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Red Comet
Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath | Heather Clark
The first biography of this great and tragic poet that takes advantage of a wealth of new material, this is an unusually balanced, comprehensive and definitive life of Sylvia Plath. Determined not to read Plaths work as if her every act, from childhood on, was a harbinger of her tragic fate, Clark presents new materials about Plaths scientist father, her juvenile writings, and her psychiatric treatment, and evokes a culture in transition in the mid-twentieth century, in the shadow of the atom bomb and the Holocaust, as she explores Sylvias world: her early relationships and determination not to become a conventional woman and wife; her conflicted ties to her well-meaning, widowed mother; her troubles at the hands of an unenlightened mental-health industry; and her Cambridge years and thunderclap meeting with Ted Hughes, a true marriage of minds that would change the course of poetry in English. Clarks clear-eyed sympathy for Hughes, his lover Assia Wevill, and other demonized players in the arena of Plaths suicide promotes a deeper understanding of her final days, with their outpouring of first-rate poems. Along with illuminating readings of the poems themselves, Clarks meticulous, compassionate research brings us closer than ever to the spirited woman and visionary artist who blazed a trail that still lights the way for women poets the world over.
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AnishaInkspill
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this one, and would read again

PageShifter Sounds like a touching read. I read about her when I read The Bell Jar. 1mo
bthegood Welcome to Litsy! 1mo
AnishaInkspill @PageShifter - yes, very, and I loved how Heather Clarke was spotlight back on to Sylvia Plath\'s work 1mo
AnishaInkspill @bthegood thank you!!! 💛 1mo
10 likes4 comments
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AnishaInkspill
Pickpick

A truly amazing!!!! Read.

I also like how it puts Sylvia Plath‘s talent back to centre stage from the shadows of the last months of her life.

#books #readaway2024 #BookNerd #biographies #eBook #poetrymatters

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MittenGirlPeach
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Both 1,000 pages plus. #SuperChunkster alert!!! 🚨 #ChunksterChallenge

AnishaInkspill two really good picks, I\'ve read both, Red Comet this year, and The Brontes 2 years ago 1mo
20 likes1 comment
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Jen2
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Pickpick

Amazing audiobook! Highly recommend!!!

PurpleyPumpkin Sounds interesting! But I just noticed that it‘s 45 hours long…😬 1y
Jen2 It is but it goes really fast! 1y
52 likes2 comments
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Crystal83
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Pickpick

This book was a good book. It was a little long. It could have finished quicker. I did enjoy learning about Sylvia Plath. It was sad though what she went through. I rated this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

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tabbykat
Pickpick

📚

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Leftcoastzen
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For those who didn‘t want to pay $40.00 , Book Outlet has 24 copies at $12.95

LeahBergen 👍 3y
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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On my tbr!! So sad 😞 💔

#BeginsWith
#Red

Eggs So true 😔 3y
lynneamch I don't know how this would read, but I really enjoyed it as audio. Described as "a portrait told in poems." 3y
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Branwen
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"Can you understand? Someone, somewhere, can you understand me a little, love me a little? For all my despair, for all my ideals, for all that - I love life. But it is hard, and I have so much - so very much to learn."

10/27/1932 - 02/11/1963

Happy Birthday to Sylvia Plath, my favorite poet! ???

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IamIamIam
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It's my girl Sylvia's birthday today so check out A.A. Knopf's IG for a chance to win a copy of this book and a necklace from Out Of Print! @aaknopf or click:
https://sweeps.penguinrandomhouse.com/enter/red-comet-sweeps

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Lizwarnerpdx
Bailedbailed

I‘m generally not a big fan of biographies. I checked this one out after seeing someone recommend it on Twitter. Even though I know nothing of Sylvia Plath. It is long…I only made it 5% in and was bored to death. I don‘t need to know the daily minutiae of her great grandparents lives… maybe it gets better, I don‘t know. I need less encyclopedia entry & more story in order to get sucked in.

NikkiRobson73 I agree with you...I'm usually a huge biography person and love details but the author went way overboard with it...I gave up after she kept describing every date in detail that Sylvia went on it had to be at least 50. 2y
1 like1 comment
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sarahlandis
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Pickpick

Wow what a life Sylvia Plath lived. Such a problematic feminist icon. This book may have been TOO detailed- it gave the history not just of her but everyone in her life as well. Listening to her evolve from a high schooler with far off dreams to a wonderfully sexual, confident, oftentimes unruly woman was fantastic. The context (other than just her death) given to her writing helps create new or realize old meaning. Now I need to reread her work!

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hfpotier
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So good

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Branwen
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I AM SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW! I ordered a copy of this beautiful biography on Sylvia Plath and it arrived today! I had to bring it to work with me because I can't stop touching it! 🙊🤣😂 YIU GUYS IT'S OVER 900 PAGES! My heart is so full! I feel like I am going to cry (with joy!) every time I look at it! 😍💕📚 Isn't it so beautiful?!?! I can't wait to dive in!

tpixie Congrats! 🥳 Happy Reading 📖 4y
AlaMich That‘s a really long biography for someone who had a very short life! 4y
TrishB Enjoy 👍🏻 4y
batsy That's a beauty ❤️ 4y
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perfectlywinged
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Valentines Weekend reading ❤️

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GidgetsTreasures75
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1-30-21: My 10th finished book of 2021! I loved all 940 pages of this amazing biography! Not my first Plath biography but definitely the most concise and in depth take on her life, her beautiful poetry and her sad demise. Now, I have to re-read The Bell Jar. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #redcomet #sylviaplath #heatherclark 👍🏼📖#️⃣1️⃣0️⃣

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GidgetsTreasures75
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1-27-21: A little over 600 pages into this and really loving it. 📖💖

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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

This book might not be for everyone. It‘s part biography part research paper. I mean this author goes back into the meeting of her parents! Still I‘ve always been a fan of The Bell Jar and her story has always tugged at me. I confess it took me awhile to read this as I had to put it down and pick it up on several occasions. Sylvia Plath was truly a brilliant but tortured soul.

Reviewsbylola She haunts me. The hopelessness one must feel to stick their head in an oven while their small children are asleep in the other room is unfathomable. 4y
KristiAhlers @Reviewsbylola I so agree with you. I found myself yelling at the book as I was reading it. Even knowing what I was going to read you still want to stop it. Such a heartbreaking decision. 4y
36 likes2 comments
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TrishB
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Pickpick

Need a strong drink after powering through the remainder of the book this afternoon. I can only see Plath obsessives reading this - it‘s very long, detailed and some very academic sections of poetry crit.
I get to the last 2 weeks of her life every time and want to shout stop! People help her. I hope every time the ending is different 🥲
The book doesn‘t reveal any massive new insights, but there are some details for us obsessives. 👇🏻

TrishB The older I get, the more sympathy I have for her mum. Ted will never have my sympathy, his lies and cheating are a step too far. His poetry is brilliant. Olwyn Hughes I have a marked dislike for. Assia also didn‘t deserve to die obviously, but she was not a nice person either. Tellingly, Sylvia‘s brother still plays no part in this one. There are still sealed files to be opened on the death of Hughes second wife. (edited) 4y
JennyM I wonder what other revelations will be revealed when those files are opened. Great review, Trish ❤️ 4y
Megabooks Fantastic review!! 4y
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BarbaraBB Fab review. Now I want to read it too. 4y
TrishB @JennyM apparently a set of letters sent to Seamus Heaney, not sure if there‘s other things - the box is apparently not indexed. (Which I don‘t believe for a second as it‘s in a university library research section!). Hopefully we shall see. 4y
TrishB @BarbaraBB 👍🏻 I would recommend having a few spare days. 4y
batsy Sounds great. The blend of autobiography and lit crit will be interesting. Fantastic review! Every time we hope it ends differently for her... 💔 4y
Centique Wow This sounds wonderful. Here are the Plath obsessives putting up their hands 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️ #it-me right @batsy ? 4y
TrishB @Centique hope you get to it soon 😘 4y
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TrishB
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Has this changed since the 1950s?

MrsMalaprop Not enough. But I‘m working on it 💪🏼. 4y
TrishB @MrsMalaprop everyday 👍🏻 4y
kspenmoll Still not easy; have to consciously create clear boundaries. I so want to read this book! 4y
103 likes3 comments
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TrishB
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Nearly half way. This is probably my #weeklyforecast
Hoping to finish by Thursday so I can choose my new year new read 😁
Why don‘t editors correct authors saying Queen of England, it does not (currently) apply to the Queen!! 1603 was the last time this title was correct. Used twice so far in this book, by the author not Plath.

KathyWheeler Maybe the editors don‘t know it‘s incorrect to use Queen of England? I didn‘t know that as we Americans say it all the time. 4y
Cinfhen It‘s a #Chunkster 😱 4y
TrishB @KathyWheeler maybe 🤔 but isn‘t that the sort of thing editors are supposed to check? 4y
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TrishB @Cinfhen it definitely is! 4y
CarolynM Editorial fact checking seems to be a thing of the past.☹️ 4y
TrishB @CarolynM that‘s really sad 😞 I know this is one of my pet peeves, but it only takes a minute check on google. See this a lot though, the assumption that England= U.K. and they are the same thing. 4y
103 likes6 comments
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TrishB
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Progress so far. This book is nearly a 1000 pages and had the smallest print ever, I‘m thinking they wanted to keep it under 1000 so just made the font tiny.
There are some new details in here, people who haven‘t spoken before and new papers/details that have become public.
Author writes like an academic. Also, facts are facts, interpretations are opinions, even from educated experts. Diving in again.

SomedayAlmost Actually read a good review of this yesterday. 4y
BarbaraBB Doesn‘t sound like an easy read! 4y
TrishB @SomedayAlmost I‘ve been ignoring reviews until I‘ve read! 4y
TrishB @BarbaraBB it‘s definitely in depth! 4y
95 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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TrishB
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Sylvia won as I knew she would. Starting today. It‘s a big book with big promises.

Booksnchill Got this one as well as the reviews are really wonderful! Excited for 2021 reading! 4y
TrishB @Booksnchill enjoy when you get to it! 4y
Cinfhen ♥️ 4y
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TrishB
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#happybookworm
Very grateful I always get a good selection of books from Father Christmas 🎄❤️
Happy Christmas for those celebrating. Happy Friday and have a good weekend if not 💜
Thanks to lots of people on here for support and friendship through this year.

AmyG Merry Christmas! 🎄 4y
Chelsea.Poole Merry Christmas!🎄 📚 4y
CarolynM Great haul👍 4y
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Mitch Hobb & Folio - magic! Happy Christmas 🎅🏼 4y
BarbaraBB Wow what a gorgeous haul! Hopefully you‘ll be reading the rest of the year! 4y
Eggs Merry Christmas 🎄 4y
emmaturi Merry Christmas! 4y
perfectsinner Happy reading! I rarely get actual books.. gift cards if I'm lucky 4y
RaeLovesToRead Amazing selection! 4y
Leftcoastzen Nice ! Merry Christmas!Did Not know about Red Comet , is my Plath radar broken? (edited) 4y
MsMelissa The Folio Society Hobb books!!! Amazing haul 🎄😊 4y
Cinfhen Great photo and wonderful gifts ♥️ 4y
batsy Wondered gifts! I see Red Comet in the pile 😍 4y
Gissy Amazing! 🎄🎅📚📚📚💚❤️💚❤️💚❤️ 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Fabulous gifts!! 😍 4y
MicheleinPhilly Merry Christmas! Enjoy! 😘 4y
TrishB @AmyG @Chelsea.Poole happy Christmas 🎄❤️ 4y
TrishB @CarolynM 😘 it‘s awesome. 4y
TrishB @Mitch they‘re magical aren‘t they! 4y
TrishB @BarbaraBB thank you 😘 I hope so! 4y
TrishB @Eggs @emmaturi happy Christmas to you 🎄❤️ 4y
TrishB @perfectsinner I usually flash a list round! 4y
TrishB @RaeLovesToRead thank you 😘 4y
TrishB @Leftcoastzen I‘m a bit apprehensive about this one due to the blurb! But we‘ll see. 4y
TrishB @Book_Fiend_Melissa I haven‘t had a proper look yet but am very happy to get them 😁 4y
TrishB @Cinfhen thank you 😘 4y
TrishB @batsy I am looking forward to that one obviously! 4y
TrishB @Gissy thank you 😘 happy Christmas 🎄 4y
TrishB @erzascarletbookgasm thank you 😘 happy Christmas 🎄 4y
TrishB @MicheleinPhilly happy Christmas 🎄😘 have a fab day. 4y
Kalalalatja I want to write something nice and Christmas-y, but all I can think about is how jealous I am of your Hobb Folio boxset 😍😍😍 and the rest of the stack is pretty awesome, too! 4y
TrishB @Kalalalatja I really, really wanted those ♥️ 4y
GingerAntics That is one heck of a book haul!!! 4y
Bookzombie Merry Christmas!🎄 4y
TrishB @GingerAntics definitely ❤️ 4y
TrishB @Bookzombie Happy Christmas 🎄❤️ 4y
GingerAntics Just counted, a book for each of the 12 days of Christmas. 💙💙💙 Your family is awesome!!! 4y
LeahBergen Oooo, nice haul! And you got the new Plath bio. I‘ve been eyeing The White Ship, too. Happy Christmas, my friend! 😘😘 4y
TrishB @GingerAntics if only! 4y
TrishB @LeahBergen hope you had a wonderful day 😘 with books 📚 4y
thewallflower0707 I loved The Southern Guide... & The Invisible Life of... , I hope you will too ✨🎁 4y
TrishB @thewallflower0707 I‘m looking forward to them 👍🏻 4y
120 likes42 comments
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MatchlessMarie
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A little late but I made my #BookSpinBingo card for November. Also I did not realize how ambitious it was to include the tagged book in this round of Bingo. She‘s a chunkster 😂

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Good luck!!! 4y
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KimHM
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Look what‘s coming in October !!!!! The above is a snippet from the preview Knopf sent for the last Wednesday of National Poetry Month. I‘m very excited 📚💜📚💙📚💚📚❤️📚🧡📚💛📚!

#poetrymatters

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