jordan_noel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Esther is self-aware and knows when her mental state is declining. She notices her moods and interests slipping and a strange, hazy, dark cloud descending over her life. She tells us wittily of the sane people who seem to mock her and rub their vital mentalities in her face as she knows just how messed up she has become.
In this autobiographical sense, you get a lot into Sylvia Plath's own life and the struggles she faced, even as creating such magnificent, long-lasting literary works. She describes the feelings of depression, suicidality, never feeling enough, never doing enough, and never being enough in the most beautiful, horrifically accurate detail. She's fought her whole life to be the best, winning awards and a full scholarship to an honorable university. And yet, she still can't feel like anything.
When her work doesn't seem to be enough, she begins to descend, not sure where her worth lies, what she could be, or even who she is now. Wanting to do everything and no longer sure of her capabilities for anything, this book is a scary, detailed fight for the ability to do what you used to, even though it's what made you miserable in the first place.
This is a beautiful book, though, this will be a tough journey for people who struggle with issues similar to Esther's.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism
This book does detail experiences in depression and a declining mental state.Spoiler
Additionally, the main character is institutionalized several times and experiences shock treatments against her will.< / spoiler>lumiix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Cursing, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Rape, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Racism, Suicide, Self harm, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Death, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racial slurs, and Fatphobia
anna_needsanap's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Alcoholism
summerrains's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual content, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcoholism
karol99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I specifically had a moment of reflection where I had to jot down my thoughts on mirrors and it's role in the story (Plath, p. 168):
[Esther asked to see a mirror, and the nurse ignored her]
'Why can't I?'
'Because you better not.' The nurse shut the lid of the overnight case with a little snap.
'Why?'
'Because you don't look very pretty.'
I also had a discussion with my mum about it. All the different factors and layers that were held in such a short line: 'Because you don't look very pretty.'
I will leave at 4.75, and see how the book will further impact me - and if it does, now that I have finished it.
Graphic: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Racism, Physical abuse, Blood, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Classism, Bullying, and Body shaming
i_love_swimming_and_you's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
elizam114's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Self harm
Moderate: Racism
tropical_depression's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Violence, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse
bugcollector's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Spoiler
tbh at the beginning the mc seemed shallow, and with constant racist (and other bad tase) comments, i found it hard to relate to her.
it happens so many times throughout the book, that you can't just let it pass and move forward right away imo.
at about page 140 i started to get what people like about this book.
the author does have a way with describing depression, and numbness. that part i found the most heart wrenching
to sum up, if you get skip the insufferable mc at the start, i think you find good soup 👌🥣, though i still finished it feeling like something was missing and i can't put my finger on it
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Racism, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Homophobia, and Racial slurs
fatedstorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Self harm, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence