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rstashick's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Goodreads and Amazon Publishing for the giveaway.
I knew nothing about Sylvia Plath or Ted Hughes before reading this account of their life together and Sylvia Plath’s suicide in 1963 which is told in the voice of Ted Hughes. Sylvia battled mental illness and dark jealousy which had a profound affect on this marriage. The account was told in prose that was so well written, but it bogged me down especially in the middle of the book. I liked the beginning and the ending which carried a twist that I wasn’t ready for, but still can only give this book three stars.
I knew nothing about Sylvia Plath or Ted Hughes before reading this account of their life together and Sylvia Plath’s suicide in 1963 which is told in the voice of Ted Hughes. Sylvia battled mental illness and dark jealousy which had a profound affect on this marriage. The account was told in prose that was so well written, but it bogged me down especially in the middle of the book. I liked the beginning and the ending which carried a twist that I wasn’t ready for, but still can only give this book three stars.
s4keegan's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
dykehands's review against another edition
5.0
i didn’t read this book, i read “rainbow lilies gangrene blues” but that’s not on goodreads so i chose this bc it had the same number of pages
rebedvastolba's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
shelf_inspiration's review against another edition
5.0
5 Stars
See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram
“In that all-consuming violence called love, I’d met my match.” - Your Story, My Story.
In 1963 Sylvia Plath took her own life. Her death was the culmination of a brief, brilliant life lived in the shadow of clinical depression- a condition exacerbated by her tempestuous relationship with poet Ted Hughes. The ensuring years saw Plath rise to martyr status while Hughes was cast as the cause of her suicide. For decades, Hughes never bore witness to the truth of their marriage-one buried beneath a mudslide of apocryphal stories, gossip, sensationalism, myth, soaring highs, and profound lows. Until now.
This is a fictional novelization of the relationship between Sylvia Plath and her husband Ted Hughes. While this book itself is fiction, it is based on Plath and Hughes’ poetry, letters, journals, and more regarding what is known about their relationship. Oh my goodness this is an amazing, heart-wrenching story with the most beautiful writing. Sylvia Plath is one of my favorite authors and poets and I have always been fascinated by her and saddened by her short life. While this book is on the shorter side, it did take me a while to read as I wanted to sink into the writing and the history! I also plan to go on from here and read the book comprised of Sylvia’s journals as well as a biography that came out about her recently. If you have any interest in Sylvia Plath and her story or you love books about complicated relationships pick this up!
See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram
“In that all-consuming violence called love, I’d met my match.” - Your Story, My Story.
In 1963 Sylvia Plath took her own life. Her death was the culmination of a brief, brilliant life lived in the shadow of clinical depression- a condition exacerbated by her tempestuous relationship with poet Ted Hughes. The ensuring years saw Plath rise to martyr status while Hughes was cast as the cause of her suicide. For decades, Hughes never bore witness to the truth of their marriage-one buried beneath a mudslide of apocryphal stories, gossip, sensationalism, myth, soaring highs, and profound lows. Until now.
This is a fictional novelization of the relationship between Sylvia Plath and her husband Ted Hughes. While this book itself is fiction, it is based on Plath and Hughes’ poetry, letters, journals, and more regarding what is known about their relationship. Oh my goodness this is an amazing, heart-wrenching story with the most beautiful writing. Sylvia Plath is one of my favorite authors and poets and I have always been fascinated by her and saddened by her short life. While this book is on the shorter side, it did take me a while to read as I wanted to sink into the writing and the history! I also plan to go on from here and read the book comprised of Sylvia’s journals as well as a biography that came out about her recently. If you have any interest in Sylvia Plath and her story or you love books about complicated relationships pick this up!
dylankakoulli's review against another edition
4.0
Your Story, My Story is a truly mesmerising piece of literary fiction that paints an indelible picture of one of arts most infamous -and deeply tumultuous couplings, poet and poetess; Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath
I won’t lie, I was as much apprehensive as I was increasingly drawn to such an intriguing and potentially controversial tale. One that, though fictional in nature, is fuelled by a meticulous amount of research based on both Plath and Hughes’ poetry, letters and journals.
Palmen has provided us with a wonderful opportunity to view a piece of history -time, people and place, in a way that neither absolves or justifies Hughes of his past adulterous actions, or belittles Plaths longstanding mental health plight, but instead manages to balance the scales, finally showing us both sides of the (yes you guessed it) story.
A story perhaps not so much doomed from the start, but caught up in extremes. The soaring highs, and deeply profound lows -especially those relating to mental health. Which was handled with both sensitivity and, as someone who has/continues to suffer with their own mental health, honesty.
Showing the unjust and brutal nature that comes with mental illness. How it not only effects those mentally sufferering, but can also effect and greatly impact (though not to quite the same extent) on those around them too.
All in, this was one heck of a beautifully written (shoutout to both writer and translator), that I would highly recommend to those interested in exploring complex relationships and the lasting effects of mental illness on a person and their relationships.
4 stars
I won’t lie, I was as much apprehensive as I was increasingly drawn to such an intriguing and potentially controversial tale. One that, though fictional in nature, is fuelled by a meticulous amount of research based on both Plath and Hughes’ poetry, letters and journals.
Palmen has provided us with a wonderful opportunity to view a piece of history -time, people and place, in a way that neither absolves or justifies Hughes of his past adulterous actions, or belittles Plaths longstanding mental health plight, but instead manages to balance the scales, finally showing us both sides of the (yes you guessed it) story.
A story perhaps not so much doomed from the start, but caught up in extremes. The soaring highs, and deeply profound lows -especially those relating to mental health. Which was handled with both sensitivity and, as someone who has/continues to suffer with their own mental health, honesty.
Showing the unjust and brutal nature that comes with mental illness. How it not only effects those mentally sufferering, but can also effect and greatly impact (though not to quite the same extent) on those around them too.
All in, this was one heck of a beautifully written (shoutout to both writer and translator), that I would highly recommend to those interested in exploring complex relationships and the lasting effects of mental illness on a person and their relationships.
4 stars
jelenab's review
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
tinamayreads's review
4.0
YOUR STORY, MY STORY by Connie Palmen is a heartbreaking novel translated from the Dutch about the ill fated relationship between Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes told from his point of view. Right away the poetic writing captured my attention and even though the ending to this story is known their journey was interesting to read.
.
This novel is a unique blend of historical fiction, romance and fan fic. It’s always fun for me as a reader to read about literary icons from another writer’s perspective. I didn’t know anything about their relationship before but I have read The Bell Jar and loved it. Now I want to read it again! I always love a book that inspires me to continue reading.
.
Thank you to Over The River Public Relations and Amazon Publishing for my review copy!
.
This novel is a unique blend of historical fiction, romance and fan fic. It’s always fun for me as a reader to read about literary icons from another writer’s perspective. I didn’t know anything about their relationship before but I have read The Bell Jar and loved it. Now I want to read it again! I always love a book that inspires me to continue reading.
.
Thank you to Over The River Public Relations and Amazon Publishing for my review copy!
mtroyer92's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
Connie Palmen's first novel translated into English, "Your Story, My Story" lends itself to a slow, attentive reading. Its poetic style of prose won't be for every reader, but I appreciated what it added to the ill-fated love story of two of the 21st century's greatest poets.
Any literary junkie worth their mettle knows at least a little bit about Sylvia Plath's life and death, but information about Ted Hughes' is much harder to come by. Although this book is fiction, it is thoroughly researched and relied on the notes and poems (like "Last Letter") of Hughes to craft his perception of events, which gives it a well-earned aura of factuality. So while the story the book tells is nothing new, the way it tells it (via its perspective and poetic style) certainly is.
I enjoyed the slow but steady pacing of the book and how fleshed out its two main characters were, as well as the way the book tackled bigger topics like how our understanding of the world is shaped by myths and stories and whether or not fate is a man-made construct or one that exists independent of us. "Your Story, My Story" is a solid 4.5/5 for me, and I can't wait to see Connie Palmen's other works translated into English!
Thanks to Jennifer Richards and Over the River PR for sending me a review copy of the book.
Connie Palmen's first novel translated into English, "Your Story, My Story" lends itself to a slow, attentive reading. Its poetic style of prose won't be for every reader, but I appreciated what it added to the ill-fated love story of two of the 21st century's greatest poets.
Any literary junkie worth their mettle knows at least a little bit about Sylvia Plath's life and death, but information about Ted Hughes' is much harder to come by. Although this book is fiction, it is thoroughly researched and relied on the notes and poems (like "Last Letter") of Hughes to craft his perception of events, which gives it a well-earned aura of factuality. So while the story the book tells is nothing new, the way it tells it (via its perspective and poetic style) certainly is.
I enjoyed the slow but steady pacing of the book and how fleshed out its two main characters were, as well as the way the book tackled bigger topics like how our understanding of the world is shaped by myths and stories and whether or not fate is a man-made construct or one that exists independent of us. "Your Story, My Story" is a solid 4.5/5 for me, and I can't wait to see Connie Palmen's other works translated into English!
Thanks to Jennifer Richards and Over the River PR for sending me a review copy of the book.