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ryan_rajp's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Blood, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
marissasa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Death, Medical content, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
maiaquinn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Sexual assault, Suicide, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, and Vomit
mickymouse_007's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
It was such a captivating book I must say. The descriptions were immaculate and the plot kept me on my toes. I loved Sylvia Plath used flashbacks and seemingly simple events to let us know more about Esther and understand her more as a whole. And how she described Esther's deteriorating mental health and later on, her recovery. It didn't seem all of a sudden. We all saw where Esther was heading to.
Overall, love this book. One of my new favorites indeed. Will definitely read this again although I don't think this book is for everyone.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
Moderate: Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Grief
Minor: Death, Alcohol, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Vomit
noahfence's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
i had a vague expectation of what i was going to read in the bell jar, and, of course, those expectations were easily defeated and topped.
i thought the prose was beautifully yet unforgivingly sharp and efficient, which was very successful in subtly communicating the characterisation of esther, the main character. i also thought that plath’s continuous exploration around the troubles of childbirth and maternity really came through in this book, of which i always find very poignant. the sense of despair that emanates off of esther throughout the entirety of the novel is all-consuming and very affecting… it’s very hard to not feel dragged along with esther in her tumble into darkness.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Medical content, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexism, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Misogyny, and Racism
saskia6's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Self harm, Death, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Blood, Medical trauma, Violence, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Racism, Homophobia, and Alcohol
sib_reads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicide, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Sexism, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Blood, Gore, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol
mermaidsherbet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Medical content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Vomit, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Lesbophobia, Gun violence, Alcohol, Racism, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry
heartmaiden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol and Forced institutionalization
ambdocksey22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Cursing, Sexism, Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Dysphoria, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders