Reviews tagging 'Rape'

A Campânula de Vidro by Sylvia Plath

177 reviews

realcharliekelmeckis's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

oh my god. such a haunting and beautiful and powerful and incredibly real portrayal of mental illness and that terrifying void between youth and adulthood that no one talks about. the way plath manages to put what i believed to be indescribable and isolated feelings into words blew me away. i’ve rarely felt as understood as i did reading this. wonderful and horrible all at once, absolutely captivating, and i’m in love with plath’s writing. most importantly, i feel like i read this at the most perfect time in my life, and though it hurt to read i think i will be forever grateful to it.

note: of course keeping in mind plath’s casual racism, a sign of the times but inexcusable nonetheless

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Self harm

Minor: Death of parent

sotiny's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

euannn900's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

I never found myself fully engaged with this book. I don't think I am the intended audience, but I never found myself caught up in the plot. The writing is undeniably gorgeous and poignant and in the second half the book does become more interesting.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Blood

basil13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.75

This book is incredible. I can’t believe it took me this long to read it!! The writing is some of the most incredible poetic prose I’ve ever read. 
One warning: its an old book and theres is occasionally some not so great language. Specifically language that is racist comes up a few times. 
Also this book has a ton of trigger warnings! Don’t read it if you’re not in a good place. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Racial slurs

ralbee0320's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Forced institutionalization

emerlees's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

jhump89's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

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

Minor: Racial slurs and Racism

picnicatthehangingtree's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.75

Docking .25 stars for the racism and homophobia. Otherwise this is a near perfect book for me, I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. I think 25 was a really good age to read it at - that feeling of not knowing what the future holds and having to make your way forward despite all the uncertainty really hit for me. This is such an incredible portrait of life with depression, but with such a hopeful ending for a path moving forward whilst holding space for it as a part of you. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Infidelity and Pregnancy

_rowan_is_dead_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

avrilamber's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

Worth mentioning before I start my review that I would not recommend reading this if you’re struggling with your mental health as it is a difficult read. Please see content warnings.

I feel this book is going to become very important to me over my life. I felt like this book swallowed me up as well as gave me a warm hug.

I found Sylvia’s musings as Esther about life, death, womanhood, mental health incredibly relatable, which is surprising considering that this was published 60 years ago. It’s equally harrowing and comforting.

I saw so much of myself in the protagonist, Esther, her perfectionist ways, her criticisms of women’s role and expectations, how much her self worth derives from her achievements, and spiralling when things out of her control don’t go to plan. This book really hit home to me and it’s all the more poignant knowing the mental health problems Sylvia suffered in real life.

It’s a challenging read, but one I’m very glad I connected with. I will remember that fig tree analogy for the rest of my life.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Rape, Blood, and Medical content

Minor: Racial slurs