A review by haleiyoung
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

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

5.0

I can't say more good things about this book. It was truly one of the best books I have read in a while. I love the way the story was told between flashbacks of specific moments in her life that corresponded to what was happening presently, to how she described her daily life and feelings. It was bleak, realistic, and so enthralling to read. And since I want to be a therapist one day, this book gave some first account insight to what I could look like to someone struggling and the kind of impression I want to give off to make them comfortable, as well as the kinds of things they are going through themselves in the most vulnerable light. Sylvia Plath has a great ability to make the most mundane things interesting to read about, and I loved reading every second of the book. 
I will say reading the parts about her attempted suicides and suicidal ideations made me deeply uncomfortable, but I think that's when I knew it was an important read. It was ugly to read, it was horrible at times to read, but that's what made it so great because this was like reading a real person's diary. These were Esther's deepest thoughts and it is a book that has made me think a lot since reading it. I would recommend it to anyone who wasn't triggered by the material. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings