A review by buffy87
The Bell Jar (Modern Classics) by Sylvia Plath, Harper Perennial Modern Classics by Sylvia Plath

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Damn, why did nobody tell me how fucking racist/Orientalist this book is? It is a great text for postcolonial analysis...you will find something in almost every chapter. There was a stretch in the middle that didn't have palpable racism and that was the only section I thought was okay. Nice to read without being assaulted.

If you read this from a Marxist lens, you'll see it full of classism and very quickly realize that your main character is privileged. 
It also has your run of the mill sexism and homophobia. 

All of the above made the reading experience so utterly unejoyable and triggering. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Fatphobia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Racism, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Lesbophobia

Minor: Infidelity, Death, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Vomit, and Death of parent