Lady Lazarus

This great print can be found for sale at http://society6.com/lucylovesthis/Sylvia-Plath_Print

Yesterday, February 11th, marked the fiftieth anniversary of the death of the writer Sylvia Plath. Her poetry and prose is often confronting but I love the way that each word packs such an emotional punch and yet is so concise and elegant. Something that fledgling writers such as myself can only dream of. It is truly tragic that she saw suicide as the answer to her troubles. Her death is an enormous loss.

Love and respect to you, Miss Plath.

PS If you have not read Sylvia's poems, please be warned that they are not easy going.

I am I am I am

This lovely image of Sylvia Plath can be found at http://www.counter-currents.com/2010/11/sylvia-plath-stasis-in-darkness/

What do you think about inspirational quotes and sayings? I know that my husband approaches them with some derision but I often find (mostly) literary quotes that say such a lot to me that I am compelled to type them up and blue-tack to the wall above my desk. I don't mean inspirational quotes of the 'SUCCESS'-emblazoned-on-a-photo-of-the-sunset variety (but they're fine too, if they talk to you) but more a couple of words or lines that help me to understand something about myself.

It is sometimes seen as something of a cliche to be a fan of Sylvia Plath, the angsty woman par excellence, but I have to say that I have been in love with her words and ideas since the poem "The Applicant" was on our reading list for Year 12 English Lit (some mumble-mumble years ago). I know of course that she was also a very flawed individual (but who isn't?) and certainly her fate is not one that I covet. But the words...the words. Yesterday I was reminded of a few lines from The Bell Jar which went - kaboom - straight to where I am right now:

"I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am. I am. I am."

Just now I discovered that I am not the only one with a deep love for Sylvia's mots juste and I also found that some people go way beyond sticking a piece of paper over their desk. I am not one for tattoos but these are amazing and touching examples of how words can go straight to the soul -

Words from the poem "Tulips"

These images can be found at the following link http://www.contrariwise.org/tag/sylvia-plath/

Thieving Tuesday

I'm being a bit of a web bandit today. Librarygirl over at Living in the kingdom of too much has posted two things lately which I have keenly seized upon and bring to you today. The first is a list of unread (and half-read) books which are lurking around my living room at the moment (http://www.livinginthekingdomoftoomuch.com/2011/08/heres-my-list-of-un-read-books.html) I really do want to read them but in the evenings I find my attention is distracted by knitting, stitching or that great evil of mind-numbingness...the tv. So, in no particular order, here is what I am yet to get to -

Robert Rankin, The hollow chocolate bunnies of the apocalypse (half-read)
Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim
Geraldine Brooks, March
Ronald Hayman, The death and life of Sylvia Plath
Avi, The Mayor of Central Park

Not to mention the books that call to me from the bookshelves every time I walk past -

Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit
Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin

And the book that went all the way to Scandinavia and didn't get read (how was I distracted by tv in a language I don't understand??) -

P.C. Cast, Goddess of Legend

The other thing is this gorgeous item which I have coveted ever since seeing it on the dear Miss Amy Dorrit in the recent BBC series Little Dorrit. Now (and then) referred to as a Sontag, in the 19th century it was also rather sweetly called a bosom friend -




Librarygirl has very kindly included the link to the pattern she used - http://www.livinginthekingdomoftoomuch.com/2011/07/little-team-that-could.html. As a novice knitter I am freaking out at the sight of this pattern ever so slightly but I'll give it a go because I so want one! And just to get me (and you!) in the mood, here is the beautiful opening theme from the recent tv version of Little Dorrit -

My thumb instead of an onion...

I have long been a fan of the writer Sylvia Plath. At school, we had to learn "The Applicant" for our English Lit exam and in first year uni, I read "The Bell Jar" for the first time (my copy is now well thumbed). While I realise many people are perhaps ambivalent about Plath due to the tendency for her poetry to appeal to angsty university undergrads (!) or for the choices she made in her own life - I continue to just love the way she uses language. If I could manage even a part of what she did with my own writing, I'd be very happy! This poem, "Cut", is a delight for me. Such richly envisaged, cleverly employed words - and crafting such a piece about something so commonplace as cutting your finger while cooking. Brilliant. I was especially thrilled to find clips on You Tube with Plath herself reading her poems. That voice!

Her more sombre and complex poems are on You Tube too and are equally wonderful, but I leave you to listen to those of your own choosing. They are heavy going and not for the heavy-of-heart.

Have a beautiful weekend :)