Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

87 reviews

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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

i really wanted to love this. however, some parts of the book felt unnecessary to the story and Esther was just not a good person which made this so unenjoyable for me. despite her mental illness there was no reason for her to be so incredibly nasty to everyone around her. and her character targeting and physically abusing the only person of color and calling them slurs… for what? there was absolutely no reason for all of her rude actions especially considering how privileged she was. it did adequately portray the mental unraveling of a women in her early adulthood but it outshined by how awful her character was in my opinion. i was so disappointed :((( 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Cursing, Alcohol, Classism, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

insidious_toxins's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Self harm

Moderate: Alcohol, Rape, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Racial slurs

karol99's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective tense 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

I am really glad I finally read this book! I enjoyed that way it was written, there have been multiple sections of the book that I have underlined because the way Plath worded things was so eloquently done. I really enjoyed the way she tackled different forms of mysogyny as well as mental health all while the reader has to keep in mind that this book as well as the character is from the 60's - which is also clearly evident in the cultural/societal response to women and mental health at the time.

I specifically had a moment of reflection where I had to jot down my thoughts on mirrors and it's role in the story (Plath, p. 168): 

[Esther asked to see a mirror, and the nurse ignored her]
'Why can't I?'
'Because you better not.' The nurse shut the lid of the overnight case with a little snap. 
'Why?' 
'Because you don't look very pretty.' 

I also had a discussion with my mum about it. All the different factors and layers that were held in such a short line:  'Because you don't look very pretty.'  

I will leave at 4.75, and see how the book will further impact me - and if it does, now that I have finished it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Racism, Physical abuse, Blood, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Classism, Bullying, and Body shaming

bethy_joy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Blood, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Grief, Medical trauma, and Sexual content

mattmanningg'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

5.0

Such a beautifully written book, very disturbing (like very very in my opinion) but also sort of hopeful

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Misogyny, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief

kibiiiariii's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• 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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Body shaming, Medical trauma, Ableism, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Death, Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, Grief, Mental illness, Homophobia, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit

nikexistiertnik's review against another edition

challenging dark

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

2.75

though i liked the writing style and the type of storytelling, and could even relate to some of the struggles esther was facing, it was just very hard to see past all the woman on woman hate, racism, fatphobia and then even homophobia, that was expressed through esther's thoughts.
she was an extremely unlikable character, which didn't justify the way she was treated, but still made it hard for me to really enjoy the book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Suicide, Blood, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Homophobia, Medical content, and Vomit

Minor: Grief, Alcohol, and Death of parent

beauvisseau'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

5.0

Gripping story of a young girl's fight with her own mind. It starts as a somewhat feminist YA literary novel but descends into the dark parts of a person's mind. A true journey to have experienced, but a very cautious recommendation. Please check the constent warnings before reading.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Self harm, Medical trauma, Blood, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Grief, and Forced institutionalization

dearbhlanoonan's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

---

Content Warnings

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

Minor: Death of parent and Grief

clare072'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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Blood, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Pregnancy, Sexism, Rape, Alcohol, Confinement, Death, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence