Reviews with content warning for Self harm - The Bell Jar

Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

1169 reviews

godfrina's review against another edition

2.0

challenging dark tense slow-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 sadly didn't enjoy this classic at all. I find Esther insufferable. The writing is truly poetic but I couldn't get into the story, I took what feels like an eternity to finish it. On top of that, there's uncomfortable streaks of rasicm and fat phobia all throughout, possibly as a product of its time, but it takes you out of the story reading it in this age.

Content Warnings

stilestastic's review against another edition

2.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

Content Warnings

rheaaads's review against another edition

2.0

dark emotional reflective 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

abbivaux's review against another edition

5.0

emotional informative 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

m00nch1ld333's review against another edition

4.5

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Sylvia Plath’s writing is moving and incredibly easy to follow. As much as I enjoy classic literature, I do find that I can struggle to stay engaged. This was not the case when reading ‘The Bell Jar’. I found its portrayal of psychological struggles to be authentic and raw. Not only is it evocative and relatable, but it also marks an important milestone for feminism and mental health representation.

However, it's crucial to still hold it accountable for its poor portrayal of people of colour. The racist remarks throughout are uncomfortable and made me rethink if this novel was worth its praise altogether. However, after further evaluation and research, I found a piece on this subject written by a blogger who specifically prioritises the narratives of POC. I’ll link the account below as I found it to be incredibly informative and helpful in shaping my perspective.

If you are considering reading ‘The Bell Jar,’ I highly recommend seeking further information such as this post. It's important to educate ourselves and be mindful allies, especially when engaging with literature that falls short in certain areas.

https://www.instagram.com/blkstacks/p/CZSM6aIrNP7/?img_index=1

Content Warnings