Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

472 reviews

heidi4chong's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Dysphoria, Classism

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Lesbophobia

hannah2896's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Deeply saddening and brutal to read, this journey of Esther's mental illness was beautifully written and tragically honest. The topic of women's societal pressures to marry and have a family as opposed to a career was deeply thought-provoking. At times I felt like I related to Esther's struggles, and at other times I just felt so far removed from the words on the page, I found it difficult to carry on reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

wingsinthewillows's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Absolutely stunning, Plath lives on in Esther’s soul. An incredibly special and poignant read, that ultimately highlighted to me that Plath was 100% autistic if not otherwise neurodivergent. I see so many of my own struggles and inner thoughts in her writing and my heart aches for her. 🖤

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism

emfriez's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt

violetta_1's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Blood

francescaminney's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy

mxine_'s review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional informative reflective relaxing sad slow-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

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literally me (minus the racism)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol

Minor: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism, War

mar_890's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Esther is like a tragic hero, but without the mystic or heroic element in a tragedy. The bell jar is like a reflection of feelings and thoughts surrounding womanhood, and being almost like an autobiography from Sylvia Plath. I loved this book, which I almost found so comforting and relatable lol.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt

stickycheese's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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"If I had to wait on a baby all day, I would go mad."

I really like how Plath writes about depression. I really resonated with Esther's struggle with depression and suicidial ideation. It was nice to see in words how I feel and the similar struggles I face regarding these issues since often times, it is hard to describe what I'm going through. I won't deny Plath's racism and lesbophobia was offputting, but I like to consider the impact this book has to be a discourse on depression.
   Also I was surprised to discover Plath is unexpectedly funny. One of my favorite scenes is where Buddy takes off his pants and Esther is completely unimpressed with him.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy

Minor: Death, Terminal illness, Lesbophobia

teslis's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective 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

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I got this book a long time ago from my cousin who had read it. When she gave it to me, she was a bit hesitant because of the books language and everything that happens in it. I get that it might not be the best book for a 14/15 year old. But I think it depends on the person. I’m 21 one now and read it and it was fine. There were times when it had to pause and think, because I would see other people in the book. I read it at the same time I had a psychology class so it was interesting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail