Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

1174 reviews

alex_emilia_smith's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment

folklorestan's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional mysterious 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: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt

hambo221's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark funny reflective 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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Content Warnings

Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts

whimsycara137's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Alcohol

parsnips's review against another edition

2.5

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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The good: This is a well written book that manages to capture depression in a show-don't-tell kind of way which I found admiring. There is a certain lack of empathy from the main character towards the people in her life. She is rather harsh to other interns, friends and her mom. From what I know about depression, empathy often disappears when people slip into depression and depression can lead to a self-centred world view, self-isolation and loneliness. Esther shows all of this. 

The bad: I thought the book lacked reflection and the ending felt cut off. We don't get to see Esther build a new life on the new (emotional) freedom that she found (perhaps a reflection on the author's life). Esther never reflects on how her behaviour influences other people or how they may have done so in the past. In a way, although she feels better, the book ends before Esther can move past her depression. Thus, the book lacked resolve for me. All in all the book left me feeling icky and I was glad to finish it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism

lilym174's review against another edition

5.0

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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one of the best books i’ve ever read, its portrayal of esthers mental health is so raw and realistic. for a book wrote in the 60s it’s surprisingly relatable

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Content Warnings

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

lace_readz's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt

tita_loves_literature's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense 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: Eating disorder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Death

ash_12234's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt

emmafrancis's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective 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: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault