Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

1169 reviews

cmacmahon's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This is undeniably a great book. The writing is superb and the trials Esther goes through are captivating and very real. However, I would be weary that this book is emotionally challenging to read. Personally I found it a struggle, there were times I had to put it away because it was so difficult. But I've had my own experiences with mental health issues, depression and suicide, so I realise my perspective is biased. I've rated this so highly even though it was challenging for me, because the book made me feel like I was not alone in my experience. There was something so exposed and human about this book that really made me appreciate it as art. Overall, a beautiful piece that does not hold back. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment

katie69's review against another edition

3.5

dark 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

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Content Warnings

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

csharp's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-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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Already wrote a review on GoodReads, this book is going into one of my all time favourites.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt

Minor: Racial slurs

veposve's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional fast-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: Confinement, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt

hannahnwalding's review against another edition

2.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Alcohol

emmaareads's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt

fruitsaladsk's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The story on it’s own was good, very interesting and reflective, quite relatable. Though there were a lot of blatantly racist moments that were quite off putting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

picnicatthehangingtree's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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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Docking .25 stars for the racism and homophobia. Otherwise this is a near perfect book for me, I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. I think 25 was a really good age to read it at - that feeling of not knowing what the future holds and having to make your way forward despite all the uncertainty really hit for me. This is such an incredible portrait of life with depression, but with such a hopeful ending for a path moving forward whilst holding space for it as a part of you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Classism

Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy

thorney's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad fast-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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia

beccajreads's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt