Justin Monisit’s Reviews > The Bell Jar > Status Update

Definitely enjoyed it - but wish it stuck with its first half more (not to say that the latter half was bad, just different). Don't have much else to say that wouldn't spoil it already, but this is definitely one of the best novels I've read in a while.

The book is starting to suffer in the latter half - which apparently is a common complaint by its dissenters so at least I'm not alone. It was much stronger when the book was critiquing society and seeing Esther deal with its shortcomings.

The book is still great and nothing will tarnish that, but I just wish it had more of what made it unique.

...so that's what they meant by this book being depressing - it's such a brutal, unfiltered take on suicidal ideation and depression, and how cruel and apathetic the world can be in response; and how cruel your mind can be because of that.

Plath writes this as if it was no big deal at all. It's a subtle natural inevitably that her psyche breaks down to this point. I only barely noticed it. Brilliant writing.

I am really loving this book so far and I really can't explain why; nothing is happening and it isn't exactly "exciting", but it is interesting peering into her mind as she subtly becomes more disillusioned with the world around her.

The prose is so simple but in that simplicity it packs so much content in-between those lines, revealing more about Esther herself with what she withholds.

Okay now we are easing into the depressing part now...oh my.

I'm so used to the minimalist plot up to now that I'm kind of worried that the book will lose its best characteristic, but I have hope it will continue to be as great.

Man this book is beautifully written. I really am getting where Plath is coming from. What should be happy and exciting moments in her life are just shrugged off because to her - it won't mean much.

I can get a sense of where this book is headed - but I know fully well that even though I'm ahead of the story, it won't have an impact on how I feel about it.

All this time I was wondering why I was reading so slow but it had to do with the small font size I had to "save time". Enlarge your font size when using an e-reader.

As for the book - for some reason I feel like I should find this boring, but it is interesting. I find Esther especially interesting even though she doesn't reveal much. Still waiting for me to be emotionally destroyed.

This really reminds me of Catcher in the Rye where not much happens at all but it still is engaging. Something about this book really pulls me in. Esther does unfortunately come across as prejudice, but other than that, she is also genuine and faulty.

Still waiting for the emotional bomb to hit, and so far nothing has been setting up for that...yet.