Friday 56 & #BookBeginnings: Pain, Parties, Work

Pain, Parties, Work: Sylvia Plath in New York, Summer 1953
by Elizabeth Winder
Amazon.com: Hardcover | Kindle Edition 

Her room was the size of a decent closet -- beige walls trimmed in maroon paint. A dark green carpet, ferny bedspread with rose-patterned ruffles like Snow White's muted forest. 
- p. 5 (ARC, page may change)

For Friday 56:
"I expect a son two and a half years from now," Otto announced to his wife, as he held minutes-old baby Sylvia in his arms. 
- p. 57 (ARC, page may change)
(page 56 is blank)
Synopsis: Pain, Parties, Work by Elizabeth Winder is a compelling look at a young Sylvia Plath and the life-changing month that would lay the groundwork for her seminal novel, The Bell Jar. In May of 1953, a twenty-one-year-old Plath arrived in New York City, the guest editor of Mademoiselle’s annual College Issue. She lived at the Barbizon Hotel, attended the ballet, went to a Yankee game, and danced at the West Side Tennis Club. She was supposed to be having the time of her life. But what would follow was, in Plath’s words, twenty-six days of pain, parties, and work, that ultimately changed the course of her life. Thoughtful and illuminating, featuring line drawings and black-and-white photographs, Pain, Parties, Work: Sylvia Plath in New York, Summer 1953 offers well-researched insights as it introduces us to Sylvia Plath—before she became one of the greatest and most influential poets of the twentieth century.
I finally read The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. If you've read it, you probably know its draw despite it being a terrible depressing and heartbreaking read. Check out my review here, if you haven't already. Commenters are obvious Plath fans :)

It was because of this book that I pushed myself to read The Bell Jar. It'll be interesting, to the say the least, to learn a little more about the icon that is Sylvia Plath. Do you think this is something you'd read?

13 comments

  1. Sounds like a fantastic read. Love both snippets! Love that cover too!
    I added you to the Linky!

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    1. thanks Freda! i think it was the cover that drew me in, honestly. definitely not something i'd associate with Plath!

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  2. He "expects" a son in about two years? Wow, he sounded like a wonderful man *hint of sarcasm*.

    I've read The Bell Jar and I was not blown by it. I was more interested with Sylvia's life instead. I'm going to have to give this book a try.

    My Friday Post

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    1. I'm really intrigued by Plath's life. The Bell Jar isn't for everyone, I agree. It is just one part of Plath's life but a critical part, and its the only novel -- so this book definitely sheds some light on Plath.

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  3. I'm not sure about this one ... Though it could be interesting to compare it with The Bell Jar. But I would probably prefer to read about another period in Plath's life, as I feel I know this one quite well after reading The Bell Jar 2-3 times ... But I'm still slightly curious! It could be an opportunity to get more info on a story I love ... I think I'll have to check out a lot of reviews before deciding!

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    1. Quite a few interviews which I found really interesting. It's worthwhile to look into it. I should have my review up next week. :)

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  4. I have the Bell Jar on my Classics Club TBR list. Now I have to decide whether to read it before or after reading Pain, Parties, Work!
    Brona's Books

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    1. I guess it works either way; I just chose to read the novel before the biography. Would like to see what you think of both books, Brona!

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  5. I loved The Bell Jar...and I've been wanting to read this one....thanks for sharing.

    Here's MY FRIDAY MEMES POST

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  6. Her hubs sounds awful.
    I love the cover.

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    1. That's actually Sylvia's dad. Awful doesn't begin to describe it, Juju!

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  7. Its an interesting 56. Why does he want a son 2 and a half years from then?
    New follower via GFC
    my 56
    http://kimberlysnovelnotes.blogspot.com/2013/05/friday-56-30-feature-friday-29.html

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© guiltless readingMaira Gall