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ralbee0320's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Forced institutionalization
emerlees's review against another edition
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
jhump89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
picnicatthehangingtree's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity and Pregnancy
_rowan_is_dead_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape
avrilamber's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I feel this book is going to become very important to me over my life. I felt like this book swallowed me up as well as gave me a warm hug.
I found Sylvia’s musings as Esther about life, death, womanhood, mental health incredibly relatable, which is surprising considering that this was published 60 years ago. It’s equally harrowing and comforting.
I saw so much of myself in the protagonist, Esther, her perfectionist ways, her criticisms of women’s role and expectations, how much her self worth derives from her achievements, and spiralling when things out of her control don’t go to plan. This book really hit home to me and it’s all the more poignant knowing the mental health problems Sylvia suffered in real life.
It’s a challenging read, but one I’m very glad I connected with. I will remember that fig tree analogy for the rest of my life.
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Racial slurs
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
lillianreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
I loved the metaphors of the fig tree and the bell jar and the overall writing style felt very accessible.
If you want to get into reading classics The Bell Jar definitely is a good place to start.
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Vomit
Minor: Racial slurs
wrennova123's review against another edition
- 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
I particularly loved the fig analogy and the symbol of the bell jar to represent the experience of mental illness.
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
petty_anthropology's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexism