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ralbee0320's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization
emerlees's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Misogyny
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy, Blood, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Medical content, Rape, Forced institutionalization, and Racial slurs
Minor: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
jhump89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Sexism, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
picnicatthehangingtree'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
4.75
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
_rowan_is_dead_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Rape
avrilamber's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
I feel this book is going to become very important to me over my life. I felt like this book swallowed me up as well as gave me a warm hug.
I found Sylvia’s musings as Esther about life, death, womanhood, mental health incredibly relatable, which is surprising considering that this was published 60 years ago. It’s equally harrowing and comforting.
I saw so much of myself in the protagonist, Esther, her perfectionist ways, her criticisms of women’s role and expectations, how much her self worth derives from her achievements, and spiralling when things out of her control don’t go to plan. This book really hit home to me and it’s all the more poignant knowing the mental health problems Sylvia suffered in real life.
It’s a challenging read, but one I’m very glad I connected with. I will remember that fig tree analogy for the rest of my life.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Rape
Minor: Racial slurs
torturedreadersdept'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death, Dysphoria, Body horror, Blood, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, and Mental illness
Minor: Racism, Sexual violence, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Medical content, Incest, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Rape, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Sexual content
lillianreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
I loved the metaphors of the fig tree and the bell jar and the overall writing style felt very accessible.
If you want to get into reading classics The Bell Jar definitely is a good place to start.
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, and Suicide
Minor: Racial slurs
wrennova123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I particularly loved the fig analogy and the symbol of the bell jar to represent the experience of mental illness.
Graphic: Blood, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
petty_anthropology's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Rape