Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath

63 reviews

sonyatheultimatereadinggod'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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Body shaming, Xenophobia, and Racism

anemonemona's review against another edition

dark 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Racism, Body shaming, Medical content, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Antisemitism, Suicide, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Mental illness

airr'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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Blood and Vomit

jiggityjog's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

The experience of deeply rooted depression is expertly captured in this book in such a way that it comes through with great clarity despite the fact that I am very different from the protagonist of this living in a very different time & place. I was pleasantly surprised to not feel overwhelmed with sadness in reading this book like I had anticipated I might. Instead, what I felt was a great deal of compassion & empathy for the book’s protagonist, Esther Greenwood, despite all her flaws. Even though the work felt somewhat incomplete in the end, when taken in the context of Sylvia Plath’s life, that lack of closure seems fitting for this story’s end.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Racism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Body shaming

Minor: Ableism

It’s probably not a good idea to pick this book up if you are currently struggling a great deal with depression and/or suicidal ideation. Consider waiting to do so until you feel a bit more on stable ground.

j4mes's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Blood, Sexual violence, and Injury/injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol, Misogyny, Cursing, Self harm, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Death, Gore, Grief, Terminal illness, and Sexism

Minor: Body shaming, Racism, and Suicide

rakkaussipsi's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Body shaming, Ableism, Medical content, Xenophobia, and Medical trauma

gothmiku's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective medium-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Sexism, Body horror, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

Minor: Blood, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Ableism

alerdman's review

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Mental illness

Moderate: Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Racism, and Homophobia

Minor: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Death

karol99's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective 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

I am really glad I finally read this book! I enjoyed that way it was written, there have been multiple sections of the book that I have underlined because the way Plath worded things was so eloquently done. I really enjoyed the way she tackled different forms of mysogyny as well as mental health all while the reader has to keep in mind that this book as well as the character is from the 60's - which is also clearly evident in the cultural/societal response to women and mental health at the time.

I specifically had a moment of reflection where I had to jot down my thoughts on mirrors and it's role in the story (Plath, p. 168): 

[Esther asked to see a mirror, and the nurse ignored her]
'Why can't I?'
'Because you better not.' The nurse shut the lid of the overnight case with a little snap. 
'Why?' 
'Because you don't look very pretty.' 

I also had a discussion with my mum about it. All the different factors and layers that were held in such a short line:  'Because you don't look very pretty.'  

I will leave at 4.75, and see how the book will further impact me - and if it does, now that I have finished it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Racism, Physical abuse, Blood, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Classism, Bullying, and Body shaming

siannn's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

1.0

Anti-Semitic mess. Not a book to be adored, it gets its lone star for the unfortunate realsism of suicidal thoughts. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Antisemitism, Blood, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, Bullying, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Suicide, Medical content, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Racism

Minor: Body shaming