A review by ixchel_anima
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

dark emotional reflective 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

I ended up having to shelve this book halfway through reading as it was bringing my mood down too much -- that is to say, The Bell Jar captures a lot of the nuances and feelings of depression and hopelessness extremely well. As much as it is about mental health, it also touches upon the struggles of finding yourself and your path in a society that actively wants to restrict your choices. I felt a lot for Esther, a student defined by performing excellently academically, and her anxiety about finding her way once her education ended. 
I'd feel strange saying I enjoyed reading this, but I'm overall glad that I did, and in places I really loved the kind of wry humour Plath brought into the narration. Lovely prose, too