Reviews with content warning for Suicide - The Bell Jar

Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

2223 reviews

stickycheese's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional funny informative 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

"If I had to wait on a baby all day, I would go mad."

I really like how Plath writes about depression. I really resonated with Esther's struggle with depression and suicidial ideation. It was nice to see in words how I feel and the similar struggles I face regarding these issues since often times, it is hard to describe what I'm going through. I won't deny Plath's racism and lesbophobia was offputting, but I like to consider the impact this book has to be a discourse on depression.
Also I was surprised to discover Plath is unexpectedly funny. One of my favorite scenes is where Buddy takes off his pants and Esther is completely unimpressed with him.

Content Warnings

zasadzkaa's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

One oh those that’s only just fine at the beginning, but can’t stop reading towards the end of the story.

Content Warnings

teslis's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective 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

I got this book a long time ago from my cousin who had read it. When she gave it to me, she was a bit hesitant because of the books language and everything that happens in it. I get that it might not be the best book for a 14/15 year old. But I think it depends on the person. I’m 21 one now and read it and it was fine. There were times when it had to pause and think, because I would see other people in the book. I read it at the same time I had a psychology class so it was interesting.

Content Warnings

laura_dorman's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional reflective tense 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

Content Warnings

gandalf_a's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional funny 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

Content Warnings

rebspullupchuck's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was very mediocre for me, I didn’t love it but I definitely didn’t hate it. Truthfully, I don’t think old reads are my thing and I don’t necessarily love metaphorically reads either. Which this was both. I did however enjoy Sylvia Plath’s writing and the way she details the emotions of Esther. Being a woman is hard and doing it during this period of time would be even tougher. She’s a feminist but she’s also a struggling person in a time when people don’t understand either.

Content Warnings