catjoelle's review
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Bitches from the 60s will have a psychotic break and still find the time to be racist
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racial slurs, and Mental illness
melissabbc86e's review against another edition
5.0
They say important books find you when they are supposed to, but I wish I'd read this three to five years ago. I loved it. It may be my new favorite book. On my scale, there are 5 star books and then there are 5+ star books, books you'd take with you if you went on the run. This is one of those books for me.
In tone and style it reminded me of The Catcher in the Rye; in content it reminded me of Girl, Interrupted.
I listened to an audiobook of this, read by Maggie Gyllenhaal. It was perfect. Her performance made the text accessible, relatable and intimate. I found myself wishing/hoping that someone would make a film starring her as Esther Greenwood. Brilliant. If you like audiobooks definitely look for this version.
In tone and style it reminded me of The Catcher in the Rye; in content it reminded me of Girl, Interrupted.
I listened to an audiobook of this, read by Maggie Gyllenhaal. It was perfect. Her performance made the text accessible, relatable and intimate. I found myself wishing/hoping that someone would make a film starring her as Esther Greenwood. Brilliant. If you like audiobooks definitely look for this version.
chelseaalwaysdreams's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
stphcls's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.75
k_dubzy's review against another edition
5.0
I think I loved it? Yeah…
It was kind of slow-going for me, but really took off at some point. I could strangely see myself in this story. Still in my thoughts about this book. May read it again soon. I also really want to know more about Plath now.
I honestly didn’t think I would like this book, but I’m trying to broaden my reading horizons, so I gave it a go — so glad I did. I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. Or related to it? Or maybe I just like that it’s making me think? Anyway, I liked it.
It was kind of slow-going for me, but really took off at some point. I could strangely see myself in this story. Still in my thoughts about this book. May read it again soon. I also really want to know more about Plath now.
I honestly didn’t think I would like this book, but I’m trying to broaden my reading horizons, so I gave it a go — so glad I did. I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. Or related to it? Or maybe I just like that it’s making me think? Anyway, I liked it.
nikodemus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
andysreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
leeve_me_alone3217's review against another edition
5.0
my copy of this book i got from the library was annotated and i think i'm in love with the annotator. (don't ask me how they got away with writing in a library book. i think they owned it first or something idk). but here's a line they wrote in chapter seven i adore:
"society places all these values and things on you and it starts making you feel empty. and when you don't fulfill them you are never happy again."
depressing, i know, but it really relates back to an above line they commented on in which plath writes about the need for escapism and how that's the only way that she can be happy.
it sums up this book pretty well, i think.
this first line is iconic. the last line is iconic. this whole book is iconic. i'm in love. and i love to love this book because it makes me feel and it resonates and the new york plath paints is so vivid and grounding while being exactly the escapism she says she needs. i can see why she wrote it. i can feel what it meant to her. it means a lot to me, too.
"society places all these values and things on you and it starts making you feel empty. and when you don't fulfill them you are never happy again."
depressing, i know, but it really relates back to an above line they commented on in which plath writes about the need for escapism and how that's the only way that she can be happy.
it sums up this book pretty well, i think.
this first line is iconic. the last line is iconic. this whole book is iconic. i'm in love. and i love to love this book because it makes me feel and it resonates and the new york plath paints is so vivid and grounding while being exactly the escapism she says she needs. i can see why she wrote it. i can feel what it meant to her. it means a lot to me, too.