From the Bookshelf of EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club…

The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath

Start date: December 1, 2022

Finish date: December 31, 2022

Discussion: CLASSICS READS

Why we're reading this: December 2022 - Bookshelf Catch-Up
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CLASSICS READS

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What Members Thought

Jan 09, 2022 caity added it · review of another edition

i decided that this year i want to catch up on some classics that i've missed, including this one. i will admit there is some trepidation to write my thoughts down about such a seemingly and unanimously loved book... but here we go.

the bell jar is a semi-autobiographical work of fiction written by sylvia plath. it details esther greenwood's mental health decline in the 1950s, and her subsequent treatment (medically by health professionals, and personally by her mother, her friends, acquaintances i decided that this year i want to catch up on some classics that i've missed, including this one. i will admit there is some trepidation to write my thoughts down about such a seemingly and unanimously loved book... but here we go.

the bell jar is a semi-autobiographical work of fiction written by sylvia plath. it details esther greenwood's mental health decline in the 1950s, and her subsequent treatment (medically by health professionals, and personally by her mother, her friends, acquaintances, etc).

i am a little unsure of how to properly express how i feel about this book. i've picked it up a number of times in the last 15 years, but was never ready to commit. it seems dark to read about the mental health struggle of a fictional young woman, while knowing that the author ended her own life so young. i think i need to give this another read in a year or two, and cement some of my feelings about it. until then, i have a few takeaway thoughts:

- esther greenwood is a believable and relatable protagonist. the articulation of her feelings of inadequacy gave me one of those "oh, wow.. same" moments.
- something I absolutely did not relate to was her blatant moments of racism. i am going to be combing GR reviews after this to see if anyone else has the same opinion.
- this book is sold as the story of esther's mental breakdown, but i felt like the whole first half of the book focused on the comings and goings of her day-to-day, without representing her growing struggle. then the second half, you start to see things unravel... for about two pages... and then suddenly she's going to the psychiatrist. I was anticipating more to her story before her hospitalization.
- i am so glad to live in 2022, where access to mental health treatment is easier, better, less archaic, and viewed favorably in society. (i am cognizant that still not everyone has equal access, however; i would say it has advanced greatly since the 50s)

in a few years, when i inevitably will pick this up again, i'll try to commit to a rating. ...more

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Feb 15, 2016 Michelle rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-books-read

Classic story of a young girl as she loses her grip on reality. The story itself was a little grim but the writing was wonderful. Sylvia Plath uses language masterfully to help the reader follow the main characters thoughts and feelings.

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