Love, Sivvy
Love, Sivvy is a biographical novel about the life of author and poet Sylvia Plath during her high school and college education from the years 1948 to 1955. The novel beautifully captures the voice of Plath, from her melancholy musings on her hopes and dreams, to her internal struggles and darkest thoughts. Written in verse, the story often feels like a diary: self-serving, self-inflated, and self-deprecating. The descriptions are minimal and the action is sparse, but the voice drives the story and the desire to find out what happens next. Characters flit in and out, making it hard to distinguish one from another; however, there is a consistent vein throughout the story of how Plath’s female relationships sustain her creatively while her male relationships tempt her and sooner or later crush her under their (and society’s) endless expectations of who she should be and what she should accomplish. Ultimately, the reader feels like her only companion and confidant as they are witness to her true self, demons, and ambitions.
This book is recommended for young adult readers ages 14 and up due to its themes of depression and suicide. It would also be recommended to have read the works of, or have a base understanding of Sylvia Plath to truly appreciate the craft of this novel.
