“A woman who writes feels too much,
those trances and portents!
As if cycles and children and islands
weren't enough; as if mourners and gossips
and vegetables were never enough.
She thinks she can warm the stars.
A writer is essentially a spy.
Dear love, I am that girl.“
Remembering Anne Sexton on her birthday.
pick2-13-23: My 18th finished book of 2023! A look into the lives of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton, both female poets active in the 50s and 60s. Both suffered from mental illness and died by their own hand. This book travels through time to their upbringings, marriages and families, writing years and finally their deaths and shows the similarities and differences between these two talented writers. Very interesting and sad. I am a fan of both.
excerpt from "Admonitions to a Special Person" by Anne Sexton. Full poem at https://allpoetry.com/Admonitions-To-A-Special-Person
#scream #poetrymatters @TheSpineView
so-soThis book about poets Sylvia Plath & Anne Sexton was not well written & I don‘t care much for poetry. But my entry into it the examination of the struggle to be a woman & a poet in 1960/50 America. They could not be selfish artists because they had to be proper and mothers and cooks and hostesses. But the wild, absorptive heart of a poet wants what it wants. These two were no doubt mentally ill, but they were also talented & angry. A sad read.
bailedHour 1: Can‘t do this book. #arc #reversereadathon
The organization — one aspect of their lives in each chapter — hollows out their stories. The impact of societal expectations of women in the 1950s and 60s, their marriage roles, mental illness (not addressed until the end of the book), etc. all impact each other. Stripping away all but one context at a time made their stories one-dimensional.
More below. 👇👇👇
And it begins! #reversereadathon #deweys24hourreadathon
First — Decide if I‘m going to keep reading this #arc. It‘s bland and I don‘t care about Plath or Sexton. Which is bonkers since both of them have deep inner and outer lives.
