Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

61 reviews

nefie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

first time reading: 3.75 
second time reading: 4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Rape, Ableism, Blood, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Eating disorder, Medical content, and Medical trauma

aimee_ls's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Eating disorder, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Drug use

g_monaghan's review against another edition

3.0

Incredibly depressing and problematic, the metaphor of the fig tree has ruined me forever, (also unsure of the current location of this book)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Misogyny

bugcollector's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

tbh at the beginning the mc seemed shallow, and with constant racist (and other bad tase) comments, i found it hard to relate to her.
it happens so many times throughout the book, that you can't just let it pass and move forward right away imo.

at about page 140 i started to get what people like about this book. 
the author does have a way with describing depression, and numbness. that part i found the most heart wrenching

to sum up, if you get skip the insufferable mc at the start, i think you find good soup 👌🥣, though i still finished it feeling like something was missing and i can't put my finger on it
 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship

Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Racism, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Homophobia, and Racial slurs

tuesday_forever's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

Moderate: Fatphobia and Racism

Minor: Ableism, Cursing, and Eating disorder

jurig's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

caitym11's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

Moderate: Eating disorder, Alcohol, Drug use, and Racial slurs

laval's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Rape, and Sexism

I would highly not recommend this book for people struggling with any forms of self harm or suicidal thoughts. I would be weary of one's mental state before picking up this book.

oraygano's review against another edition

funny reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

At moments humorous, and other bits of prose are unequivocally sad but still relatable. You entered the protagonist's world and felt her panic and desperation seemingly first-hand

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Blood, Cursing, Racial slurs, and Sexual content

hayleysreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Sylvia Plath really captures a feeling of apathy and depression in this book and the way Esther experiences the world . Lots of dark humour and unexpected twists as well

Thought it was interesting comparison  talking about the rosenbergs at the start, almost a premonition of her psychiatric treatment. I also thought Joan was a hallucination for a while.  Kind of a bleak but hopeful book, a bit like Eleanor Oliphant but more bitter and less hopeful

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism