Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

41 reviews

freya__b's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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

4.25

A challenging book, that explains complex emotions in beautiful language. Shown and not told how Esther was feeling. She's horrible for most of the time, but I still find myself rooting for her. You're really in her headspace. Very forward thinking for the 60s and some of the commentary is still incredibly relevant, espcially around women's roles in modern society. The graphic scenes and racism meant that I can't give it 5 stars, but it's a story that will always stay with me. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

rory_john14's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War

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

seana02'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Sexual violence, and Grief

Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia

bobblehead456's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

5.0

Sublime 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness

mysafe_place's review against another edition

challenging 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

2.5

Considering this book is partially based on Plaths own life it would feel wrong to bash this book in any way. Though I have to say that it was less than I expected. The first hundred pages were simply a dull retelling of Esther's daily life and just when we started to get a more profound view into her emotions and current mental state it switched to the most mundane occurrence again. I definitely enjoyed a great part of the book, yet it was not as philosophical (if I may say so) as I expected it to be. Good alliterations and some allusions, but rhetorically placed in a questionable way. Still a good book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Blood, and Cultural appropriation

courtmckenz's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

emeryreadsalot's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Alcohol

oscarwildewhore's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

sapphicsav'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

4.75

The Bell Jar’s stomach-turning, exacting prose and descriptions of the depths and cyclical nature of mental illness are unparalleled. I was struck by Esther’s body horror around pregnancy, womanhood, and fatness, but most of all by the eerie sense that the treatment she receives and feelings she describes do not feel like artifacts of the past in a world that has barely updated its understanding of mental illness since the 1950s. This is a different kind of coming of age story. It accurately details the uncertain and enduring nature of life with depression, and leaves Esther, so aptly, facing life itself.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship