violet03 's review for:

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

5.0

challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I really loved this book, it truly shows you the inner thoughts of someone with a profound mental illness. Although many dated terms, it is a book of its times and it does show the heartbreaking treatment of the mentally ill in the 50s/60s. What makes this book so devastating is the fact that’s it is loosely based on sylvia’s life,

with the ending showing esther’s road to recovery, something sylvia never got. Over all it’s a phenomenal novel and one of the classics for a reason! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent

Minor: Misogyny, Violence, Vomit