Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

2206 reviews

sndrr's review against another edition

4.25

dark funny 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

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Painful, vivid picture of a woman nearly snuffed out by patriarchy. I've read few villains as punchable as Buddy Willard and few protagonists as biting as Esther.

I appreciated and found humor in Esther's general misanthropy, but her racist thoughts, remarks, and actions presumably alienate audiences who could otherwise have felt seen by Esther. Additionally, a bit more structure and apparent intention with plot would have further elevated the piece. 

One of those books that you find yourself lingering on after it’s done. Worth reading for its portrayal of mental illness, especially as a woman in mid-century America, if you can swallow the bigotry and graphic content.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Suicide

montse978's review against another edition

5.0

dark sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment

hollyatree's review against another edition

5.0

dark reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual assault

hashimiriana's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt

kaja_linnea's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional 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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As soon as I picked this up it was hard to stop -such an intriguing work of literature! I cherish her writing style, it drew me in so effortlessly, however: I was not prepared for the cultural context of the US in the 1950s. Those racist and judgmental side remarks were very hard to read, but encapsulated the horrrors of the times.  One star off for this and its white feminist vibes, we can do better now please

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape

eliskacosway's review against another edition

4.0

dark 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Suicide, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt

katkleaf's review against another edition

4.5

dark 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, Suicide attempt

twigsssl's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt

Minor: Misogyny, Sexual content, Blood

msdish's review against another edition

4.5

dark 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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An important piece of literature, revelatory of the times in which it was written. Unnervingly honest. I understand why the reviews are so mixed. 


Note: Should be read with an expectation of the unfortunate and evil cultural norms of the time. Racism in particular. We take our classic literature with more than a pinch of salt.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Torture, Vomit

hatofulbf's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racism, Suicide