Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

813 reviews

jez_bel's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

4.25

I had very high expectations for this book, and I have to admit I am a little disappointed. I wanted more from the narrative, I thought it lacked some sense of a bigger message. Some parts resonated with me and touched me, but not as much as other books i’ve read. Nonetheless, it’s amazingly written and will forever be a classic. Considering the social context of when it was published, it’s amazing what themes were explored. Could have passed on the racism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

meghanbisreading's review against another edition

dark emotional 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: Racism

zttd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.25

While the portrayal of all non-white and overweight characters was unpleasant and continuously caught me by surprise, the book delves into mental health struggles in a confrontingly real manner. A painful, beautifully written novel that I am glad to have read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Racism and Fatphobia

meccles_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Racism

piesxlorini's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia

hello_lovely13'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Racism, and Ableism

mysterygirl88's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-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

3.5

Portrayal of a young woman's mental illness
Rebirth
Psychiatry
Depression
Dissatisfaction with societal norms and uncertainty with self and the future

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

lilawsahar's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

3.0

Follows a young woman who deals with depression and suicidal thoughts.

After a suicidal attempt, she finds herself in a mental institution to help her cope with her feelings including shock treatment. It’s good that she ends on a happy note. But after reading the life of the author, you realize the experience of the character ties closely to the experience of the author. And the author ends up killing herself, which you can probably assume the character in the book does as well later on like Joan. I really hope that mental health services are better than they were back then.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Death

Moderate: Grief, Racism, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Death

jhump89's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, and Misogyny

Minor: Racial slurs and Racism

fruitsaladsk's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

The story on it’s own was good, very interesting and reflective, quite relatable. Though there were a lot of blatantly racist moments that were quite off putting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, Racism, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Racial slurs