Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

The Bell Jar: 50th Anniversary Edition by Sylvia Plath

129 reviews

withlivjones's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

4.5

I get the hype with this book, it’s a very powerful and well-written read and the quintessential sad girl novel. Plath’s writing voice was truly ahead of its time in the way the she is able to so clearly describe the experience of being on the brink of leaving education and not knowing what to do with one’s life. As a fairly recent graduate with no life plans, I related to Esther a lot. 

There were definitely some parts of the book that dragged a little; just from hearing about the plot I wasn’t expecting Esther’s trip to New York to end so early into the book. Furthermore, there is So Much casual racism just thrown in, and I get that the book was written decades ago but it was still unnecessary and disruptive to the reading experience. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Medical content, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Mental illness

Moderate: Sexism, Fatphobia, Blood, and Homophobia

cecilialau_'s review against another edition

3.75

There are sort of two parts to this story. Not really what I thought it would be but fascinating nonetheless. I defo recommend checking the content warnings for any triggers as there are quite a lot that is discussed/showcased.
Esther is a deeply real/emotional/hurt/traumatised and interesting character who is more and more obviously going through dread and is disillusioned about life, but I found it very well-done how she herself goes through the motions of her state of mind. There are glimpses here and there but she seems shut off from herself.
A few things happen I would have liked more details about (mainly later on) but they don’t affect the rating/experience. And I also want to add that I admire the way that it is implied rather than spelled out how Esther gets to where she does mentally and emotionally (bc body and mind are connected) and how the change happens gradually and inconspicuously (which is quite realistic).
The book is very well-written apart from some stereotypical language use here and there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Body horror, Misogyny, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Grief, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Racism

emgici's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Fatphobia, Racism, and Homophobia

Pretty obvious racisim that was not necessary and it was a choice to add it in.

alex_emilia_smith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Confinement, Medical content, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexism, Self harm, Body shaming, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Alcohol, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny

parsnips's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

The good: This is a well written book that manages to capture depression in a show-don't-tell kind of way which I found admiring. There is a certain lack of empathy from the main character towards the people in her life. She is rather harsh to other interns, friends and her mom. From what I know about depression, empathy often disappears when people slip into depression and depression can lead to a self-centred world view, self-isolation and loneliness. Esther shows all of this. 

The bad: I thought the book lacked reflection and the ending felt cut off. We don't get to see Esther build a new life on the new (emotional) freedom that she found (perhaps a reflection on the author's life). Esther never reflects on how her behaviour influences other people or how they may have done so in the past. In a way, although she feels better, the book ends before Esther can move past her depression. Thus, the book lacked resolve for me. All in all the book left me feeling icky and I was glad to finish it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs

star_witch's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Suicide, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual assault, and Medical content

Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs

roxanne_beznosiuk's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.5

AMAZING, However the beginning was incomparable to the second part of the book which stops it from receiving the 5/5. Genuinely made me cry.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Mental illness, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual assault, Blood, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Misogyny, Homophobia, and Racial slurs

ale24's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Blood, Death, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Homophobia and Grief

mme_carton's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Suicide, Homophobia, Medical content, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Injury/Injury detail

aloy's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Violence, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Medical content, and Medical trauma