Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

169 reviews

himjenson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

I read this for the first time when i was 17, and i probably would have given it a 5 star rating at that time. I had only just started my own battle with depression and anxiety, and it was compelling to read such a raw depiction of how quickly someone can spiral into a horrible place. Especially when its written by an author who ended her own life at only 30. The first time i read it, it opened my eyes to how lucky i am to be a woman in the 21st centrury, where mental health struggles aren't as stigmatized, and i dont have to worry about being forcibly labotomized or institutionalized, or being denied a path to professional fulfillment, solely due to the lack of opportunities given to my gender. It also reminded me that i wasnt alone in feeling zero desire to marry some man and have kids and fall into a routine of domesticity.

Now 10 years later ive read this book again with a fully developed frontal lobe, and i cant help but read it with a more cynical attitude. There's a fair amount of racism and homophobia that i did not remember reading the first time, and theyre REALLY hard to look past for me. I recognize the era this was written, but i still dont love to read it.  Its also difficult to read the stream of conciousness of someone who is completely obsessed with suicide - its exhausting to get through mentally and emotionally, and i dont know how i did it the first time as a teenager. 

Overall, i can appreciate the impact this book has had on women of multiple generations. Even though its a kinda outdated 2nd wave feminist vibe, it is still a snapshot of an era that shows what kind of rules and expectations were placed on young (white) women, and the consequences for not conforming.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Homophobia and Racism

kingcrookback's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

I was...unprepared for but utterly unsurprised by the racism. Plath's description of Esther's mental illness, of being trapped under the bell jar, were very striking, though. I can't articulate why at the moment, but reading certain passages felt reminiscent of what it felt like to read Virginia Woolf's The Waves.

...what in the hell kind of vibes was I giving off in senior year of high school that made my yearbook adviser--who'd known me for four years at that point--recommended this book to me?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Vomit, and Death of parent

quinn24's review against another edition

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Suicide

y_mouse's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

tea_time'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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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

squibbers_stox's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-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

4.0

The book can be slow and at times plain unlikable. However, Plath is a great writer & the historical context of this book (& its subject matter) make it a powerful and transcendent read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

soap04's review against another edition

emotional 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

3.5

It was okay… i feel i went into it expecting more so was disappointed by all there was. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Confinement, Misogyny, and Abandonment

jelenwalker's review against another edition

dark informative reflective tense 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

3.25

Un clàssic contemporani molt proper a la Mística de la Feminitat de Friedan. Entenc la seva importància, però li calen avisos de contingut i un bon aparell crític per donar context.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and 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

graceliza's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Homophobia and Racism