When I heard Maggie Nelson was writing about Taylor Swift I was almost disappointed, just for a moment. I thought that finally there would be a Maggie Nelson book that just wasn't for me. Then I heard the work was also about Sylvia Plath and a hunger rose inside me. I needed to read it. Of course, I was wrong to doubt The Slicks in any regard. It is a fascinating exploration of the work of women creatives, the mythologising of women creatives, the lives of women creatives. It is beautiful written, stylised but clear, academic but approachable. If you enjoy Maggie Nelson's writing you will enjoy this, regardless of your feelings on the subject matter. (I would have loved more on Emily Dickinson but that's purely personal preference and a little bit of greediness on my part.)

I learned a lot, I felt a lot. In many ways it felt like being told things I already knew, thought or felt in a way that made my knowledge, thoughts and feelings become clearer to me, become solid, sayable and shareable. This reading experience helped me put aside assumptions and expectations. As a non-swiftie I didn't feel Nelson was trying to convince me to join a fandom or tell me how to feel, she laid out facts and shared experiences and made me reconsider some of my opinions while allowing me to claim them as mine. As a Plath fan I felt respected in ways I so often do not.

The last page made me cry. The way this work speaks about mental health is lovely, careful and considered but it comes with a protective passion too. I need to sit with this book, with my thoughts and my feelings, because I have many. Mostly though, I feel gratitude.

An engaging and approachable read, this book offered fresh insights into both Sylvia Plath and Taylor Swift. I came away with a deeper understanding of their artistry.

A fantastic essay looking at the parallels between Taylor Swift and Sylvia Plath. It's just excellent. Nelson always provides something fresh and surprising to read and this is no exception.

Absolutely loved this - the perfect mix of smart thinking, literary analysis and pop culture. Nelson is such an excellent thinker and writer, I just wish this was a collection of cultural essays rather than just one!