A review by lillianreads
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

reflective sad 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

4.25

I had to read this for my uni class on American 1960s literature and I genuinely enjoyed it. Our professor warned us that it's a depressing read and it definitely is that but it doesn't feel overly emotional. Sylvia Plath makes the world feel very removed and far away which captures mental illness very well in my opinion. The main character does things that seem to make no sense and at points you want to kind of scream at her. But that portrayal of the mc and her actions fit very well into the world of depression Plath has created.
 I loved the metaphors of the fig tree and the bell jar and the overall writing style felt very accessible. 
If you want to get into reading classics The Bell Jar definitely is a good place to start. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings