With each new season comes six new books on the Urchin horizon. Here are the latest reads added to the Urchin Bookshelf.
Sarah’s books
Letters of Ted Hughes
Selected and edited by Christopher Reid
I wrote last week about my accidental reunion with Sylvia Plath and subsequent reading of Ariel, her posthumously published collection of poetry. In addition to several books of Plath’s poetry, the library also had a collection of Ted Hughes’ personal letters spanning from age 17 until his death in 1998. Having read a collection of Plath’s letters to her mother spanning ages 18 to 31, I was curious to observe any overlap and perhaps get a fuller picture of the lives of the poets.
Based on my admittedly tainted view of Hughes given the later letters and journal entries written by Plath, I expected to find an aloof, introspective, rather cold Englishman. I am currently only up to age 28 but have so far found a soul full of joy, humour, and incredible intelligence. Hughes’ correspondence is richly poetic, eloquent, and conveys a deep appreciation for and understanding of a vast range of literature and societal issues. Nearly every letter, even to those to his family members, contain some incredibly astute observation about writing, literature, or being an artist. His everyday letters are imbued with an expressiveness I strive to bring to my work and for the past week have been providing me a great source of inspiration and enjoyment. As I have now reached the age that Hughes and I share, I am eager to see how his path proceeds beyond this point and potentially discern any lessons or guidance it might provide.
The Hawk in the Rain by Ted Hughes
The Colossus by Sylvia Plath
As a former theatre arts major, everyone knows I love a good theme. Apparently, that love extends beyond fancy dress parties and into my reading and research interests. Having read some of Plath’s very early poetry as well as her last works, and only a smattering of Hughes’ from a variety of points in his life, I am curious to read the works from their overlapping years. I have already come across a few such pieces in various collections. I was startled but not altogether surprised to see not only corresponding themes but even shared word choices and metaphors. In reading a broader range of both of their works, I hope to discover whether such correlations are more a product of their shared experiences and emotional connexion or collaborative writing and editing exercises.
Geo’s books
Mystery Train
Greil Marcus
Ever since I surrendered to the full force of popular music history, I was recommended a book that happened to cover three figures that, though legendary, I had only recently discovered for myself. Noted music writer Greil Marcus attempts to address the phenomenon of music men who make themselves into myths; the chapters on the Faustian blues pioneer Robert Johnson, the Stagger Lee swagger of Sly Stone, and the ultimate rock icon Elvis Presley leave me wondering and wondering: who were these people, and how much and how little of that can be found in the music alone?
Trinity
Jonathan Fetter-Vorm
After reading about the human side of the first atomic bomb in John Hersey’s Hiroshima, I am ready to read about the scientific side in this new graphic rendering by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm. The visual format lends itself well to both the dynamics of the subject and also the curious but lopsidedly right-brained reader, such as myself. As extremely complicated matters have it, this will still by no means simplify what went on, and I anticipate running into the same questions as I did when I read the Hersey book, as they are the same questions that continue to permeate the air of our recent history.
