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dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Amazing detailed writing, the way she describes the buildings, her surroundings and herself, her emotions, is just breathtaking and beautiful with such pain that it can be felt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
Moderate: Blood
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I finished this book in one day and loved it so much. I related very deeply to the character of Esther, something that definitely allowed me to see the realities of what Plath was trying to depict within this book. The symbolism and stream-of-conscience writing style did exactly what Plath was trying to accomplish and allowed me to fully comprehend the emotions and turmoil that Esther was experiencing. However, there is an extremely racist scene that felt disjointed and took me out of the book for a period of time. Was Plath simply a "product of her time"? Yes. Was she also probably racist herself? Yes. I think this is important to note while thinking about the novel because I think the rest of the book is an incredible depiction of the influence of mental health on our worldview and well-being and yet there is this intrinsic flaw within the novel. However, overall, I loved the book and will most likely be re-reading and deeply annotating in the future.
I am still wondering why she was hemorrhaging after having sex with Irwin? Did she have the diaphragm in incorrectly? It seems like there was a cause other than it just being her first time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Homophobia, Vomit
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i debated between 4 or 5 stars and decided on 4 because throughout my time spent reading what is essentially a dramatized memoir of sylvia's life, i found myself wholeheartedly understanding the protagonist, esther, and all of her self-destructive thoughts. this is one of those stories where if you get it, then you get it. otherwise, you are simply a passerby glancing through a window.
my friend eli and i decided to start reading this together and it has taken us both more time to finish than we anticipated due to the sheer graphic nature of the triggering scenes. i think i have had an easier time processing the material due to my current, improved and still improving headspace. however, eli has had an experience closer to self-harm and for that reason had to opt to put the novel down for now.
in the bookclub i am a part of with my friends, we have self-proclaimed patron authors and i declared mine to be sylvia plath. ariel changed my life and sent me on a path of identity discovery, so i felt certain about my choice. having now read plath's only novel, i can determinately say the two of us, separated by 5 1/2 decades of technological and cultural differences, share deeply felt similarities. she implores me to know i am resilient, intelligent, valuable, and not alone.
i am, i am, i am.
my friend eli and i decided to start reading this together and it has taken us both more time to finish than we anticipated due to the sheer graphic nature of the triggering scenes. i think i have had an easier time processing the material due to my current, improved and still improving headspace. however, eli has had an experience closer to self-harm and for that reason had to opt to put the novel down for now.
in the bookclub i am a part of with my friends, we have self-proclaimed patron authors and i declared mine to be sylvia plath. ariel changed my life and sent me on a path of identity discovery, so i felt certain about my choice. having now read plath's only novel, i can determinately say the two of us, separated by 5 1/2 decades of technological and cultural differences, share deeply felt similarities. she implores me to know i am resilient, intelligent, valuable, and not alone.
i am, i am, i am.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma
Minor: Racism