Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
today, the unusual occurrence of me forgetting to bring a book with me anywhere i go happened while i was waiting for my physics tutor… but then i remember i had the epub of this bad boy on my phone which led me to be completely transported into whatever was this fictional train that Sylvia Plath magnificently crafted with her captivating writing.
I haven’t been exposed to many of Plath’s works (not by choice tho, i just can’t find any physical copies in local bookstores, ugh) and i could go on about the underlying meaning of the story and the symbolism (blah, blah, blah) but honestly i personally think that the most interesting and alluring aspect of this story was her description of the interior of the train and how it reminded me of the times during my childhood where i would go to lisbon to see my grandfather which was really heartwarming and appreciated ;)))
I haven’t been exposed to many of Plath’s works (not by choice tho, i just can’t find any physical copies in local bookstores, ugh) and i could go on about the underlying meaning of the story and the symbolism (blah, blah, blah) but honestly i personally think that the most interesting and alluring aspect of this story was her description of the interior of the train and how it reminded me of the times during my childhood where i would go to lisbon to see my grandfather which was really heartwarming and appreciated ;)))
I am so glad I picked up this short story! The suspense and tension that built up around the unknown at the journey's end made for a brilliant read.
Usually, I dislike stories where the endings are too ambiguous and the readers are left with unanswered questions. However, Plath managed to deliver a story that left us with most of our questions unanswered, yet still somehow delivered a satisfying conclusion.
After reading, I let myself consider the train journey and the Ninth Kingdom in several different ways (an actual place / symbolic of leaving home to the unknown for the first time / the afterlife / etc) and no matter what way I looked at it the story still made sense and was brilliantly written.
Usually, I dislike stories where the endings are too ambiguous and the readers are left with unanswered questions. However, Plath managed to deliver a story that left us with most of our questions unanswered, yet still somehow delivered a satisfying conclusion.
After reading, I let myself consider the train journey and the Ninth Kingdom in several different ways (an actual place / symbolic of leaving home to the unknown for the first time / the afterlife / etc) and no matter what way I looked at it the story still made sense and was brilliantly written.
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Everyone has to leave home sometime. Everyone has to go away sooner or later.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As someone intrigued by writing style and her battle with mental illness, I was excited when I found this book sitting on the shelf, Mary Ventura, and the ninth Kingdom reads like a psychological thriller disguised as a train journey filled with mounting dread. Plath, masterfully crafts uncertainty— is the knitting woman a friend or foe.
The story’s power lies in these unsettling questions and Mary’s ultimate choice between passive acceptance and taking control of her fate.
The story’s power lies in these unsettling questions and Mary’s ultimate choice between passive acceptance and taking control of her fate.
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes