The story begins slow, and allots one no real desire to move forward in it, but move forward. When it begins its transition, what becomes of Plath’s story is overwhelmingly beautifully written, moving, and startling. Her analogies, as the narratives title reveals, are imaginitive and accurate. Her innovative, yet detailed writing makes it apparent that Plath was writing what Plath had not just been imagining, but had been a part of- had been feeling and experiencing. If you found yourself touched by Chopin’s “The Awakening”, and the enlightening way inwhich Edna begins to see the role of women, read this book. If you are intrigued by psychology and womens studies, read this book. If you love to read, and wish to not miss out, read this book.

I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn’t quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.

- Sylvia Plath