Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

300 reviews

samitdhull's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Medical content

lilybarna's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

❤️❤️❤️ from the fig tree to the bell jar, this book left a lasting impact on me. I want to re-read immediately and re-process now and throughout my life.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Confinement and Sexual content

justagirlwithbooks's review against another edition

3.75

 “If you expect nothing from somebody you are never disappointed.”

The depiction of how mental health was treated back then was very... unsettling. This book was very trippy and confusing at times, but the depiction of mental health and madness was well done. The writing is good, and it's easily accessible to read. This book surprised me in some ways, and unsettled me in others. It was a pretty decent read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content

rebeccadiv's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

hawksquill's review against another edition

challenging sad slow-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

entre_fanon_y_weil's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

Sería un gran libro si no fuera por que es profundamente racista.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

mangonana's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Medical content

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

elmasbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

shaleen64's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-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? Yes

3.5

This book skilfully covers the issues of patriarchy, mental health and bodily autonomy.

The book follows the main characters decent into madness in a direct manner without any dramatics. It is particularly enjoyable how the writing style changes to reflect this.

The analogy of both the Fig Tree and the Bell Jar are both relatable and affirming. 

However, it’s impossible to ignore the blatant racism within the book, and whilst consideration has to be given to the time period in which it was wrote, the comments made just feel like a way for Plath to voice her own prejudices. For this reason alone I wouldn’t actively recommend this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Pregnancy

helenaps99's review against another edition

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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma