The Bell Jar in The Insecure Writer's Support Group Book Club

Aug 29, 2018 Raimey Gallant rated it liked it

In this semi-autobiographical novel, Plath conveys, with endearingly hyperbolic and metaphorical prose I mostly want to mainline, what it feels like to be mentally unhealthy. Here's my problem: I'm tired of excusing literary racism of yesteryear as a product of its time, when with about fifteen edits, this book could be reissued as an inoffensive edition for those who want it. My guess? If she'd lived to age seventy, she would have reissued it herself. ...more

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May 18, 2022 TheQueensQuill rated it liked it

Shelves: am-i-rory-gilmore-yet

I have only read one suicide note in my life. It was a short note-only a few sentences that conveyed nothing- and to the point. Ever since I have wondered about it, asking questions that shouldn’t concern me. What was she thinking before she committed suicide? Why did she do it? Could have anything stopped her? And if she had written a longer note, what would’ve she said in it?

The bell jar is a 200+ pages of a suicide note, and Sylvia Plath says many things.

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Apr 13, 2021 Karen rated it did not like it

I found Esther's descent insanity, and her insanity unconvincing, though I admit that might be due to changes in the concept of "insane." What made it especially unconvincing, however, was the fact that it began with a quasi-rape that did little physical damage, and was ended, effectively, with the loss of her virginity in a manner that did considerably more damage than the almost-rape. ...more

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