Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

171 reviews

jacwil's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

em_anderso42'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: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Suicide

Minor: Racism and Homophobia

iamjudgedredd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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

I know this was compulsory reading for many people at school, but I missed the boat on this one. I think it's very polarizing simply because it was compulsory. The book is an arresting window into mental health. You've never read a portrait of the complexity of mental well-being quite like this before. There were parts where I almost dropped the physical book it's so accurate. The Bell Jar contains a lot of truth, and whilst there's a lot of awful things and people in it, there's also a theme of hope, healing, freedom, and joy. I'm so glad I read this later in life, as a more mature reader. I feel like if I'd read this as a teen I too might have missed a lot of the depth and richness of it. Outstanding novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Panic attacks/disorders

sholtie's review against another edition

challenging dark funny fast-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

What can I say? This book walked so every other piece of media i love could run

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Racism, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Medical trauma, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Blood

tessmcn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.5

Stunning. With all the positive reviews, I assumed it had to be overrated, but I was so wrong. This novel was delicious. A narrative on the heart wrenching reality that women often face of being classified as crazy, which was only amplified in the 1940s. Heartbreaking and hopeful and healing and destructive. Sylvia ate. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual violence

centaurstesticle's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Suicide, Drug use, Sexism, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, and Sexual assault

ankiaisreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective relaxing sad tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Alcohol, Body horror, Drug use, Fatphobia, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual content, Confinement, Vomit, Infidelity, Death, Medical content, Sexual assault, Grief, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, and Suicide

hgraham98's review against another edition

dark sad medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Self harm, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Sexism

luckyonesoph's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-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

3.25

girlhood is fucked up!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual violence, Racism, and Vomit

dixiecarroll's review against another edition

dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Stunning. Visceral. Relatable. I loved every second of this. If you told me it was published in 2023 I would believe you - it feels so now and so contemporary for 1963. I cannot recommend this enough (obviously there are a ton of triggers, but that shouldn’t be a surprise)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Mental illness, and Sexual assault