Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams: Short Stories, Prose, and Diary Excerpts

After reading "The Bell Jar", I was very disappointed that there were no more books to read by Sylvia Plath. That's why I was very happy to find this book of her other prose writings. The journal entries are fascinating and help the reader to understand the author to a more personal degree. Many of the stories resemble "The Bell Jar" in theme, like "Tongues of Stone", which tells of a young woman in a hospital. It is obvious that many of the stories were written when Sylvia Plath was very young, like "Initiation" (she won a prize for this from Seventeen magazine when she was 19). But many are very deep and complex, like "Johnny Panic" (dealing with a girl who works at a psychiatrist's office and is on the cusp of insanity herself) and "The Wishing Box" (about a young wife who is suicidal when she fears she has lost her imagination). I'd suggest this book for any Sylvia Plath fan or any fan of the short story.

Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams by Sylvia Plath is a sloppy, inconsistent, and drab collection of her short stories, prose and diary experts. First of all, I think Plath was one of the most gifted poets that ever lived, I love her only novel, The Bell Jar and I thought I would love this book as well but it falls short and never truly shows Plath's genius in any form. Seems like this particular book was published just because Ariel sold extremely well. Some of the material is interesting but Plath's writing becomes awkward and tends to go off topic a lot. The only reason I am giving this book 4 stars is because I believe a lot of the stories were not completed and if she were still alive, she would have re-written most of her work before it ever saw the light of day. If you want to read some beatiful and haunting work from Plath, then I suggest The Bell Jar, and all her poetry. Have fun!

After falling in love with Sylvia Plath's works back in my high school days, I have read everything I can find on her or her work. She is inspiring and deep... keeping the imagery alive in every word she has written. I recommend Sylvia VERY highly, even her works for children are not to be missed.

Forget what you've read about this particular book by Sylvia Plath. Most reviews published upon its release is 1977 hinted that the book confirms that Plath's finest talent was poetry. While that statement is apt, that is not to say her abilities as a prose fiction writer are not close on its heels--remember, she did write "The Bell Jar".Indeed, Plath's name was made in America partly on her prose writing as well. This book collects the best of those short stories, which were featured in literary magazines during the 1950s and 60s. As well, some of her journalism is found here, and last but not least, samples of her student notebooks from Cambridge. The edition being offered here is the longer 2nd edition from 1979 which was expanded with nearly ten more short stories that surfaced in an academic arhcive in Indiana in 1978. While most collectors struggle to acquire first editions--if it's good writing that you want, this 2nd edition will please you far more.Lastly, while Ted Hughes' introductions to Plath's work have been met with cynicism over the years (considering his role in her life and eventual suicide), Hughes' introduction stands out as a flattering and insightful tribute to the work of his first wife.I am glad I gave myself the chance to read and enjoy this book despite the warnings. I guess some of the best books do not necessarily appeal to masses of people--ahh, that is the joy of having a mind.

This book is a collection of short stories, pieces of journals, with bits of poetry in there. Some of the stories are about her and some are just pure fiction, yet it shows the side of Sylvia that is seen in the "Bell Jar". Which means you read Sylvia in the form of stories, not poems. It's all the little things that she did all wrapped into one. However the one thing that's not in here is "The It Doesn't Matter Suit", which is a great little story, so check that out also.