From the Bookshelf of The Book Basilisks…

The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath

Start date: December 1, 2015

Finish date: December 31, 2015

Discussion: December 2015 Book Discussions

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 2 topics — 25 comments total

December 2015 Book Discussions

December Group Read: The Bell Jar
By Ayunda · 14 posts · 18 views

last updated Dec 23, 2015 01:19PM

December Group Read
By Ayunda · 9 posts · 14 views

last updated Nov 15, 2015 08:49AM

What Members Thought

Apr 12, 2016 Julia rated it it was amazing

Wow.

The Bell Jar was a very insightful and moving book. I was drawn into Esther's story, and Sylvia Plath did a wonderful job of describing her journey through depression. I don't have much to say about the book, I'm still kind of at a loss for words over it, except that it's a great book and I highly recommend reading it. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 16, 2021 A. J rated it it was amazing

“I wanted each and every one of them, but choose one meant loosing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.” – The Bell Jar

The Bell Jar is easily one of Sylvia Plath’s most well-known works, semi-autobiographical and published just before her death, the story explores mental illness in a way that had not been done before. This was actually the second time I had read Plath’s novel, but the f “I wanted each and every one of them, but choose one meant loosing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.” – The Bell Jar

The Bell Jar is easily one of Sylvia Plath’s most well-known works, semi-autobiographical and published just before her death, the story explores mental illness in a way that had not been done before. This was actually the second time I had read Plath’s novel, but the first time I felt like I really understood the work and was moved by it. I think one thing that helped me was reading a biography on Sylvia Plath’s life and seeing how her own experience with mental health inspired this story.

Esther Greenwood’s character was relatable to me because of her indecision. I really resonated with the feeling of seeing so much possibility and so many options, but also seeing the downsides to the choices and being unable to pick where one wants to go. This is why I included the quote at the beginning. I think Plath really gets at the heart of what it means to be a womb-having person, unfortunately even today there is a lot of pressure to be either a working woman or a mother. Or perfectly balance the two, which can be an almost impossible task. It’s frustrating that this is still true today in 2021.

It seems to me that there’s a lot of focus on the mental illness side of this book, which is a good thing. Plath spoke up about mental health in a time when women weren’t able to do that. But I also think she makes some really good points about the society that caused her breakdown. Would Esther Greenwood have felt so desperate if she had been raised in a society that didn’t pressure her to pick a path? Sylvia Plath’s biographer in Red Comet, notes that she felt like she had to have it all to be happy. Be the perfect wife, and mother, and poet, otherwise a part of her being would be denied. She felt like she couldn’t justify just being a writer, but she also didn’t want to just be a housewife. If society could just let people be people without pushing them into boxes, would Plath and be extension Greenwood have felt like they couldn’t continue? I know that some amount of mental health is inherited genetically, so possibly no matter what Plath would have struggled with mental illness. But I do think that society increases the likelihood of mental illness.

I feel like it’s hard to use a word like “enjoyment” when it comes to the experience of reading this book. Although one can certainly admire and take pleasure in Plath’s writing style, character development, and the overall writing techniques used to write this book. That all said I’ve decided that I like this book and I gave it five stars on Goodreads. ...more

Like · see review

Sep 08, 2017 Stevie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, between-two-books, rory-gilmore

I hate rereading books. But, after finishing this - I just know I'm going to reread this in the future and love it just the same, if not more.
It's the same feeling I had after finishing one of my favorite books, WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE.

I'm so glad to have stumbled upon this copy at a local thrift store.
Thank the stars that I decided to visit the book section that day.

I loved this.
Her writing was haunting and chilling and there was something very nuance about it.
The behavior and the pe ...more

Like · see review