Ted Hughes warned in the introduction that “This collection does not represent the prose of the poet of Ariel, any more than the poems of the Colossus represent the poetry of the poet of Ariel” and of course he was right. After all, he did know Sylvia better than you and me.

This collection of short stories is a resounding slap to everyone who considers Sylvia Plath just a great poet. Here, she vividly proves that she is not only capable but also extremely talented at writing something other than poems. The writing style is so unique and distinguishable among a thousand. Her vocabulary is splendid, and even when we are talking about short stories, there is something poetic in them. She employs so many similes and a huge variety of adjectives that it feels as if images could suddenly pop out of the book. Plath manages to achieve this without becoming boring or tiring. Moreover, memorable quotes can also be found in these short stories. Some of my favorites were: “The door of the novel, like the door of the poem, also shuts. But not so fast, nor with such manic, unanswerable finality.” “Surely the great use of poetry is its pleasure - not its influence as religious or political propaganda.” “So many people were shut up tight inside themselves like boxes, yet they would open up, unfolding quite wonderfully, if only you were interested in them. And really, you don’t have to belong to a club to feel related to other human beings.”

I wish I had the chance to meet Sylvia Plath and ask her which were her favorite stories. To ask her about “In the mountains” and “Among the bumblebees”. She was such a promising writer with such great potential.

Moving on to the excerpts from her journals… At first, I was tempted not to read them, but then I gave in and read them. I am truly thankful that I did. Plath showed me that struggling is a human trait. It was both relieving and heart-breaking to realize that even someone as great as her struggled with writing at some point. Sylvia Plath is one of my favorite poets/writers, and knowing that she could offer so much more to the world than she already did saddens me. She was, at least to me, one of those people you wish you had met and hung out with.

“I am dead to them, even though I once flowered. That is the latent terror, a symptom: it is suddenly either all or nothing: either you break the surface into the whistling void or you don’t. I want to get back to my more normal intermediate path where the substance of the world is permeated by my being: eating food, reading, writing, talking, shopping: so all is good in itself, and not just a hectic activity to cover up the fear that must face itself to duel itself to death, saying: A Life is Passing!”

“…the poverty of life without dreams is too horrible to imagine: it is that kind of madness which is worst: the kind with fancies and hallucinations would be a bosch-ish relief.”

PS: There were only a few stories that I didn't enjoy as much as others. (Snow blitz, I guess, was the only one I didn't fancy at all).

I borrowed a copy that contains a significantly larger number of novellas by Sylvia Plath, all having the same name as the collection. I am delighted to report that I adored her writing in this as well.

So far, I have only managed to obtain "Johnny Panik and the Bible of Dreams". Sylvia Plath is an author whose works I have a great passion for reading, yet I often encounter difficulties in getting my hands on her writings. However, when I discovered this copy, I was overjoyed.

This particular short story was truly wonderful. The way Plath crafted the narrative and developed the characters was simply captivating. I was completely engrossed in the story from beginning to end. Sadly, it came to an end all too soon, leaving me with a sense of longing for more. I can't wait to explore the other novellas in this collection and continue my journey through Sylvia Plath's literary world.

DNF - 60%

For me, it's just too crazy and convoluted. Although it's a short book, I couldn't get through to the end because I simply can't understand Sylvia Plath's vision in these stories.

I'll give it another try sometime in the future, and maybe I'll be convinced.

Plath's writing style is unique, and perhaps with more time and a different mindset, I'll be able to appreciate the depth and beauty of her work.

Until then, I'll keep this book on my shelf, waiting for the right moment to pick it up again.

Who knows, maybe the second time around will be the charm.

Searching for the threads that connect the individual stories completely absorbed me. Through this, I can see how autobiographical Plath's work was.

"The Boy with the Dolphin" made the greatest impression on me, and the symbolism of "Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom" brought me to my knees.

I feel you, Sylvia.

This exploration into Plath's writing has been a profound experience. Each story seems to hold a piece of her soul, a reflection of her inner turmoil and the complex emotions that she grappled with.

The vivid imagery and powerful language used in her works draw the reader in, making it impossible not to be affected by her words.

As I delved deeper into her stories, I found myself empathizing with the characters and their struggles, as if I was experiencing them myself.

Plath's ability to convey such intense emotions through her writing is truly remarkable. It is as if she is reaching out from beyond the grave, sharing her pain and her passion with the world.

I will continue to explore her works, eager to uncover more of the hidden gems that lie within.

Some stories are good, and some are bad.

If you want to know Plath closely and are curious about how she transformed some events she mentioned in her diary into stories, you can read them.

Plath's works are often filled with deep emotions and complex psychological descriptions. By reading her stories, we can gain a better understanding of her inner world and the experiences that influenced her writing.

Her unique writing style and the way she weaves together reality and imagination make her stories both captivating and thought-provoking. Whether you are a fan of literature or simply interested in exploring the human psyche, Plath's stories are definitely worth reading.

They offer a glimpse into a world that is both beautiful and tragic, and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Sylvia is Sylvia, isn't she? ♥️ I would read even her supermarket list.

Sylvia is a unique and special person. Her presence seems to have a certain charm that attracts me.

Maybe it's her smile, her personality, or just the way she is.

I find myself interested in everything about her, even the most mundane things like her supermarket list.

Reading her list gives me a sense of connection to her, as if I am a part of her daily life.

It makes me feel closer to her and makes me want to know more about her.

Sylvia is truly a remarkable person, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.

Не лоши разкази, има доста добри “попадения”. The stories are not bad and there are quite a number of good “hits”. However,

I still think that the strong side of Silvia Platt is poetry. Her poems are like beautiful melodies that touch people's hearts deeply.

They are filled with emotions, vivid images, and profound thoughts. Through her poetry, she can express the most complex and delicate feelings.

Maybe it's because she has a unique perspective and a sensitive heart that allows her to discover the beauty and essence of things that others may overlook.

In conclusion, although her stories are also good, it is her poetry that truly shines and makes her stand out as a remarkable writer.

These three points are only for the story of Sylvia.

Sylvia's story is unique and captivating. It holds a special charm that makes it stand out among others.

These three points serve as crucial elements within her narrative, adding depth and significance.

They might be related to her character development, the events that unfold, or the lessons she learns along the way.

By focusing on these specific points, we can gain a better understanding of Sylvia's journey and the essence of her story.

Each point has its own importance and contributes to the overall tapestry of Sylvia's life as presented in the story.

Without these three points, the story of Sylvia would lose some of its luster and fail to fully engage the reader.

They are like precious gems that sparkle within the narrative, attracting our attention and making us eager to know more about Sylvia and her adventures.

I had read this book before, but when I saw it again in the library, I realized that I had forgotten a lot of it. So I decided to give it another chance. Since it was short, it wouldn't take much time.

In my opinion, a good book is one that can make you remember the feelings and emotions you had when you read it, even if you forget the story. Unfortunately, this book was very weak in this regard. Even when I read it for the second time, I didn't feel anything.

Although I tried very hard to focus on the sentences, I still couldn't understand the plot of the story. That's why I didn't like it at all.

Snälla läs nu så kan vi diskutera den!!!

Please read it now so that we can discuss it!!!

This simple sentence holds great significance. It is an invitation, a plea for someone to engage with the text or topic at hand. By asking the reader to read, it opens the door to a potential exchange of ideas and perspectives.

The act of reading is essential for understanding and knowledge acquisition. It allows us to explore different concepts, gain new insights, and expand our minds. Once the reader has familiarized themselves with the material, the stage is set for a fruitful discussion.

Discussions are valuable as they enable us to share our thoughts, clarify our understanding, and learn from others. They can lead to new discoveries, solutions to problems, and a deeper appreciation of the subject matter.

So, let us take up this invitation and read with an open mind, ready to engage in a lively and meaningful discussion.

The stories and diary entries in his notebook are really charming, but the essays have left me a bit cold. Look, I'm not a purist, but these essays seem to me rather un-essay-like. At first, I thought they were short stories. And this doesn't necessarily have to be bad. I think of Suau's "Curing the Skin", which is halfway between a chronicle, a diary, and an essay. Although strictly speaking it is none of them, it has characteristic elements of all the genres. But in the case of "The Box of Desires", I don't see a distinction between an essay, a story, and a diary entry. I feel that the author gets lost a lot in descriptions of place and other details, although to be fair, she shows an overwhelming wealth for it.

In the book, we find 20 stories, 5 extracts from his notebooks, and 5 essays. In the new edition of Nórdica, the subtitle reads "Essays and Stories". Considering that only 16.6% of the texts are essays, I wouldn't have put it in the first place, nor, on the other hand, would I have omitted the diary entries (which account for another 16.6% compared to the 66.6% occupied by the stories). The edition is beautiful, and I like that there is no prologue and that it starts directly with a story.

4.5!!

Potentially, it could have been a 5 if I had read this during the holidays and hadn't already read most of the diary parts.

Anyways, yes, I adore Plath's writing to the ends of the earth. It makes me feel so <33. I love how in one moment, it's just about people stuck in the snow, and then in the next moment, it transforms into a story about all the characters taking their own lives.

Plath's ability to shift the tone and theme so abruptly is truly remarkable. It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly wondering what will happen next.

Her writing is so vivid and engaging that it draws you in and makes you feel as if you are right there with the characters, experiencing their emotions and struggles.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves literature and wants to experience the unique and powerful writing of Sylvia Plath.