Reviews

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

josefine_wr's review against another edition

reflective fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

bogentusiast's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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

4.25

irembilgin's review against another edition

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

3.5

andreina_fdz's review against another edition

3.0

I know this book discussed depression but I had no idea that’s what “the bell jar” meant. It’s interesting reading about treatments and how people approached mental health decades ago. Decent read even though I’m not *obsessed*.

It makes me want to pick up Sylvia’s diaries next.

kuuraketti's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-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

3.0

krejuhen's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

thart1994's review against another edition

5.0

I read this either in a class or it was a choice book for a class in high school, but I remember I was in a massive depression at the time and the ending of the book gave me some much needed hope. It was only after that that I learned of what happened to the author, but that never diminished the message and the hope of the novel; perhaps she tried to give herself some by writing it.

I don't think the beauty of it can be understated. The way that it handles issues of seeking help for mental distress is something I had not seen and honestly don't see too much of in modern novels. There seems to no romanticism of the illness itself but more so in the hope of recovery; there is such beauty in the hope of recovery and I think think this novel handles that wonderfully, and truly stands as a testament to Plath's poetic and narrative ability.

vari_1567's review against another edition

dark 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

3.0

camerongh_'s review

5.0

oh so this is what these other bitches have been trying to recreate. i get it now. 

frog_fairy's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

4.0