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Tara's Reviews > Ariel
Ariel
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These poems are jagged, visceral, and very, very raw. They’re angry and bruised, “extravagant, like torture.� And they are frequently charged with a dark, mirthless laughter. After all, “there is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.� Or so Camus once said.
As a total poetry novice, I might be way off base with some of my impressions—I didn’t even come close to understanding everything I read. But I do know that she shared some of her deepest, most intense feelings with me. She made me absorb them. She forced me to feel them too. Plath’s depression had claws.
You know, her own dangerous radiance felt somehow similar...
by
“Cold glass, how you insert yourself
Between myself and myself.
I scratch like a cat.�
These poems are jagged, visceral, and very, very raw. They’re angry and bruised, “extravagant, like torture.� And they are frequently charged with a dark, mirthless laughter. After all, “there is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.� Or so Camus once said.
As a total poetry novice, I might be way off base with some of my impressions—I didn’t even come close to understanding everything I read. But I do know that she shared some of her deepest, most intense feelings with me. She made me absorb them. She forced me to feel them too. Plath’s depression had claws.
“There is the sunlight, playing its blades,
Bored hoodlum in a red room.�
You know, her own dangerous radiance felt somehow similar...
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Reading Progress
July 18, 2018
– Shelved as:
to-read
July 18, 2018
– Shelved
July 29, 2018
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Started Reading
August 2, 2018
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Finished Reading
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Maria
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rated it 5 stars
Aug 03, 2018 11:58AM
Thank you for sharing your adventures into poetry!
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For a poetry novice, I have the impression you touch on the core of these poems, Tara - glancing another time through my copy at the moment because of your review, coming across death, many references to the Holocaust, 'Love, love, my season' what you call her 'dark, mirthless laughter' draws me irresistibly to this.
Maria wrote: "Thank you for sharing your adventures into poetry!"You’re welcome, Maria. Thanks for reading :)
Ilse wrote: "For a poetry novice, I have the impression you touch on the core of these poems, Tara - glancing another time through my copy at the moment because of your review, coming across death, many referen..."Thanks for saying so, Ilse. At times the ambiguity was somewhat frustrating for me, but ultimately it was very rewarding to just let go and allow her emotions to come into focus. I’m glad to hear you appreciated these poems too. Are there any similar works you’d recommend? I wouldn’t mind trying more poetry after this volume, which was far more powerful than I was anticipating :)
Love Sylvia Plath's poetry! She has written some of the most startling imagery and powerful poems that I have ever read.
Zella wrote: "Love Sylvia Plath's poetry! She has written some of the most startling imagery and powerful poems that I have ever read."Startling imagery is right! I was really impressed with her...glad to hear we’re in agreement :)
Have you had a chance to listen to her read any of her work? I've listened to this video of her reading "Daddy" countless times, and it still stuns me every single time.
Zella wrote: "Have you had a chance to listen to her read any of her work? I've listened to this video of her reading "Daddy" countless times, and it still stuns me every single time...."
I’ve been told that I should listen to it, but hadn’t done so until trying your link. That was absolutely incredible. Her voice was so haunting, so powerful, and just dripping with emotion. I’m going to have to listen to more, thanks for reminding me to do so. I’ve already checked, and “Tulips� (one of my favorites) is also available:
Wow.
I had never heard her read "Tulips" before, but that was wonderful--thanks so much for sharing!
Zella wrote: "I had never heard her read "Tulips" before, but that was wonderful--thanks so much for sharing!"No prob, glad you enjoyed it :)
Tara wrote:Are there any similar works you’d recommend? I wouldn’t mind trying more poetry after this volume, which was far more powerful than I was anticipating :) I wish I could, Tara, but sadly most poetry I read was in my mother tongue and not translated into English, the author that first comes to my mind Jotie 't Hooft - I think Florencia could give you wonderful tips on which poetry to read�.recently I read an inspiring review on the Love Poems of Anne Sexton - she is often named together with Plath so her work might appeal to you :-). And however unlike Plath, I'd wholeheartedly recommend Anna Akhmatova�.
Ilse wrote: "Tara wrote:Are there any similar works you’d recommend? I wouldn’t mind trying more poetry after this volume, which was far more powerful than I was anticipating :) I wish I could, Tara, but sadly..."
Good idea, I’ll be sure to check with Florencia. I did read a fair amount of Anne Sexton in my late teens, and remember liking her, too. Perhaps it’s the right time to revisit some of her work. And I’ve heard wonderful things about Anna Akhmatova, thanks for reminding me about her :)
