Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

865 reviews

iqlofty'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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, and Death of parent

bacob's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Racism

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.

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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

kirupom's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, 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

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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. 

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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

alexrobinsonsupergenius's review against another edition

dark funny 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Classism

etbliss's review

dark reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

bookedandbusy'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? Yes

5.0

This book was incredibly written, Esther’s depression was so well written and the treatment she received from other people showed that depression and other mental illnesses weren’t fully understood back then, and that no one truly understood her struggles. I found a lot of her struggles to be relatable, and I felt like she was a very real character. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, and Death of parent

smitha_r's review against another edition

This is a very relatable and well written book, don't get me wrong. But

her slow unravelling once she's rejected from her course after the internship finishes was not good for my own mental health unfortunately. I felt like I was slipping into depression and suicide ideation alongside her, so NOPE NOPE NOPE.

I will hopefully come back to this if/when I'm in a better mindspace. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual assault, Vomit, Medical content, and Classism

Minor: Racism and Antisemitism