A review by bookcentipede
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book left me thinking about it after. There were many times when I did not like the partly biographical character, specifically because of the racist aspects of writing at points. Which despite the time period of writing has to be acknowledged because before reading, no one mentioned it. 

And because of the scathing descriptions of friends, family and herself however I think this gives a very real portrait of the experience of depression for a woman like Plath in the 1960’s.

I admire it’s candidacy and awareness of its unlikeableness and believe this book is essential for understanding the world through a lense of what depression can be like.
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