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Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath

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Gem
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Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath

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I have owned Birthday Letters by Ted Hughes for years, but as is always the way, I am only just reading it. I have also only read The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, so I am coming to the whole Ted Hughes-Sylvia Plath controversy anew.

Could anyone recommend some key poems by either of them for me to read? Especially in Birthday letters.

Thankyou!

Gem
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oblivion

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Re: Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath

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I have had Birthday Letters on my nightstand for years. I'm now moving into phase 2: putting it underneath my pillow to be absorbed through osmosis. I just can't seem to start the book even though it beckons to me constantly. And I adore poetry. Perhaps if we encourage each other........?!
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Gem
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Re: Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath

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Well I liked Caryatids 1 and 2. But I am only about 10 poems into the book - try reading those - see if they get you going!

Gem
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Re: Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath

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Excellent suggestion. I'll do that!
Gods and spirits are parasitic--Pascal Boyer

Religion is the only force in the world that lets a person have his prejudice or hatred and feel good about it --S C Hitchcock

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it. --André Gide

Reading is a majority skill but a minority art. --Julian Barnes
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Saffron

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Re: Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath

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Gee, maybe I will go get the book and join in.
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DWill

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Re: Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath

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Reading anything usually seems like a good idea to me...problem is not having the time. What is the proposal, to read Birthday Letters? It could be available online.
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Re: Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath

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DWill wrote:Reading anything usually seems like a good idea to me...problem is not having the time. What is the proposal, to read Birthday Letters? It could be available online.
Can't find it online. However, the library has it!
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Gem
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Re: Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath

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I'm still working my way through it - I like "Sam"

Anyone else got any favourite poems so far?
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Re: Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath

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I got the book! I've never read any Ted Hughes before; so far I like. I also grabbed a book by Erica Wagner titled, Ariel's gift. It is a biography/literary criticism/guide to Birthday Letters. I looked at it a bit last night. Generally, I like to make my way through a poem by myself first. However, this book is very informative. I know very little about Hughes or the marriage between he and Plath, so, I can see it will provide background for me to put the poems into a context.
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Re: Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath

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Any chance of us starting a discussion on Birthday Letters in January? I'd for one really enjoy it.
Gods and spirits are parasitic--Pascal Boyer

Religion is the only force in the world that lets a person have his prejudice or hatred and feel good about it --S C Hitchcock

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it. --André Gide

Reading is a majority skill but a minority art. --Julian Barnes
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