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I have too many thoughts about this book. In terms of a simple book review, the book is incredibly well written and what I would describe as "enjoyable to get through" had the topic not been so heartbreaking. I enjoyed the stream-of-consciousness style of writing, and it reminded me heavily of the kind of writing one would get from Sally Rooney. I mean this as a compliment to both Plath and Rooney, of course.
I write this review to caution the reader, however. It is extremely graphic and even though I used to think content warnings unnecessary when reading books, and maybe I should have expected it, I was a bit caught off guard by the descriptions of suicide.
I think maybe I shouldn't have read this book. Even though I know it will have a profound effect on me and I will think of it long after I have finished it, I think maybe it was a bit too much. Considering it is, in many ways, an autobiographical description of Plath's life, the content of the story and the events that proceeded in Plath's life broke my heart. Personally, as well, I will be going to college at a school extremely similar to the one both Esther Greenwood and Sylvia Plath went to. In fact, Sylvia graduated from high school in the town I will be attending college. It humanized the book in a way I did not think possible, as it had already been extremely personal.
I would recommend others read this book, but only after understanding the content and not considering it a lighter read.
4.5/5 stars
I write this review to caution the reader, however. It is extremely graphic and even though I used to think content warnings unnecessary when reading books, and maybe I should have expected it, I was a bit caught off guard by the descriptions of suicide.
I think maybe I shouldn't have read this book. Even though I know it will have a profound effect on me and I will think of it long after I have finished it, I think maybe it was a bit too much. Considering it is, in many ways, an autobiographical description of Plath's life, the content of the story and the events that proceeded in Plath's life broke my heart. Personally, as well, I will be going to college at a school extremely similar to the one both Esther Greenwood and Sylvia Plath went to. In fact, Sylvia graduated from high school in the town I will be attending college. It humanized the book in a way I did not think possible, as it had already been extremely personal.
I would recommend others read this book, but only after understanding the content and not considering it a lighter read.
4.5/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
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
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.
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
dark
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-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
Whilst starting off as a seemingly meandering, disjointed story, The Bell Jar demonstrates how seemingly random events can have such a defining, negative toll on one's mental health.
Whilst I at first felt that the story was disjointed from Esther's time in New York to her eventual mental decline at home, looking back and understanding Sylvia Plath's own struggles with mental health, which would lead to her suicide, demonstrates how there is not one singular turning point for a person, but the piling on of events. Esther struggles withher negative relationships with men, her insecurities with being a virgin, her resentment of being a mother or having to tie herself to one man, her unexplained father's death and her strained relationship with her mother,and so-forth . It leads the novel to be more of an episodic-style tale: each chapter could be it's own story, but the whole picture deconstructs Esther and, of course, Plath herself.
It's unfortunate the novel is held back by it's rather dated portrayals of Black people, and the more consistent racist caricatures of contrasting Esther's bad appearance to Asian nationals. You can argue that Plath was 'of her time', but it's reasonably understandable why these depictions would make the average reader, particularly readers of colour, uncomfortable.
However, if you can acknowledge these depictions and decide to continue reading, you will see a very interesting slow-burn demonstration of a woman's mental decline.
Whilst I at first felt that the story was disjointed from Esther's time in New York to her eventual mental decline at home, looking back and understanding Sylvia Plath's own struggles with mental health, which would lead to her suicide, demonstrates how there is not one singular turning point for a person, but the piling on of events. Esther struggles with
It's unfortunate the novel is held back by it's rather dated portrayals of Black people, and the more consistent racist caricatures of contrasting Esther's bad appearance to Asian nationals. You can argue that Plath was 'of her time', but it's reasonably understandable why these depictions would make the average reader, particularly readers of colour, uncomfortable.
However, if you can acknowledge these depictions and decide to continue reading, you will see a very interesting slow-burn demonstration of a woman's mental decline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
It’s dark, unapologetic, raw. It’s also a product of it’s time in ways that don’t age well (racist language…) Other aspects transcend time… the experience of a woman who comes to mistrust her own mind. Major stand out is the fig tree analogy, which has always hit close to home:
I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
Moderate: Addiction, Self harm
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt