Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

87 reviews

cecilialau_'s review

4.0

There are sort of two parts to this story. Not really what I thought it would be but fascinating nonetheless. I defo recommend checking the content warnings for any triggers as there are quite a lot that is discussed/showcased.
Esther is a deeply real/emotional/hurt/traumatised and interesting character who is more and more obviously going through dread and is disillusioned about life, but I found it very well-done how she herself goes through the motions of her state of mind. There are glimpses here and there but she seems shut off from herself.
A few things happen I would have liked more details about (mainly later on) but they don’t affect the rating/experience. And I also want to add that I admire the way that it is implied rather than spelled out how Esther gets to where she does mentally and emotionally (bc body and mind are connected) and how the change happens gradually and inconspicuously (which is quite realistic).
The book is very well-written apart from some stereotypical language use here and there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Grief, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Death of parent, Body horror, Death, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

ashleeee's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Death, Grief, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Self harm

ale24's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Homophobia and Grief

mme_carton's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Suicide, Homophobia, Medical content, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Injury/Injury detail

seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Grief, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Racial slurs

lakea's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, Self harm, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Dementia, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Torture

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Medical content, Confinement, Racial slurs, Bullying, Fatphobia, Racism, Vomit, and Blood

bookcentipede's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This book left me thinking about it after. There were many times when I did not like the partly biographical character, specifically because of the racist aspects of writing at points. Which despite the time period of writing has to be acknowledged because before reading, no one mentioned it. 

And because of the scathing descriptions of friends, family and herself however I think this gives a very real portrait of the experience of depression for a woman like Plath in the 1960’s.

I admire it’s candidacy and awareness of its unlikeableness and believe this book is essential for understanding the world through a lense of what depression can be like.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Mental illness, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Racism, Self harm, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Grief

valentina_d's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Mental illness

Minor: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Grief

bzzzzzz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Sylvia Plath's writing is magnetic. Yet, given her state of mind, it comes as no surprise that this book is devoid of love, hope, or joy. I think art needs touches of these things to truly be a masterpiece. Also, it has a tragically distorted view of sex.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Torture, Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Grief, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, and Toxic relationship

kikalox's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Self harm, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Body horror, Mental illness, Grief, and Sexism

Minor: Vomit