A review by basil_stan
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A feminist classic that brought me out of my reading slump. The book develops the flawed character of Esther as she dives deeper into her depression, fuelled by the contemporary double standards and treatment of women. It's witty and the fig tree metaphor was something that really stood out for me. If you're squeamish the final parts of the book may be hard to stomach and I found myself having to put down the book for 5 minutes in between parts, plus the treatment of black characters (while not a major focus of the book) was definitely from an antiquated point of view and was uncomfortable to read in a modern light. Basically a really good book but be aware of those key aspects! 
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