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tinynobody's review against another edition
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Ableism, Mental illness, and Racism
Moderate: Medical trauma, Self harm, Blood, Body shaming, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Vomit, Suicide, and Antisemitism
Minor: Religious bigotry
pixieless's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, and Confinement
sunny_not's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Alcohol
avawest's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
hermamora's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, and Sexism
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment
eleanoremartin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
bill369's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I saw a video about Sylvia Plath and so I read her only novel.
My favourite character is Doctor Nolan, she helped Esther and seems like a nice person with good intentions. She was more of a side character, therefore I don't know that much about her, but she is bright, open-minded and professional.
It was interesting to read about someone with mental health issues from that period, it helped me make a better picture of what it was like back then. I liked the descriptions and Esther's thought process. It just all made sense. It amazed me how well the author managed the transition from an ambitious and quite lively woman to a suicidal, numb, rather careless and tired woman. It all happens slowly and so it all blends in well. Reading this book made me feel more literate.
The part of the book I liked the most was when Esther was in Belsize, however, there are lines throughout the whole book which I would like to share. On page 54 are lines that hit a bit too close to home. There's nothing else needed to be said.
There I went again, building up a glamorous
picture of a man who would love me passionately the minute he
met me, and all out of a few prosy nothings. A duty tour of the
UN and a post-UN sandwich!
On page 77 Plath compares her life to a green fig tree.
From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig,
a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a
husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a
famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and
another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig
was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was
Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers
with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was
an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these
figs were many more figs I couldn’t quite make out.
I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree,
starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind
which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one
of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I
sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go
black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.
On pages 123 and 124 Plath describes how insomnia made Esther tired of living.
I saw the days of the year stretching ahead like a
series of bright, white boxes, and separating one box from
another was sleep, like a black shade. Only for me, the long
perspective of shades that set off one box from the next had
suddenly snapped up, and I could see day after day after day
glaring ahead of me like a white, broad, infinitely desolate
avenue.
It seemed silly to wash one day when I would only
have to wash again the next.
It made me tired just to think of it.
I wanted to do everything once and for all and be
through with it.
On page 141 Plath shows how pressured Esther felt by the world.
I summoned my little chorus of voices.
Doesn’t your work interest you, Esther?
You know, Esther, you’ve got the perfect setup of
a true neurotic.
You’ll never get anywhere like that, you’ll never
get anywhere like that, you’ll never get anywhere like that.
On page 177 we can see how numb Esther became.
I knew I should be grateful to Mrs. Guinea, only I
couldn’t feel a thing. If Mrs. Guinea had given me a ticket to
Europe, or a round-the-world cruise, it wouldn’t have made one
scrap of difference to me, because wherever I sat--on the deck
of a ship or at a street cafe in Paris or Bangkok--I would be
sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in my own sour
air.
I usually dislike the open ending, but in this book I welcomed it. It felt right. I hope she will only be better from that point on.
The book is well written and all, but it's not a five star for me. I didn't cry and I didn't connect to the characters. That probably isn't the author's fault. The book is just old. I did like it quite a bit though.
My favourite character is Doctor Nolan, she helped Esther and seems like a nice person with good intentions. She was more of a side character, therefore I don't know that much about her, but she is bright, open-minded and professional.
It was interesting to read about someone with mental health issues from that period, it helped me make a better picture of what it was like back then. I liked the descriptions and Esther's thought process. It just all made sense. It amazed me how well the author managed the transition from an ambitious and quite lively woman to a suicidal, numb, rather careless and tired woman. It all happens slowly and so it all blends in well. Reading this book made me feel more literate.
The part of the book I liked the most was when Esther was in Belsize, however, there are lines throughout the whole book which I would like to share. On page 54 are lines that hit a bit too close to home. There's nothing else needed to be said.
picture of a man who would love me passionately the minute he
met me, and all out of a few prosy nothings. A duty tour of the
UN and a post-UN sandwich!
On page 77 Plath compares her life to a green fig tree.
a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a
husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a
famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and
another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig
was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was
Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers
with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was
an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these
figs were many more figs I couldn’t quite make out.
I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree,
starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind
which of the figs I would choose.
of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I
sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go
black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.
On pages 123 and 124 Plath describes how insomnia made Esther tired of living.
series of bright, white boxes, and separating one box from
another was sleep, like a black shade. Only for me, the long
perspective of shades that set off one box from the next had
suddenly snapped up, and I could see day after day after day
glaring ahead of me like a white, broad, infinitely desolate
avenue.
It seemed silly to wash one day when I would only
have to wash again the next.
It made me tired just to think of it.
I wanted to do everything once and for all and be
through with it.
On page 141 Plath shows how pressured Esther felt by the world.
Doesn’t your work interest you, Esther?
You know, Esther, you’ve got the perfect setup of
a true neurotic.
You’ll never get anywhere like that, you’ll never
get anywhere like that, you’ll never get anywhere like that.
On page 177 we can see how numb Esther became.
couldn’t feel a thing. If Mrs. Guinea had given me a ticket to
Europe, or a round-the-world cruise, it wouldn’t have made one
scrap of difference to me, because wherever I sat--on the deck
of a ship or at a street cafe in Paris or Bangkok--I would be
sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in my own sour
air.
I usually dislike the open ending, but in this book I welcomed it. It felt right. I hope she will only be better from that point on.
The book is well written and all, but it's not a five star for me. I didn't cry and I didn't connect to the characters. That probably isn't the author's fault. The book is just old. I did like it quite a bit though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Lesbophobia, and Grief
bleuplein's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.25
insane book to read having no warnings of its contents (i forgot to check), good read and it reads quickly...gets rough about 100 pages in and doesnt stop from that point, left me sitting there for a while in a way that was somehow refreshing and reflective but also very dark, but that only lasted about an hour and then it just became a good book i wouldnt read through twice (only because of the content, it was written brilliantly otherwise)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Self harm, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
alannadoucette8's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
irisreadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt