I just finished reading...

I know this should be under the "what are you reading" but I'm really excited about this book and want everyone to know (ok, i'm being seflish)
It's called Lover of Unreason and is about Sylvia Plath's widow Ted Hughes and his lover Assia Wevill. I don't want to give too much info but it is fascinating! I read it in two days! I've also just started the first couple of pages of Children of God which was recommended by desertdog...I think. Lover of Unreason has also inspired me to write poetry so i've signed up to join a poetry writing group at the public library. I'm so excited. Staying home with the kids can pretty much delete your brain cells so I'm looking forward for some intellectual stimulation!!!

Just curious, was he having an affair with this lady while married to Plath? Could that be part of the reason for her demise?

yes! it started sometime towards her end. Assia was pretty much written out of ted and sylvia's history so these two authors did an incredible job of research. They dug through old letters, talked to all her friends who knew her, her sister and finally in 1996 Ted Hughes decided to grant them an interview about this private matter which he'd never done before. But, I think whether Assia was involved ornot, plath would've killed herself anyway. She was very jealous and possesive of Hughes. Let me just say also that Assia Wevill was quite a character; I didn't really like her according to how all her friends portrayed her and the things she did. You must read this book I could NOT put it down!

Our performing arts company performed Ted Hughes' translation of Racine's "Phedre" back in 2004. There's no question that Ted Hughes felt a personal connection with this particular greek tragedy. The way Phedre loses her mind is eerily similar to what he may have been experiencing with his wife. In fact, he wrote the translation late in life, just before his last work "Birthday Letters," which together, shows how much Sylvia Plath was on Ted Hughes' mind late in life.

correction: All God's Children by Rene Denfeld

OK, naxet76. I thought you were referring to the sequel to The Sparrow, which was a fascinating and excruciating read.

Tom