Reviews with content warning for Physical abuse - The Bell Jar

Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

47 reviews

z0333's review against another edition

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dark reflective 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

4.5

a little racist but amazing quotes

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faithmilne's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I can acknowledge that Plath’s writing is stunning but that being said, I’m so disappointed in this book!! I found Esther to be very unlikable. The way she described people was typically deplorable which was just exhausting by the end of the book. It may be just that I am very mentally ill, but the triggering content in this book almost made it not worth it for me to read. I do think (almost) everyone should read this book once, and I am very glad I did, but it was fairly hard to get through even though it was a very fast read.

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rbacon's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

It is the literary version of depression and I kept imagining Esther as Gwenyth Paltrow.

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lexi_lee1020's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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brassnbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I will fully admit I asked for this book because it's the book Heather Chandler reads in Heathers
That being said it is actually a pretty good book I was afraid I'd find it boring as it's not the usual kind of book I read
Of course the book is old so some subject matters are quite dated in the aslyum and whatnot
But for what it's worth it's pretty good
Personally I have a few iffy feelings on the asylum parts so it's not a full 5 star read but it was really close

fully wasn't expecting Joan to die at all and I was very shocked and a little saddened at that

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pixieless's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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

this book should be 5 stars. from its masterful depiction of depression and it’s magnificent prose, I adored this book throughout the majority of its saddening pages. unfortunately the racism plath casually dropped into the narrative for absolutely no reason or sense really added nothing to the story (not that racism has any reason or value in any narrative sense.) i was disappointed and disgusted with her treatment of and views on the only black character in her story, looking down on a black nurse in the asylum for literally no reason in story terms, unless she was trying to make esther seem incredibly unlikeable. you would think this shameful revelation of her character would take away more stars, and it probably should, but the story up until then was presented so beautifully, i would have to award 5 stars for what the story could’ve been. from the glorious descriptions of doreen’s dewy skin to the heartbreaking reflections on esther’s depressive episodes, i was completely enthralled, and honestly rather forlorn reading these melancholic episodes. I wish plath didn’t feel the need to add the unexpected, unscrupulous and unnecessary racism as it totally detracted from my sympathy for esther as a tortured character, as despite everything she was feeling and had gone through up until that point, there was no excuse for her views towards the african-american man she was talking to. aside from this horrific point, the book is incredible and I wish I could rate it higher for how it describes the depression that I often feel in such an honest and raw fashion. i would say it’s a beautiful depiction of depression due to her incredible use of prose and descriptive language, but in all honesty, sylvia plath had no qualms in depicting depression in the horrible, terrifying manner it truly is.

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