, it is important to recognize our limitations and be honest about our inability or unwillingness to evaluate objectively.

Rather than forcing an evaluation that may be inaccurate or unfair, it may be better to withhold judgment or seek the input of others who may have a more objective perspective. This way, we can ensure that any evaluations that are made are as accurate and fair as possible.

3.3 stars.

This rating might seem a bit on the lower side, but it also holds some significance. It could indicate that the product or service in question has both its strengths and weaknesses.

Perhaps there are certain aspects that really shine and deserve praise, while others might need some improvement.

It's important to look beyond the number and consider the details behind it.

Maybe the user experience could be enhanced, or the quality could be fine-tuned.

With a 3.3-star rating, there is definitely room for growth and development.

It could serve as a motivation for the provider to make necessary changes and strive for a higher rating in the future.

After all, customer satisfaction is key, and a better rating would likely lead to more success and a stronger reputation.

I don't know why, but for some reason I feel really connected to Sylvia. It's as if I know her in a strange way.

So this book was precisely what I needed at this moment. I was eager to learn more about her life. It includes several paragraphs from her diary, which was both cool and a bit weird for me to read. Additionally, it contains her short stories that Ted managed to collect. The interesting thing is that these stories are somewhat like her diary because you can clearly see that the things she writes about are personal to her. Every memory she describes is hers; she just changes the names in each story.

My favorite stories were those about her childhood, especially the one involving her father. It filled me with a sense of nostalgia for my own childhood and made me want to reread all my childhood books and truly miss those days.

Each story evokes a certain emotion in you, and every single one of them is special. I really appreciate her prose writing, and yes, I absolutely love this collector's book.

For all of Sylvia's fans out there, don't overlook this book. I firmly believe it is just as important as her poems and "The Bell Jar" - truly.

Sylvia Plath's five short stories explore a range of profound themes.

In "The Fifty-Ninth Bear," there is the irruption into a brutally hostile imagination. It delves into the dark recesses of the mind, where fears and nightmares lurk.

"The Wish Box" focuses on the search for literary inspiration until death. Plath shows the lengths one might go to in the pursuit of creative genius.

"The Day Mr. Prescott Died" examines the boundary between life and death. It forces us to confront the fragility and uncertainty of our existence.

"Superman or the New Outfit of Paula Brown" deals with the disillusionment of coming of age. The story highlights the harsh realities that often shatter our youthful ideals.

Finally, "Mintons' Sunday" contrasts the prosaic and dreamed worlds. It shows how we often yearn for something more than the mundane routine of everyday life.

Under the simplicity of the situations evoked, Sylvia Plath's direct and clear style, with its muscular and delicate line, reveals the eruption of an unjust and brutal world beneath the reassuring organization of everyday life. Her stories are a powerful exploration of the human condition.

I'm sure I won't remember all of these stories, but I will remember the atmosphere and this amazing sensitivity of Plath. Just like with a glass bud, yet I have the feeling that I've lost something and I feel the need to read it again with what I know now.

Plath's works are like a mysterious labyrinth that always attracts me. Her words seem to have a magical power that can touch the deepest part of my heart. Although I may not fully understand all the meanings and emotions in her stories at the first reading, the overall impression and the unique climate she creates are deeply engraved in my mind.

Every time I pick up her book, it's like embarking on a new adventure. I'm eager to explore more of her world, to discover the hidden details and subtleties that I might have missed before. And with each rereading, I gain a new perspective and a deeper understanding of her works.

A huge range of captivating stories and pieces of writing awaits within these pages. It is truly a treasure trove of literary gems. However, I do find myself wishing that there was an introduction at the very beginning. The source of some of these stories remains unclear, and it would have been extremely interesting to know the background and inspiration behind them. There is a significant amount of semi-autobiographical material, particularly when it comes to childhood experiences. It adds a personal and relatable touch to the collection. Among my favorite stories are The Wishing Box and Ocean 1212-W. The closing line of Ocean 1212-W is simply outstanding - 'those nine first years of my life sealed themselves off like a ship in a bottle - beautiful, inaccessible, obsolete, a fine, white flying myth'. It leaves a lasting impression and lingers in the mind long after reading.

POV:

Your husband has betrayed you with another woman. However, when they want to translate and publish a book from you, they attach the story of your husband to your story and print it.

Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams is a diverse collection that encompasses Sylvia Plath's short stories and several of her personal diary entries.

My experience while reading it was like a wild roller coaster ride. There were stories that I simply adored, paragraphs that I read not just once or twice but dozens of times and will surely read again in the future. However, the majority of the pieces were just okay.

Undoubtedly, they were brilliantly written, yet they didn't evoke much of an emotional response from me, and some of them were so complex that they went completely over my head. I struggled to figure out the point behind them.

As I progressed through the collection, the stories started to feel very similar. It's evident that Plath has her own distinct style in short story writing, but unfortunately, apart from a few exceptions, it didn't amaze me.

I also had a wish that there had been more extracts from Plath's diaries. I found it extremely fascinating to read about her life and thoughts.

Though, I was a bit confused with all the strange, unintroduced people that were mentioned, which is, of course, what one can expect when reading small snippets of someone's journal.

So, rating such a collection is quite a challenging task. In the end, I gave Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams a pretty neutral three stars. I was never hating what I was reading, and as I mentioned earlier, I came across some amazing examples that demonstrated the astounding things that can be achieved with words.