Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

44 reviews

lelodo13's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

3.0

I have such conflicting thoughts on this book. It is beautifully written. It is so descriptive in how she describes emotions and experiences, it was fantastic.  The main character I found superbly irritating despite being written so well, that was my biggest struggle with the book I just wasn't invested in her because she drove me nuts. I finished in part because it was narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal who did a phenomenal job. 

*listened with Everand

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexism

elise_ngzy's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense slow-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

This is actually my second read of this book, and it's surprising how different experiences can change the way you view a book. The first time I rated this only 3 stars (one year ago), now I wholeheartedly give it 5 stars. I loved it. I love the prose, the way she describes the world around her, and the way when her perception and inner life changes you can see it through that as well. I love all the small details.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Vomit, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Racial slurs and Death of parent

veepopp's review against another edition

dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Death of parent

emmabagshaw's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism

abicaro17's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.0

Eh. This is probably the worst of the good books on mental health i've read. As someone who has read a lot of those books I feel pretty qualified to say that. Esther is a suburban girl taking a trip to New York, after she finds out she didn't make the writing class she applied for and spirals. Conceptually this works fine I think it was just written poorly. The whole New York bit doesn't add anything story wise and Esther is pretty un likable. She doesn't learn anything and the end seems pretty loose. Just doesn't hold up against others Ive read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria

micheberg's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

evemlacey's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading this novel. It's certainly a classic, and I can see why. I'm glad I read this as a teenager because when I'm older I can look back on it and review my thoughts.

If I could pick three words to describe this novel, I would say moody, feminist, and abstract. It follows events in the life of Esther Greenwood, who struggles with her mental health and life in general. You follow her in this dreamy, almost unreal state of mind throughout the book. It is quite dark and it's probably not suitable for people who get triggered easily.

This was an intellectual, thought-provoking read and I'll be on the lookout for similar books in the future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual content

eva_vva's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Infertility, Racial slurs, and Abandonment

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. 

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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

hannahcstocks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism