Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

1169 reviews

meagwhalen's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This is a gorgeous, gorgeous book. It was a tough read for me mentally and emotionally, but a truly superb novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt

ellislock's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional 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

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 Beautiful prose, but without being too challenging. While the treatment of mental illness, women, and race is all clearly of its time, the journey of Esther through her mental illness is still profoundly relatable. 
Some favourite quotes:

“‘What does a woman see in a woman that she can’t see in a man?’ … ‘Tenderness.’”
“But they were part of me. They were my landscape.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Self harm

badassmarshmallow's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt

Minor: Suicide

mangomimy28's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark funny 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt

hannahethomson's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark sad 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 struggled to read this at points, as someone who has depression. This book does speak about mental health but not in the way that’s positive so trigger warning to those who do struggle mentally. I did like the book and the way it was written. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation

sharosuza's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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: Eating disorder, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship

approx37bugz's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

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

katharinaamaliae's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional sad slow-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

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I was really looking forward to reading this book for a long time, so my expectations were high. Mostly, I wasn't disappointed. The writing was, of course, amazing and will always kind of stick with me, I think. Especially the fig tree analogy. That and a lot of other parts were just something I could relate to so much, and Sylvia Plath put it into words better than probably anybody else ever could. However, it still wasn't five stars for me, mostly because, even though I could relate to the main character, Esther, a lot she could also be insufferable and, of course, it were different times, but it's impossible for me to just overlook the racism and fat phobia in this book. 
I also want to add that it's really important to check trigger warnings before reading this and that it's definitely not an easy read, that can really impact your mental health.

I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart.
I am, I am, I am.

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Content Warnings

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

k8tpie's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional 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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Content Warnings

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

vnavarro's review against another edition

3.5

dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt