Oh, Sylvia Plath. She is buried in a village just up the valley from here. It's a high and windy spot with immense views. I can't help thinking - what a wonderful place to be dead. The saddest thing, to my mind, is that, because her gravestone was engraved 'Sylvia Plath-Hughes', feminists keep feeling the need to break off a corner to get rid of the 'Hughes' bit. It's so insular and intollerant, I feel.

Dee.

Oh, Dee, there's something about you and graves....!!

I don't know the ins and outs of the Plath/Hughes saga. I've heard he was pretty nasty to her towards the end, but there's always two sides to these things, and as I don't know the other I'll keep me gob shut!
I have an innate warmness toward Hughes as when I was a child I thought the Iron Man was just the most wonderful story, but I accept that may not get him off the hook with Sylvia fans!
I remember reading The Bell Jar a few years ago, and expecting to be blown away by it...I was totally, utterly, unmoved. Not sure what that says about me, but it happens sometimes, I read books with 'significant' reputations or that are deemed particularly 'era-defining' or mould-breaking, and I just don't get it.
I was the same with Catcher in the Rye, (I wanted to slap him SO hard!) and Wide Sargasso Sea. I just find it disappointing, feel I must be missing something, but I don't know what.

Oh God, I know what you mean. I finally got round to reading The Great Gatsby last year after being told by a teacher at school 40 years ago that I must read it. I'm a bit stubborn when I'm told I must do something. Anyway, I eventually read it and thought... well... it's not a bad story but... why all the hype? I've read better. I'll probably get savaged again now for saying that...

On the Plath-Hughes thing; I don't know too much about either of them but I do get the impression, from people in the area who knew them, that - in their own strange way - they were quite besotted with each other and couldn't have lived their lives any other way. So who are we (or the feminists) to judge them?

Dee.

I think the Great Gatsby is probably on my list of books i really ought to read...but know damn fine I never will. It's quite a long list, and has some that I'm quite ashamed about, but you can't read everything..
My final comment on Plath/Hughes is that no-one ever really knows what goes on in a relationship - often not even the people involved! And anyway, tragic heartache never seems to do anyone any harm on the literary front, (well, apart from the fact that Plath died, of course - very thoughtless, tc), i'll have to dredge up some of my own, see if it gives the poems a boost.
Can't think of much else to say. Am avoiding introducing the C word...for fear of stimulating mass panic.

Think I'll go to bed and dream of a tragic love affair, and my poems being hailed as exquisite examples of the soul in torment..
Night, night. be good

Or be careful.

Hi Dee and Tinyclanger,
'The Death and Life of Sylvia Plath' by Ronald Hayman, Sutton Publishing, is really interesting,(disappointing typos towards the end, but they can be overlooked).
Becca.

Hey Dee and Tiny, I live in Northumberland! I'm a southerner really (raised in Surrey) but came up North three years ago because of my husband's job. You're so right about the landscape up here. I've always called it inspirational and the people's warmth certainly makes up for any cold weather we get. Whoopsie must dash...something burning!

Heyyyy! We have three sides of the triangle now. I have to ask where in Northumberland? I don't want your address but you could make me feel really envious...
I don't harbour any hopes of making TC envious that I live in Halifax... let's face it, who would...

In an unknown village, Nay Hamlet!, near Alnwick, Dee. We have neighbours of the human kind, but the four legged woolly ones outnumber them ;-). I wouldn't change it really, I love country living and it's great for the children too. I don't know if you've visited Alnwick recently, but it's a lovely town. I really feel comfortable there, more so than in Morpeth (although Morpeth has its own charms). Are you jealous yet? ;-)

Oh, Alnwick's lovely, Didn't they do soem survey recently that said it was one of the best places to live in the country? Apparently the rush 'hour' lasts 20 minutes!!!
Been to see the Gardens? Are youa pro, ar an anti? I gather soem of the residents are not too keen. I quite liked them, but was miffed Im was too big to go in the grooby little tractors and scoop up gravel with all the other kids
wil be up there for Christmas - Newcaselt I mean. Usually go for a nice stroll on the beach at Bamburgh...lovely!

<Added>

Bloody hell, sorry about all the mistakes, I was writing in English, just incase you're not sure. Owner edit gets another curse thrown at it!

Abso-bleedin-lutely!
Haven't been to Alnwick for years but, yes, it is lovely. Had a strange moment in the castle once when I got the feeling that, if I relaxed my mental grip, I could slip back into the early nineteeth century... eek!
Yes, I'm slightly jealous but would have been eating the sofa if you'd said Alnmouth. I really, really want to live by the sea.
Dee.

Yes it was voted the best place to live - or something like that. *gasp* shame on me for not knowing! LOL I don't know whether I'm anti or pro the gardens actually. It hasn't really bothered me, perhaps because I don't live in Alnwick itself. I visited the garden this past summer and I have to admit, I wasn't too impressed, but perhaps it's still a work in progress?? The fountains were very good in the sense that it was great fun for kids, and (Tinyclanger ) adults alike to really have fun with water and it is an original idea but too modern I thought considering its historical surroundings. I love the castle. We went in there (with a two year old dennis the menace - not a good idea), and it was just something else. As you probably know the Duke of N'umberland and family live there part of the year and while I was restraining my child from jumping over the rope and grabbing the photo frames of their smiling, happy faces (who wouldn't be happy?)...I felt like I was intruding somehow. The grounds are magnificent too.

Dee, was it you that said you felt like if you didn't control your mind you would slip into history? I totally agree with you. The castle is very enchanting. The other place that does that for me is Holy Island. What a beautiful place. The ruins of the Monastery evoke such vivid images of what life must've been like. The silence. If you close your eyes, you would swear you could hear the whispers from men long gone. Architecture (old) is another fascination of mine. Another thing that Newcastle has in abundance! Perhaps, when we get to know each other better, and feel more comfortable we could get together ladies!

Dee, Alnmouth is very quaint, delightful place :-) My husband always takes the kids walking on the lovely sandy beach there. My daughter went to the First School near Alnmouth.

For our top floor window (our house has three floors) we can see the sea. Actually, it's a tiny skylight window which is so high that even I have to stand on my tiptoes to get a really good view. We're about 10 minutes drive from Alnmouth. You're probably not eating a sofa...but perhaps an armchair?? LOL

Okay, I think I may have committed an internet faux pas LOL...Tiny and Dee, forget my comment about the 'meet up' thing. It was said only in jest I assure you and no-one is more likely not to meet anyone from over the net than me.

Laters ;-)

That's OK, Wordy. I kinda like the idea of meeting up with other members... and don't forget you're our hero, having brought a satisfactoy end to our quest when we were on the brink of giving up... apart from Richard, of course, who was having far too jolly a time 'researching' in the Brit at Elterwater.

Dee