Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

813 reviews

ronyareadsbooks's review against another edition

reflective 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

3.0

This book would’ve been better if it wasn’t for the racism. I understand that it was written a while ago but the language used in the story has not aged well and sadly destroyed me being able to enjoy reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Fatphobia, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexism

jus111's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

2.5

get that girl on SSRI’s

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

clary0402's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Death

Moderate: Body shaming, Blood, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Suicide, Fatphobia, Grief, Homophobia, and Incest

ttheamaria's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

museumonfire's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism

fleuronterrobang's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

4.5

It is important you understand that reading the Bell Jar was a heavy experience. Sylvia Plath is a brilliant writer and her visceral descriptions in this book kept me glued to the page through its most difficult scenes, but indeed these scenes were dark. You will feel uncomfortable, but it is meant to be uncomfortable; you will be confronted with the bleakness of depression and the unfairness of society towards women, and sometimes the unexpected show of Plath's wit. But I do think that it will have been worth it.

From a personal perspective -- I'm not even Esther's age yet. It feels silly of me to talk about myself here because whatever suffering I've ever gone through has never been as despairing as hers, but even then I felt like I could have felt and said the very things happening on paper. Will I too find myself feeling pulled apart by the expectations of others and lost in what exactly I want to do? Will I too find that I can't approach my life with whatever enthusiasm I once had? It certainly feels like that sometimes. The Bell Jar is a reminder that I am not alone. 

I'm honestly not sure what to rate this book (it's really my first time rating books) but I'll say I loved it. Overall, a great read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Racism, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault

marinaxanna's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.0

idk i liked it but it aged poorly. it was interesting and profound at times but the problematic racist themes were a Big Yikes TM

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Medical content, Racism, Racial slurs, and Suicide

mockingjayx16's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content

Minor: Ableism and Xenophobia

leonkoenig's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Racism and Homophobia

keyisbored's review against another edition

Plath was racist against Chinese people 8 pages in. I was really expecting some interesting reading on mental illness and a feminist perspective but got white feminism. Also the main character was giving weirdly judgmental vibes towards other women and I'm not sure if that's something that changes but it would've put me off if the racism didn't do it first. Not sure why this is considered a feminist classic and not bothered to find out. I'm sure there is merit if you look beyond the racism but personally, I don't care.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Xenophobia and Racism