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rory_john14'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
2.0
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War
clarascissorhands's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual assault
lelodo13's review against another edition
- 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
*listened with Everand
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexism
tarlie_12_xoxo'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Alcohol
shaleen64'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
3.5
The book follows the main characters decent into madness in a direct manner without any dramatics. It is particularly enjoyable how the writing style changes to reflect this.
The analogy of both the Fig Tree and the Bell Jar are both relatable and affirming.
However, it’s impossible to ignore the blatant racism within the book, and whilst consideration has to be given to the time period in which it was wrote, the comments made just feel like a way for Plath to voice her own prejudices. For this reason alone I wouldn’t actively recommend this book.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Pregnancy
elove13'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
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Fatphobia
cafelatte235's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Sexual assault
ravenstag6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Grief
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, and Abandonment
crystal689's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, and Pregnancy
jarku's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
So perhaps this is my failing as a 21st-century reader--I don't expect Elizabethan literature to reveal all its cleverness to me effortlessly, after all. But given the hindsight to frame ECT's effect as a kind of lobotomy-lite (alleviating malcontent by dulling the whole mind, or just torturing patients into pretending they were cured), and the difficult task of untangling Esther/Plath's idiopathic depression from everyday womens' oppression (of course our heroine should feel Not Good Enough against the impossible social standard), The Bell Jar didn't grip me as much as I was hoping.
That said, Obviously this book is Important. Plath does give voice to some feelings we tend to be too shy to admit. I'm just writing this note to help myself remember that this book didn't satisfy my craving for Oh My God This Book Speaks To My Depression like Idlewild, for example.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racial slurs and Death of parent
Minor: Lesbophobia