Friday, September 25, 2009

Bright Star


Bright Star
We here at Padfoot and Prongs don't often consider ourselves the 'girly type'. Sure we like to dress up every now and then and maybe even strut around a little in the grocery store...just in case we get discovered... but all in all we are pretty nerdy tomboyish book nerds who love a good dirty joke and a cold beer.
However all of that is completely thrown out the window when we watch movies based off of 18th century poets named John Keats.
We won't say any thing else. Just watch the trailer and try not to sob when you remember Keats died an untimely death at 25, and this takes place when he was 23.



Ughhhh. Get the tissues ready.

Bright Star


Bright Star
We here at Padfoot and Prongs don't often consider ourselves the 'girly type'. Sure we like to dress up every now and then and maybe even strut around a little in the grocery store...just in case we get discovered... but all in all we are pretty nerdy tomboyish book nerds who love a good dirty joke and a cold beer.
However all of that is completely thrown out the window when we watch movies based off of 18th century poets named John Keats.
We won't say any thing else. Just watch the trailer and try not to sob when you remember Keats died an untimely death at 25, and this takes place when he was 23.



Ughhhh. Get the tissues ready.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Presenting: The Good Book Club

Hey there all of you literary lovers!
We here at Good Books Inc. are flat our tired of reading amazing books and then not having wonderful, thought provoking discussions after we finish. Hopefully, there are those out there who share our sadness, so as a solution to the problem we now happily present you with Good Books Club!

This will be an online book club, which shall meet once every 3 weeks, and will be dedicated to reading contemporary lit, and having intelligent and meaningful discussions about the chosen works. The link for the live-chat is located on the left tool bar, and on the night of your discussion you will simply log in and join the fun.

As this is a new idea, we will be working out the kinks for the fir
st few months, but we are really looking forward to providing any one who is interested, with a wonderful fun experience that centers around all our similar love: books!! Good Book Club

Month 1:
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Summary: Howard Campbell is a man of many faces. By reputation, Howard Campbell is a Nazi ... but not just that, he is the voice of hope and moral justification to a Holocaust Germany. To a very select number of Americans, Campbell is an undercover spy, and one of the greatest American heroes of the war. To Howard Campbell, he is a simply an artist who cares nothing of politics and war, outside of the boundaries of the love he has for his wife and his writing. In this novel you will see the history of Howard's time as a Nazi figure head, as well as what led him to his arrest.

Why we chose this work: Kurt Vonnegut's 3rd novel is full of satire, humor, and such thought provoking prose that it will lead all us readers begging the days to pass a little bit faster so that we will finally be able to discuss our thoughts on the work. Mother Night is a crucial bit of writing that looks at WW2 from a perspective that you have probably never seen before.

Number of Pages: 288 (Paperback)

So now what:
So now that you all have the information about the book, it is time to go out and find yourself a copy! We recommended checking around used book stores (we found used copies at half-price books in Ohio for just a dollar). Once you have your copy it is time to start reading! We encourage you to mark, write, take notes, or any thing that will help you keep track of ideas or opinions you have while reading. We ask that every one participating find at least 3 of their favorite quotes and have them for the discussion date, so that we can all share our favorite parts! It would also be helpful if any one participating left comments here and there letting us know your progress, so we can adjust in the future. If a work is too hard or long it is crucial adjust lists of future books. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please leave a comment on this post or e-mail us.

Things to Remember: This book discussion is open to any one and every one of all ages, places, races, and species. (If you can get your dog to join in then you get a prize!) That being said, please remember during discussions to be cautious about remarks that might be offensive to any one. We are dealing with a book that has to do with a very serious subject matter (the Holocaust) and while Vonnegut is allowed to make light of some things, that doesn't mean you are allowed. Just be respectful and think before you type. No flaming or spammers, because then we will have to shut the whole thing down and no one wants that!

GBI Group Recipe: Since we all know part of the fun of having a book club is the wonderful food that every one gets to share, we though our online club should be no more the worse for not meting in person. Therefore, we will be posting a recipe each month that you can choose to make or not, but make sure to eat it on the night of discussion! That way it will kind of be like we are all sharing in the fun. If any one has any recipe ideas or submissions please e-mail us and we will have the information up for you 1 week before discussion groups.

When to meet:
All discussions will be held the 3rd Sunday every month @ 7pm EST. (So for the first month this means Oct. 18th). The limit is 15 people per book. So hurry and sign up while you can!
Just use the MisterLinky and fill out your information to be signed up for this months book! We will give you more specific details about how to log into the chat room when we get closer to the discussion date.We are so excited for this event and hope that every one of you will contribute as much as your literary love as you can, so that we can all get a wonderful unique experience with each book! Happy reading!!

Sign up for Sunday the 18th @7

How to sign up: You MUST do this so that we know you are going to be participating. Just click the Mister Linky banner below and add your name (and if you have a blog the link back to it). If for some reason it isn't working, just leave a comment with your name so that we can add it for you!





Presenting: The Good Book Club

Hey there all of you literary lovers!
We here at Good Books Inc. are flat our tired of reading amazing books and then not having wonderful, thought provoking discussions after we finish. Hopefully, there are those out there who share our sadness, so as a solution to the problem we now happily present you with Good Books Club!

This will be an online book club, which shall meet once every 3 weeks, and will be dedicated to reading contemporary lit, and having intelligent and meaningful discussions about the chosen works. The link for the live-chat is located on the left tool bar, and on the night of your discussion you will simply log in and join the fun.

As this is a new idea, we will be working out the kinks for the fir
st few months, but we are really looking forward to providing any one who is interested, with a wonderful fun experience that centers around all our similar love: books!! Good Book Club

Month 1:
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Summary: Howard Campbell is a man of many faces. By reputation, Howard Campbell is a Nazi ... but not just that, he is the voice of hope and moral justification to a Holocaust Germany. To a very select number of Americans, Campbell is an undercover spy, and one of the greatest American heroes of the war. To Howard Campbell, he is a simply an artist who cares nothing of politics and war, outside of the boundaries of the love he has for his wife and his writing. In this novel you will see the history of Howard's time as a Nazi figure head, as well as what led him to his arrest.

Why we chose this work: Kurt Vonnegut's 3rd novel is full of satire, humor, and such thought provoking prose that it will lead all us readers begging the days to pass a little bit faster so that we will finally be able to discuss our thoughts on the work. Mother Night is a crucial bit of writing that looks at WW2 from a perspective that you have probably never seen before.

Number of Pages: 288 (Paperback)

So now what:
So now that you all have the information about the book, it is time to go out and find yourself a copy! We recommended checking around used book stores (we found used copies at half-price books in Ohio for just a dollar). Once you have your copy it is time to start reading! We encourage you to mark, write, take notes, or any thing that will help you keep track of ideas or opinions you have while reading. We ask that every one participating find at least 3 of their favorite quotes and have them for the discussion date, so that we can all share our favorite parts! It would also be helpful if any one participating left comments here and there letting us know your progress, so we can adjust in the future. If a work is too hard or long it is crucial adjust lists of future books. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please leave a comment on this post or e-mail us.

Things to Remember: This book discussion is open to any one and every one of all ages, places, races, and species. (If you can get your dog to join in then you get a prize!) That being said, please remember during discussions to be cautious about remarks that might be offensive to any one. We are dealing with a book that has to do with a very serious subject matter (the Holocaust) and while Vonnegut is allowed to make light of some things, that doesn't mean you are allowed. Just be respectful and think before you type. No flaming or spammers, because then we will have to shut the whole thing down and no one wants that!

GBI Group Recipe: Since we all know part of the fun of having a book club is the wonderful food that every one gets to share, we though our online club should be no more the worse for not meting in person. Therefore, we will be posting a recipe each month that you can choose to make or not, but make sure to eat it on the night of discussion! That way it will kind of be like we are all sharing in the fun. If any one has any recipe ideas or submissions please e-mail us and we will have the information up for you 1 week before discussion groups.

When to meet:
All discussions will be held the 3rd Sunday every month @ 7pm EST. (So for the first month this means Oct. 18th). The limit is 15 people per book. So hurry and sign up while you can!
Just use the MisterLinky and fill out your information to be signed up for this months book! We will give you more specific details about how to log into the chat room when we get closer to the discussion date.We are so excited for this event and hope that every one of you will contribute as much as your literary love as you can, so that we can all get a wonderful unique experience with each book! Happy reading!!

Sign up for Sunday the 18th @7

How to sign up: You MUST do this so that we know you are going to be participating. Just click the Mister Linky banner below and add your name (and if you have a blog the link back to it). If for some reason it isn't working, just leave a comment with your name so that we can add it for you!





Saturday, September 19, 2009

A Little Taste of Excellence

http://www.expressrubberstamps.co.uk/images/uploadpics/PRH352.jpg


Hello there, gang. Once again we are here to bring you some exciting business pictures...just to let you know what we are up to. I know you all have been waiting patiently...but once again we are SO SO close to having everything ready. Everything looks great, and we can't wait to start selling!

So here it goes....a little tease to stimulate your eyes.





That's all for today! Look for a review of something special here in a day or two...

Try your best not to drool all over the computer screen ;)

[blogsign2.jpg]

A Little Taste of Excellence

http://www.expressrubberstamps.co.uk/images/uploadpics/PRH352.jpg


Hello there, gang. Once again we are here to bring you some exciting business pictures...just to let you know what we are up to. I know you all have been waiting patiently...but once again we are SO SO close to having everything ready. Everything looks great, and we can't wait to start selling!

So here it goes....a little tease to stimulate your eyes.





That's all for today! Look for a review of something special here in a day or two...

Try your best not to drool all over the computer screen ;)

[blogsign2.jpg]

Monday, September 14, 2009

Blogs you should be reading, and some you already are...

Oh mah gawd it's here!!!
Oh hey there BBAWers. (Is that the correct term?!?) Padfoot and Prongs here bringing you the first day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week events! Today we will be spotlighting some of the blogs that were not mention on the short lists, as well as some that were. These are blogs that continue to impress us from week to week with their sharp reviews, creative posts, and kind comments.
Once we heard about BBAW we were so excited to be able to participate. What a unique experience to share and praise all of the bloggers who work so hard enriching the world with some keen insight into the literary world. If there is one thing we love it is books, and thus we hold all other books lovers in the highest regard. So here is just a very select list of some of our very favorite blogs. Hopefully you find some new blogs, as well as see some of the ones you already love.

Find Your Next Book Here
To start off our list we have lovely wonderful blogger friend Jenners! Not only is this lady an amazing reviewer, contest connoisseur, and just all around amazing person! She posts reviews, give aways, as well as personal insightul posts ranging from her opinions on Kindle, to very personal posts about her life. She is one of the main reasons we love what we do so much and we appreciate all of the wonderful things she has contributed to the book blogging world! Jenners we salute you!!

How Books Got Their Titles
Here is a blog that I bet you are not reading, but really should be. Ever wanted to know the story behind the titles of some of your favorite classic books? Well there is no need to figure it out on your own because the wonderful Gary has already done so for you!! At this blog you can find the stories behind some of the worlds most popular titles like The Great Gatsby, Lolita, Farenheight 451 and many more! The next time you are looking for a way to waste 3 hours learning, this is the place to go!

Fifty Books Project 2009
This blog is unique in that it is a collaborative blog where 9 bloggers take on the task of reading and reviewing 50 books each through out the course of the year. The reason we admire this blog so much is that they take on the task of reviewing some of the most interesting classics out there. There are quite a few times we have gone to this blog before pulling a book to be added to our TBR list. If you are looking for a new take on some classics, this is a great blog to check out.

Books Love Jessica Marie
As we are not huge YA fans, that doesn't mean we can't appreciate a good review from time to time. Not only is Jessica an amazing YA reviewer, she also happens to be a good friend of ours! Prongs met Jess when they were both dorming on the same floor in college, and were both inspired by each other to move futher in the blogging world! With out Jess' encouragment who knows if we might have pushed through our early stages into being the raving succsess (haha kidding) that we are now! If you are a YA fan this is def. a blog you should be following!

Book Travellers Inc.

The last (even though we could go on for years) blog we are featuring today is the wonderful ladies Julie and Pia. Their blog might not always be 100% book related, but each and every post is unique and interesting and we can't help checking it every day. On top of the fact that they are intelligent and interesting women, they are also kind and thoughtful followers of our blog and we couldn't be happier to have such a good blog relationship with them!

Alright folks, that is all for today. Once again thank you to every one who has mentioned our blog on their own short lists and nominated us for awards. We really are not in this for any recognition, but it just makes our love all that much more deeper for what we do, knowing there are others out there who enjoy hearing what we have to babble about!! Hope every ones BBAW week starts off great!! And be sure to check out the blogs we mentioned. You won't be sorry!

Blogs you should be reading, and some you already are...

Oh mah gawd it's here!!!
Oh hey there BBAWers. (Is that the correct term?!?) Padfoot and Prongs here bringing you the first day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week events! Today we will be spotlighting some of the blogs that were not mention on the short lists, as well as some that were. These are blogs that continue to impress us from week to week with their sharp reviews, creative posts, and kind comments.
Once we heard about BBAW we were so excited to be able to participate. What a unique experience to share and praise all of the bloggers who work so hard enriching the world with some keen insight into the literary world. If there is one thing we love it is books, and thus we hold all other books lovers in the highest regard. So here is just a very select list of some of our very favorite blogs. Hopefully you find some new blogs, as well as see some of the ones you already love.

Find Your Next Book Here
To start off our list we have lovely wonderful blogger friend Jenners! Not only is this lady an amazing reviewer, contest connoisseur, and just all around amazing person! She posts reviews, give aways, as well as personal insightul posts ranging from her opinions on Kindle, to very personal posts about her life. She is one of the main reasons we love what we do so much and we appreciate all of the wonderful things she has contributed to the book blogging world! Jenners we salute you!!

How Books Got Their Titles
Here is a blog that I bet you are not reading, but really should be. Ever wanted to know the story behind the titles of some of your favorite classic books? Well there is no need to figure it out on your own because the wonderful Gary has already done so for you!! At this blog you can find the stories behind some of the worlds most popular titles like The Great Gatsby, Lolita, Farenheight 451 and many more! The next time you are looking for a way to waste 3 hours learning, this is the place to go!

Fifty Books Project 2009
This blog is unique in that it is a collaborative blog where 9 bloggers take on the task of reading and reviewing 50 books each through out the course of the year. The reason we admire this blog so much is that they take on the task of reviewing some of the most interesting classics out there. There are quite a few times we have gone to this blog before pulling a book to be added to our TBR list. If you are looking for a new take on some classics, this is a great blog to check out.

Books Love Jessica Marie
As we are not huge YA fans, that doesn't mean we can't appreciate a good review from time to time. Not only is Jessica an amazing YA reviewer, she also happens to be a good friend of ours! Prongs met Jess when they were both dorming on the same floor in college, and were both inspired by each other to move futher in the blogging world! With out Jess' encouragment who knows if we might have pushed through our early stages into being the raving succsess (haha kidding) that we are now! If you are a YA fan this is def. a blog you should be following!

Book Travellers Inc.

The last (even though we could go on for years) blog we are featuring today is the wonderful ladies Julie and Pia. Their blog might not always be 100% book related, but each and every post is unique and interesting and we can't help checking it every day. On top of the fact that they are intelligent and interesting women, they are also kind and thoughtful followers of our blog and we couldn't be happier to have such a good blog relationship with them!

Alright folks, that is all for today. Once again thank you to every one who has mentioned our blog on their own short lists and nominated us for awards. We really are not in this for any recognition, but it just makes our love all that much more deeper for what we do, knowing there are others out there who enjoy hearing what we have to babble about!! Hope every ones BBAW week starts off great!! And be sure to check out the blogs we mentioned. You won't be sorry!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Prong's 14th review - The Bell Jar

Hey there loyal marauders. Prong's here bringing you yet another review! Getting sick of me yet? Hope not because this one is a doozy. But before we get there, we have quite a few announcements to make!
First off as I am sure almost all of you know, unless you are living under a rock, BBAW is upon us! Next week most book blogger's will be putting their party hats on and shacking up with a list of some of the best blogs of the year. We are so thankful to everyone who nominated us for awards (6 in total!!) and we hope in the year to come that you will still feel the same way. As a new blog we were shocked and honored to have been nominated at all! Also, we were stoked to see some of our very favorite blogs shortlisted this week. Jenner's 'Take A Chance Challenge' and Elizabeth's 451 series that we particpated in are just 2 of the amazing nominations that are up for an award!
On behalf of Padfoot and myself, we wish every one the very best BBAW that bloggers can have. Make sure to check back because we will be hosting a very special give away in honor of the event, as well as participating in the daily's that are being provided.

Nextly, be sure to check out the new Etsy account of our good friend Whumples. She has some seriously cool things for sale and are proud that she thought of us to help get the word out!!

And finally as far as news goes, we wanted to expressed to your our gratitude for all of your patience with our literary designs that we have discussed. Padfoot and I are working very hard to make our dream a reality, and we are focusing making everything perfect before providing you all with a final product. New designs, quality shirts, and BEAUTIFUL mugs are all things that we should have up and ready for sale sometime here very very soon, so be sure to just hang in there alittle bit longer. We promise it will be worth the wait.
Mk I think that is about all we have on the news front. So I shall now bring you my (highly? not really) anticipated of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar

"I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am."
The Bell Jar
By Sylvia Plath


Disclaimer: If you are at all like me, you know that it is all to easy to become lost in a good book. That saying is a cliché for a reason: the imagery, the dialogue, the journey through another time and place and before you now it you are caught up in a literary reverie all your own. When the last page closes you are suddenly transported back into a world slightly less colorful and magical, but those feelings and images still linger in your memory. The novel the Bell Jar is a novel that can have just such an effect, but not necessarily in the best way. If you feel misunderstood, confused, bored, or jaded this might be a good work for you. However if you are suffering from depression, have looked at suicide as a realistic alternative, or at times find yourself in the ‘depths of despair’ then I HIGHLY suggest you read this book with caution. Take the words for what they are, nothing more that than desperate outlet of a woman who had troubles all her own. Do not let this book be the unnecessary excuse to act upon any dangerous thoughts. That being said, for all of those who are clear of mind and heart go forth and enjoy the amazing writing, which is The Bell Jar.

The Bell Jar was published in 1967 by Sylvia Plath, a woman known best for her illustriousus marriage to Ted Hughes, cut-throat writing, and her eventual suicide at the age of 30. Her most acclaimed novel ‘The Bell Jar’ is a semi-autobiographical work, which channels Plath’s own battle with depression and mental illness into the character of Esther Greenwood. Esther is a 19-year-old university student who moves to New York with an internship for a well-known magazine. While there, we are first introduced to the inner workings of Esther’s mind as she watches the shallow, hedonistic world of her friends, and deals with her opinions in an introverted self-assured way.
“There must be quite a few things a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them. Whenever I’m sad I’m going to die, or so nervous I can’t sleep, or in love with somebody I won’t be seeing in a week, I slump down just so far then I say: “I’ll go take a hot bath.”
It is not until Esther returns to her hometown in the suburbs of Boston that we begin to see the stunted thoughts of depression and hopelessness that soon smother Esther’s mentality. We begin to learn about some of the steps that have brought Esther to this point in her life. Her turbulent relationship with un-worthy college sweetheart, her near rape by a man what looked to be the answers to her problems, as well as her absent father.

As the book progresses, we are privy to the inner-workings of Esther’s mind as she battles with the sickness that she has fought little to keep from suffocating her. Trapped under a ‘bell jar’ of apathy, anger, and despair, Esther has changed from the once charming, relatable girl from the opening, to a stranger of herself.
"I just bumped from my hotel to work and to parties and from parties to my hotel and back to work like a numb trolley bus. I guess I should have been excited the way most of the other girls were, but I couldn’t get myself to react. (I felt very still and very empty, the way the eye of a tornado must feel, moving dully along in the middle of the surrounding hullabaloo.)"
This work is often compared with ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ and the comparison is easily seen. Both characters are young, angst-ridden juveniles who many teenagers will have an easy time relating too. However Plath takes it to the next level with her superior word play. Sylvia’s strength as a poet through out the entire work, as she twists and pulls on various words and images, putting them into a new and interesting light. But while the prose at times can be seductive in the way it pulls you into Ester’s world, Plath also writes with the brute force of a fool as she describes in detail the countless thoughts of suicide that Ester peruses. Remember what I said earlier about how a work can haunt you in both good ways and bad ways? This is an example of a bad way.
"I took up a silver knife and cracked off that cap of my egg. Then I put down the knife and looked at it. I tried to think what I had loved knives for, but my mind slipped from the noose of the thought and swung, like a bird, in the center of empty air."
The writing is so palpable that it is hard not to become trapped in the apathetic suicidal mind frame of Ester, which leaves you with the physical ghost of the writing. You are forced to ask yourself, if this could happen to her, could it happen to me? That resonating question is precisely what makes this work so dangerous. In the beginning, Ester’s thoughts make sense. You can understand her thought process and hell, you don’t even blame her at times for feeling stuck and vacant in shallowness of the world around her. The hints of depression slip in so subtly that before you know it, you are inundated in a world of insincere doctors, electroshock therapy, and counterfeit far off smiles.

While this book has its fare share of depressive approaches, what separates this work from others is the way Esther redeems herself as a character in the end. You might expect writing that has dragged someone so far down, to reward the character with an easy out, an epiphany where all of their problems are magically ended. Plath pushes herself into the canon of modern classics with her realistic ending, showing that we all have to make the choice whether to allow ourselves the easy out of apathy, or fight the hardest battle we can… the battle for our own personal happiness.

At the end this is a novel of courage, of daring, and of choice. While the subject matter might not appeal to all, the prose and the writing will appeal to any one that has a love for literature.

(quotes)

Prong's 14th review - The Bell Jar

Hey there loyal marauders. Prong's here bringing you yet another review! Getting sick of me yet? Hope not because this one is a doozy. But before we get there, we have quite a few announcements to make!
First off as I am sure almost all of you know, unless you are living under a rock, BBAW is upon us! Next week most book blogger's will be putting their party hats on and shacking up with a list of some of the best blogs of the year. We are so thankful to everyone who nominated us for awards (6 in total!!) and we hope in the year to come that you will still feel the same way. As a new blog we were shocked and honored to have been nominated at all! Also, we were stoked to see some of our very favorite blogs shortlisted this week. Jenner's 'Take A Chance Challenge' and Elizabeth's 451 series that we particpated in are just 2 of the amazing nominations that are up for an award!
On behalf of Padfoot and myself, we wish every one the very best BBAW that bloggers can have. Make sure to check back because we will be hosting a very special give away in honor of the event, as well as participating in the daily's that are being provided.

Nextly, be sure to check out the new Etsy account of our good friend Whumples. She has some seriously cool things for sale and are proud that she thought of us to help get the word out!!

And finally as far as news goes, we wanted to expressed to your our gratitude for all of your patience with our literary designs that we have discussed. Padfoot and I are working very hard to make our dream a reality, and we are focusing making everything perfect before providing you all with a final product. New designs, quality shirts, and BEAUTIFUL mugs are all things that we should have up and ready for sale sometime here very very soon, so be sure to just hang in there alittle bit longer. We promise it will be worth the wait.
Mk I think that is about all we have on the news front. So I shall now bring you my (highly? not really) anticipated of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar

"I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am."
The Bell Jar
By Sylvia Plath


Disclaimer: If you are at all like me, you know that it is all to easy to become lost in a good book. That saying is a cliché for a reason: the imagery, the dialogue, the journey through another time and place and before you now it you are caught up in a literary reverie all your own. When the last page closes you are suddenly transported back into a world slightly less colorful and magical, but those feelings and images still linger in your memory. The novel the Bell Jar is a novel that can have just such an effect, but not necessarily in the best way. If you feel misunderstood, confused, bored, or jaded this might be a good work for you. However if you are suffering from depression, have looked at suicide as a realistic alternative, or at times find yourself in the ‘depths of despair’ then I HIGHLY suggest you read this book with caution. Take the words for what they are, nothing more that than desperate outlet of a woman who had troubles all her own. Do not let this book be the unnecessary excuse to act upon any dangerous thoughts. That being said, for all of those who are clear of mind and heart go forth and enjoy the amazing writing, which is The Bell Jar.

The Bell Jar was published in 1967 by Sylvia Plath, a woman known best for her illustriousus marriage to Ted Hughes, cut-throat writing, and her eventual suicide at the age of 30. Her most acclaimed novel ‘The Bell Jar’ is a semi-autobiographical work, which channels Plath’s own battle with depression and mental illness into the character of Esther Greenwood. Esther is a 19-year-old university student who moves to New York with an internship for a well-known magazine. While there, we are first introduced to the inner workings of Esther’s mind as she watches the shallow, hedonistic world of her friends, and deals with her opinions in an introverted self-assured way.
“There must be quite a few things a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them. Whenever I’m sad I’m going to die, or so nervous I can’t sleep, or in love with somebody I won’t be seeing in a week, I slump down just so far then I say: “I’ll go take a hot bath.”
It is not until Esther returns to her hometown in the suburbs of Boston that we begin to see the stunted thoughts of depression and hopelessness that soon smother Esther’s mentality. We begin to learn about some of the steps that have brought Esther to this point in her life. Her turbulent relationship with un-worthy college sweetheart, her near rape by a man what looked to be the answers to her problems, as well as her absent father.

As the book progresses, we are privy to the inner-workings of Esther’s mind as she battles with the sickness that she has fought little to keep from suffocating her. Trapped under a ‘bell jar’ of apathy, anger, and despair, Esther has changed from the once charming, relatable girl from the opening, to a stranger of herself.
"I just bumped from my hotel to work and to parties and from parties to my hotel and back to work like a numb trolley bus. I guess I should have been excited the way most of the other girls were, but I couldn’t get myself to react. (I felt very still and very empty, the way the eye of a tornado must feel, moving dully along in the middle of the surrounding hullabaloo.)"
This work is often compared with ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ and the comparison is easily seen. Both characters are young, angst-ridden juveniles who many teenagers will have an easy time relating too. However Plath takes it to the next level with her superior word play. Sylvia’s strength as a poet through out the entire work, as she twists and pulls on various words and images, putting them into a new and interesting light. But while the prose at times can be seductive in the way it pulls you into Ester’s world, Plath also writes with the brute force of a fool as she describes in detail the countless thoughts of suicide that Ester peruses. Remember what I said earlier about how a work can haunt you in both good ways and bad ways? This is an example of a bad way.
"I took up a silver knife and cracked off that cap of my egg. Then I put down the knife and looked at it. I tried to think what I had loved knives for, but my mind slipped from the noose of the thought and swung, like a bird, in the center of empty air."
The writing is so palpable that it is hard not to become trapped in the apathetic suicidal mind frame of Ester, which leaves you with the physical ghost of the writing. You are forced to ask yourself, if this could happen to her, could it happen to me? That resonating question is precisely what makes this work so dangerous. In the beginning, Ester’s thoughts make sense. You can understand her thought process and hell, you don’t even blame her at times for feeling stuck and vacant in shallowness of the world around her. The hints of depression slip in so subtly that before you know it, you are inundated in a world of insincere doctors, electroshock therapy, and counterfeit far off smiles.

While this book has its fare share of depressive approaches, what separates this work from others is the way Esther redeems herself as a character in the end. You might expect writing that has dragged someone so far down, to reward the character with an easy out, an epiphany where all of their problems are magically ended. Plath pushes herself into the canon of modern classics with her realistic ending, showing that we all have to make the choice whether to allow ourselves the easy out of apathy, or fight the hardest battle we can… the battle for our own personal happiness.

At the end this is a novel of courage, of daring, and of choice. While the subject matter might not appeal to all, the prose and the writing will appeal to any one that has a love for literature.

(quotes)

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

“Some people never go crazy, What truly horrible lives they must live”

Hey there marauders! Hope your week has gotten off to a good start. Padfoot and Prongs here hoping to make it a little better. We are bringing you a short saucy update that is here to tickle the mind and ensnare the senses (Snape any one?) We recently stumbled upon a youtube video of one of our favorite poets, reading one of our favorite poems!! So for this Tuesday we present you with:

To The Whore who Took my Poems by Charles Bukowski!


some way we should keep personal remorse from the poem,
stay abstract, and there is some reason in this,
but jezus;
tweleve poems gone and I don't keep carbons and you have my paintings too,
my best ones; its stifiling:
are you trying to crush me out like the rest of them?
why didn't ou take my money? they usually do?
from the sleeping drunken pants sick in the corner.
next time take my left arm on a fifty
but not my poems:
I'm not Shakespeare
but sometime simply
there won't be any more, abstract or otherwise;
there'll always be money and whores and drunkards
down to the last bomb,
but as God said,
crossing his legs,
I see where I have made plenty of poets
but not so very much poetry.



From Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame
Selected poems 1955 - 1973
Black Sparrow Press, 1986.
First published in:
It Catches My Heart in Its Hands, 1963.

“Some people never go crazy, What truly horrible lives they must live”

Hey there marauders! Hope your week has gotten off to a good start. Padfoot and Prongs here hoping to make it a little better. We are bringing you a short saucy update that is here to tickle the mind and ensnare the senses (Snape any one?) We recently stumbled upon a youtube video of one of our favorite poets, reading one of our favorite poems!! So for this Tuesday we present you with:

To The Whore who Took my Poems by Charles Bukowski!


some way we should keep personal remorse from the poem,
stay abstract, and there is some reason in this,
but jezus;
tweleve poems gone and I don't keep carbons and you have my paintings too,
my best ones; its stifiling:
are you trying to crush me out like the rest of them?
why didn't ou take my money? they usually do?
from the sleeping drunken pants sick in the corner.
next time take my left arm on a fifty
but not my poems:
I'm not Shakespeare
but sometime simply
there won't be any more, abstract or otherwise;
there'll always be money and whores and drunkards
down to the last bomb,
but as God said,
crossing his legs,
I see where I have made plenty of poets
but not so very much poetry.



From Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame
Selected poems 1955 - 1973
Black Sparrow Press, 1986.
First published in:
It Catches My Heart in Its Hands, 1963.