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zttoklu's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, I read this a while ago but I wanted to write some of my thoughts so that I can have it on here. I really liked this novel. It reminded me a lot of Girl, Interrupted but the pacing felt much slower than Girl, Interrupted. One of the biggest things that stood out to me in this novel was how prominent the Madonna-whore complex was. I think this is one of the biggest aspects of the feminist reading of this novel. The men in the novel only sexualize the women they deem promiscuous. These women are objectified and used for sex. But they’re not seen worthy of marriage. The women they see marriage-worthy are women they are afraid to sexualize. These women are more “innocent” or “pure.” Plath might be commenting this ridiculous expectation for women to fit into this purity standard in order to be seen with value.
In terms of mental health, it was insane that everybody around her insinuated that she was like the way she was because she chose it and kept telling her that she needs to stop “acting.” It is very representative of how mental health issues weren’t considered to be real during the time period. A lot of Plath’s experience can even be applicable to today where there’s a lot of stigma built around mental health within our society.
Plath does a great job making the novel feel like you are in her head. The prose very much feels like a long stream of thought. It feels like we’re in her head hearing her thoughts and insights on interactions. I think this is why it’s such a good novel. We are seeing the raw, uncomfortable aspects of someone’s life that deviate from the norm.
Lastly, Plath was incredibly problematic. Her discriminatory tendencies definitely reflect onto her writing. The way the main character interacts with other races is hard to read. The way she portrayed the only Latino character to be hypersexual and aggressive was disturbing. In a lot of forms of problematic media, foreigners tend to be hypersexualized and stereotyped to be “exotic.” It’s incredibly harmful to attach this “dangerous” and “aggressive” stereotype onto people of different backgrounds.
In terms of mental health, it was insane that everybody around her insinuated that she was like the way she was because she chose it and kept telling her that she needs to stop “acting.” It is very representative of how mental health issues weren’t considered to be real during the time period. A lot of Plath’s experience can even be applicable to today where there’s a lot of stigma built around mental health within our society.
Plath does a great job making the novel feel like you are in her head. The prose very much feels like a long stream of thought. It feels like we’re in her head hearing her thoughts and insights on interactions. I think this is why it’s such a good novel. We are seeing the raw, uncomfortable aspects of someone’s life that deviate from the norm.
Lastly, Plath was incredibly problematic. Her discriminatory tendencies definitely reflect onto her writing. The way the main character interacts with other races is hard to read. The way she portrayed the only Latino character to be hypersexual and aggressive was disturbing. In a lot of forms of problematic media, foreigners tend to be hypersexualized and stereotyped to be “exotic.” It’s incredibly harmful to attach this “dangerous” and “aggressive” stereotype onto people of different backgrounds.
jasminh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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
lelodo13's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.0
I have such conflicting thoughts on this book. It is beautifully written. It is so descriptive in how she describes emotions and experiences, it was fantastic. The main character I found superbly irritating despite being written so well, that was my biggest struggle with the book I just wasn't invested in her because she drove me nuts. I finished in part because it was narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal who did a phenomenal job.
*listened with Everand
*listened with Everand
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexism
eryn0007's review against another edition
slow-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? Yes
3.0
cort_kaye's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Maybe it was more profound before depression was invented? /10
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
sammykkayy'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
tinaxx2's review against another edition
dark
sad
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
dajanplackovic's review against another edition
2.0
Generally quite good and interesting,but a bit rushed in places and loosing direction, to the point where it seems to be a collection of barely strung together novellas rather than a novel. It does however convey the feeling of crushing depression beautifully.
dee_aria's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.0