A review by mariakureads
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is my second try at reading this book. The first time I had picked up a physical copy that I struggled to get through chapter one. I'm still not sure if it was me or the time in which I tried reading it but I shelved to come back to later because so many said diferent things about it that I knew I wanted to read it once.

SO this time around I went with the audiobook. Specifically because of Maggie Gylenhaal. I knew that if anyone could act this, she would and did she. She livened up the role for me right frm the beginnng and that enthralled me. Listening to her was listening to Esther and hearing her slight gigles and excitement at moments in which Esther felt that was everything. Maggie made her alive and so to hear her narrate this young woman's spiral downward was heartbreaking. She felt like pieces of me, of other women I know that at certain moments I had to pause and reflect and think what if?

Just finished it and I am still reeling from the depth of emotional connection I had with Maggie's reading because she did create this wonderful connection in her reading that made me think that for a moment she was Esther and that I was an interloper listening in but truly an amazing listen. 

I get it now. I wasn't ready the first time I tried but I was now and I saw pieces of me in Esther and Esther in me and I get NOW why so many people rec this book. It's not easy to listen to,and it's not meant to be so it's not for all but definitely listen to this in audio if able.
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