Reviews

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

user_3131695191912's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

klaky15_94's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

ec1's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

m32's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.0

devotio's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

I was struck by how contemporary this felt, and intrigued by how familiar and sharp some sections were. Simultaneously, I feel like in some ways I have “outgrown” the text - though it did highlight for me that I’ll always be a Tumblr girlie at heart. 

tuliterary'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? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

“There ought, I thought, to be a ritual for being born twice — patched, retreaded and approved for the road.”

jessreallywantsitall's review against another edition

4.0

"“How did I know that someday--at college, in Europe, somewhere, anywhere--the bell jar, with its stifling distortions, wouldn’t descend again?”

I've never read anything that describes falling into depression as well as this book. It felt very comforting to be able to have words linked to the emotions I've felt and how hopeless it seems when you're falling and you don't know how to stop. Well written and an important book for me, personally.

feeheeheeny's review against another edition

3.0

I probably would've liked this more if it wasn't for the jarring racism and fatphobia

jadenmarie's review against another edition

4.0

I loved this! I expected it to be much more confusing and hard to follow, but I wad interested the whole time and understood almost everything. Really good!

lemondropshot's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0