I don't think I can rate this since I sincerely have no idea what I just read.

No idea at all.

Mary boards a train for...somewhere, for some reason. During the Journey she talks with an older woman who increasingly confuses and upsets Mary about the journey they're on with cryptic remarks and observations.

I think this was some sort of symbolism for growing up? Or becoming an adult? Or something? At one point the lady and the conductor have a pleasant if somewhat sinister sounding conversation about the fact the lady is taking the journey again.

Mary questions the lady about this, receiving sharp rebukes about her own culpability in choosing to be on the train. When Mary insists she did not choose it, that her parents bought the ticket and pushed her into the decision, the lady remarks on the fact Mary didn't fight them on it.

Guys this slim story (maybe 10 pages if in a normal sized book) frustrated me to no end.

Short and sweet read. ( )

An odd little story by Sylvia Platt about a journey by train to a destination people don't seem too excited to arrive at but they go quietly. I didn't completely understand this, other than we all have free will if we wake up. ( )

Mary Ventura and the Ninth Kingdom
by Sylvia Plath
2019
Faber & Faber
5.0 / 5.0

Mary Ventura, a young girl, tearfully says farewell to her parents before stepping onto a train, This journey should take her to the Ninth Kingdom- but which exit is it?? Will she ever find it?? You can feel the unease and dread as the train keeps going, nothing seems real on this journey.
Haunting and partly auto-biographical, this novella Sylvia wrote when she was young and although submitted to magazines, was never published. Until now, with publisher Faber & Faber celebrating their 90th birthday with a book series called Faber Stories. They will be released throughout the year and feature stories by well-known authors. I hope I can find more in this series. ( )

People have been critical of this extremely short story. But I liked it and got a lot of meaning out of the few short pages. Too bad it was unfinished. ( )