Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

36 reviews

jiggityjog's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.5

The experience of deeply rooted depression is expertly captured in this book in such a way that it comes through with great clarity despite the fact that I am very different from the protagonist of this living in a very different time & place. I was pleasantly surprised to not feel overwhelmed with sadness in reading this book like I had anticipated I might. Instead, what I felt was a great deal of compassion & empathy for the book’s protagonist, Esther Greenwood, despite all her flaws. Even though the work felt somewhat incomplete in the end, when taken in the context of Sylvia Plath’s life, that lack of closure seems fitting for this story’s end.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Racism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Body shaming

Minor: Ableism

It’s probably not a good idea to pick this book up if you are currently struggling a great deal with depression and/or suicidal ideation. Consider waiting to do so until you feel a bit more on stable ground.

kibiiiariii's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Body shaming, Medical trauma, Ableism, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Death, Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, Grief, Mental illness, Homophobia, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit

sweetchocolatez's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Death, Cursing, and Alcohol

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Vomit, and Toxic friendship

josxphinchen's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Death, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Eating disorder, Drug use, Blood, and Body shaming

marjoleinvanderspoel's review

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Hmmmm. I do think it's well written and some of the lines hit so hard but! Its racist and homophobic and hurtful and triggering af and why does no one talk about this??

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Blood, Body shaming, Misogyny, and Sexism

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

little_moon_fae's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt

strawberrymoocow's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I am literally Esther Greenwood.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

ella_mai_46's review against another edition

challenging 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Blood, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Vomit

tropical_depression's review against another edition

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

It was sad, not that I was expecting anything else. But it was sadder than I had anticipated. It was just tragedy after tragedy and it truly got me into the character's headspace. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Violence, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse