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natalie_jnm's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide
evemlacey'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If I could pick three words to describe this novel, I would say moody, feminist, and abstract. It follows events in the life of Esther Greenwood, who struggles with her mental health and life in general. You follow her in this dreamy, almost unreal state of mind throughout the book. It is quite dark and it's probably not suitable for people who get triggered easily.
This was an intellectual, thought-provoking read and I'll be on the lookout for similar books in the future.
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Self harm, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual content
eva_vva'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Confinement, Medical trauma, Medical content, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Self harm
Moderate: Alcohol, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, and Sexism
Minor: Abandonment, Infertility, Drug use, Racial slurs, and Body shaming
nightisareader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Section one:
What I absolutely adored about this book is the stream of consciousness writing style. It was neatly tied together and everything found its end nicely. The vocabulary was a bit meh but I guess it works. The book was quite... American? I don’t know honestly, I’m too Asian for it probably so, reading things like “...he was trying to prove he could be aesthetic...” had me cringe just a little bit. But that’s on me haha. The characters were realistic, the events as well, without any... poetic layer. Yeah, let’s call it that.
Oh and the lovely analogies! I did wish they were explained a bit more but it’s fine, I guess, since the tone of the book was not complimentary to huge descriptions that creep up your body and gently sink themselves into your skin.
Section two:
Now this part is about Esther herself and do I like her character or not? The answer WAS a big fat no but then she sorta grew on me but I still dislike her. Why? There I’m a bit lost; not completely though. The girl was racist and hateful. My friend pointed out that being hateful is a depression thing which lead to an odd question where even now I’m wondering if her racism and hate is justified by her mental condition but I’m choosing to not ponder over it for too long.
Overall, the book is a tiny bit overhyped but it has its charms.
One thing though, I do not know what kind of readers I would recommend this to because for some it would be triggering, for some unrelatable, and I’m a tiny bit concerned for those who do find it relatable (minus the cracks that let in the light of hope)
What I will say is that if you pick up the book, make sure you learn from her, not the methods to succumb but the methods to survive in the bell jar.
Graphic: Eating disorder, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Drug abuse, Blood, Racism, Death, Death of parent, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
meilanon'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
4.5
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness
Moderate: Racism
lil_2102'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
4.25
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
ronyareadsbooks'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Fatphobia, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexism
oliviaisgreen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
luuaa'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
3.75
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt
jus111'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts