A review by jiggityjog
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

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.