I like neither of them. I can't get into Plath at all. Sexton is, at least, tolerable. Why not put your time into reading the work of the classic poets? You can't beat the genius of Shakespeare's sonnets, the haunting insights and metaphorical wizardry of Keats' odes or the diamond inventiveness of Dylan Thomas. Throw out your Plath and start to get into the true masters of the genre.
Me too. It just seems like Plath is getting more respect from the literary world. And that sorta puzzles me. Peace, ~PD
I think Shakespeare is awesome. And some of Keats. And Dylan Thomas is a favorite of mine. But I studied those masters to death in college, and now enjoy discovering some of the more contemporary voices out there. I don't really think they have to be mutually exclusive. For example, I am a big fan of Shakespeare's tragedies, but I also think Charles Bukowski is really cool. Just a different kind of literary genius. Peace, ~PD
You're not alone. I often wonder if Sexton might become more respected as time goes by? Anyway, that's what I hope. Peace, ~PD P.S. Here's something ironic. Sexton actually got a Pulitzer while she was still alive. But Plath's was posthumous (for her Collected Poems). So things certainly can go up and down. I hear Robert Lowell is not nearly as popular as he once was. So I guess there's still hope for Sexton.
