Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

248 reviews

avawetherall's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Rape, Suicide, and Mental illness

ella43688's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Death, Blood, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

cecilialau_'s review against another edition

3.75

There are sort of two parts to this story. Not really what I thought it would be but fascinating nonetheless. I defo recommend checking the content warnings for any triggers as there are quite a lot that is discussed/showcased.
Esther is a deeply real/emotional/hurt/traumatised and interesting character who is more and more obviously going through dread and is disillusioned about life, but I found it very well-done how she herself goes through the motions of her state of mind. There are glimpses here and there but she seems shut off from herself.
A few things happen I would have liked more details about (mainly later on) but they don’t affect the rating/experience. And I also want to add that I admire the way that it is implied rather than spelled out how Esther gets to where she does mentally and emotionally (bc body and mind are connected) and how the change happens gradually and inconspicuously (which is quite realistic).
The book is very well-written apart from some stereotypical language use here and there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Body horror, Misogyny, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Grief, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Racism

samugranjo's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

When I was younger I had a very hard time with depression, now almost 10 years later I still have intense depressive episodes with terrifying thoughts but it's much more manageable. This book has probably the best depiction of depression, suicidal thoughts and burnout that I have ever read. I have never felt so understood, and at the same time so glad about how many things that I would have related to in the past are no longer part of my everyday experience. On top of this, the fig analysis has been a guide and a help through the last years of my life, making me remind myself that not taking action in making decisions is also a choice itself with its own consequences.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Blood, and Mental illness

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Racial slurs, and Death of parent

There's descriptions of bad medical practices with mentally ill patients, including a detailed shock treatment session. There's also a reference to a lobotomy.

veliana's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Mental illness, and Blood

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death, Infidelity, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual content, Sexism, and Misogyny

idonoteatchairs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Mental illness

maddalenacesco's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

rip Sylvia you would’ve loved folklore by ts 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Mental illness, Death, Body shaming, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

panache's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

fucking excellent

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Self harm

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Medical content, and Blood

jiibii's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Racism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Fatphobia and Forced institutionalization

mblanke's review against another edition

dark funny sad fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Medical content, Racial slurs, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content, Body shaming, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit and Alcohol