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A review by heyitslu
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I almost didn't finish this book. Right near the middle the plot of the novel disappeared entirely and the story turned into a near fever dream of discontinuous thoughts and ramblings. Thankfully the plot eventually returned but even then it was dry and entirely centered on a rather unlikable main character.
The novel did have some thought provoking moments for those steady enough to wade through the mess. The imagery of mental illness being a bell jar placed over your head causing you to be trapped in your own breath was rather relatable. Another excerpt, "I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree. Starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decode, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet", resonates with the struggle of indecisiveness and the consequences of losing all options for the sake of not choosing.
Despite the brief moments of reflection this book provided I can confidently place it on my "do not read" shelf. This book is meant for those who enjoy outliers, outcasts, and oddities with a penchant for darkness and depression. This book would have been greatly improved with a dynamic plot line but I suppose that's one of the downfalls of mental illness, a lack of forward progression, and in that sense the novel strikes a chord.
The novel did have some thought provoking moments for those steady enough to wade through the mess. The imagery of mental illness being a bell jar placed over your head causing you to be trapped in your own breath was rather relatable. Another excerpt, "I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree. Starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decode, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet", resonates with the struggle of indecisiveness and the consequences of losing all options for the sake of not choosing.
Despite the brief moments of reflection this book provided I can confidently place it on my "do not read" shelf. This book is meant for those who enjoy outliers, outcasts, and oddities with a penchant for darkness and depression. This book would have been greatly improved with a dynamic plot line but I suppose that's one of the downfalls of mental illness, a lack of forward progression, and in that sense the novel strikes a chord.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual content