Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

22 reviews

fleursreads's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

it's a book you have to be in the right mental space to enjoy

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Mental illness, Dysphoria, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Classism, Body horror, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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

3.0

i really wanted to love this. however, some parts of the book felt unnecessary to the story and Esther was just not a good person which made this so unenjoyable for me. despite her mental illness there was no reason for her to be so incredibly nasty to everyone around her. and her character targeting and physically abusing the only person of color and calling them slurs… for what? there was absolutely no reason for all of her rude actions especially considering how privileged she was. it did adequately portray the mental unraveling of a women in her early adulthood but it outshined by how awful her character was in my opinion. i was so disappointed :((( 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Cursing, Alcohol, Classism, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

karol99's review

challenging emotional funny reflective tense medium-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

4.75

I am really glad I finally read this book! I enjoyed that way it was written, there have been multiple sections of the book that I have underlined because the way Plath worded things was so eloquently done. I really enjoyed the way she tackled different forms of mysogyny as well as mental health all while the reader has to keep in mind that this book as well as the character is from the 60's - which is also clearly evident in the cultural/societal response to women and mental health at the time.

I specifically had a moment of reflection where I had to jot down my thoughts on mirrors and it's role in the story (Plath, p. 168): 

[Esther asked to see a mirror, and the nurse ignored her]
'Why can't I?'
'Because you better not.' The nurse shut the lid of the overnight case with a little snap. 
'Why?' 
'Because you don't look very pretty.' 

I also had a discussion with my mum about it. All the different factors and layers that were held in such a short line:  'Because you don't look very pretty.'  

I will leave at 4.75, and see how the book will further impact me - and if it does, now that I have finished it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Racism, Physical abuse, Blood, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Classism, Bullying, and Body shaming

julialozanoh's review

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, and Mental illness

Moderate: Fatphobia, Classism, and Lesbophobia

daisy_may's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Vomit, Homophobia, and Fatphobia

manu11227's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Body shaming, Sexual content, Mental illness, Medical content, Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Death, and Classism

halcyonkathryn's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Medical content, Fatphobia, Blood, Self harm, Racial slurs, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Suicide, Racism, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Vomit, Xenophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Cultural appropriation, Classism, and Eating disorder

pollydye's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i love this book so much ahhhh

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Classism

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Blood, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Medical content, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

faerieevee's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Fatphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Self harm, and Suicide

Moderate: Body shaming, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Classism, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness