Name: Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz
ISBN: 9781982138394

Gail Crowther

"A dual biography of poets, friends, and rivals Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton"--

The Rebellion of Sylvia Plath & Anne Sexton

Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz

Kristen Claiborn

The author of this book has a not-so-secret love for Sylvia Plath. This book is incredibly researched and includes almost eerie details of Plath’s daily life. If Plath wasn’t already beyond the land of the living, I would think this author was a bit of a stalker. Gail Crowther, however, is definitely not a stalker. Crowther is a talented writer and even better at research, and she wrote a book that is both compelling and heartbreaking. 
	I’ve never been a fan of Sylvia Plath’s writing, and I’ve never read a single word written by Anne Sexton. I’m afraid poetry isn’t my favorite, and Plath always seemed to be so morose. I’m fine reading a poem about a beautiful tree, but that’s about as far as my interest goes (and even that dates back to middle school). However, Sylvia Plath is definitely an interesting woman. It’s a shame that such a talented write will always be regarded as shrill, hysterical, and other stereotypical female things. It’s even more of a shame that she chose to end her life. With this book, Crowther was able to pull Plath’s story into a bit of reality. Plath came across as a woman living her life the best way she knew how, instead of just a woman battling depression. Crowther’s passion for Sylvia Plath and her life shines through every sentence. This was an enlightening book to read.

Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz The Rebellion of Sylvia Plath & Anne Sexton