Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

863 reviews

cmacmahon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

This is undeniably a great book. The writing is superb and the trials Esther goes through are captivating and very real. However, I would be weary that this book is emotionally challenging to read. Personally I found it a struggle, there were times I had to put it away because it was so difficult. But I've had my own experiences with mental health issues, depression and suicide, so I realise my perspective is biased. I've rated this so highly even though it was challenging for me, because the book made me feel like I was not alone in my experience. There was something so exposed and human about this book that really made me appreciate it as art. Overall, a beautiful piece that does not hold back. 

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Content Warnings

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

katie69's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Suicide, Mental illness, and Racism

csharp's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

Already wrote a review on GoodReads, this book is going into one of my all time favourites.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Racial slurs

veposve's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Vomit, Confinement, Self harm, and Suicide

hannahnwalding's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Blood, Sexual violence, Death, Self harm, Sexual content, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit

emmaareads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Racial slurs

fruitsaladsk's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

The story on it’s own was good, very interesting and reflective, quite relatable. Though there were a lot of blatantly racist moments that were quite off putting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, Racism, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Racial slurs

picnicatthehangingtree's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

Docking .25 stars for the racism and homophobia. Otherwise this is a near perfect book for me, I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. I think 25 was a really good age to read it at - that feeling of not knowing what the future holds and having to make your way forward despite all the uncertainty really hit for me. This is such an incredible portrait of life with depression, but with such a hopeful ending for a path moving forward whilst holding space for it as a part of you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Ableism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Sexual content, Classism, Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Racism

Minor: Infidelity and Pregnancy

thorney's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexual content, Racial slurs, and Racism

beccajreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Mental illness, and Self harm