Classics

The Bell Jar

The Bell Jar

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-11-06 09:51:35
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Sylvia Plath
  • ISBN：0571373070
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Summary

I felt very still and empty， the way the eye of a tornado must feel， moving dully along in the middle of the surrounding hullabaloo。

Sylvia Plath's groundbreaking semi-autobiographical novel offers an intimate， honest and often wrenching glimpse into mental illness。 The Bell Jar broke the boundaries between fiction and reality and helped cement Sylvia Plath's place as an enduring feminist icon。 Celebrated for its darkly humorous， razor sharp portrait of 1950s society， it continues to resonate with readers today as testament to the universal human struggle to claim one's rightful place in the world。

A special illustrated edition - the second book in our collection of illustrated Faber classics。

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Reviews

Mentor Yogi ，

The Bell Jar isn't about plot; it's about studying a head。 In this respect TBJ has done a splendid job。 Plath is very practical in her approach throughout the whole length of the novel， and unlike contemporary authors there is very less exaggeration; something like how Shirely Jackson writes。 My feelings about TBJ are conflicted though。 But one thing is there for sure - I will be coming back to Re-read it some day。 The Bell Jar isn't about plot; it's about studying a head。 In this respect TBJ has done a splendid job。 Plath is very practical in her approach throughout the whole length of the novel， and unlike contemporary authors there is very less exaggeration; something like how Shirely Jackson writes。 My feelings about TBJ are conflicted though。 But one thing is there for sure - I will be coming back to Re-read it some day。 。。。more

Alicia Lee ，

psychological descent was a little sudden， but I guess that could be argued as realistic and a portrayal of how quickly Esther declined from where she was at the beginning of the book。

Sarah ，

We all know the struggle

luciana ，

sylvia plath tenía una manera muy única de expresar emociones， desde las más simples a las más complejas， y en cada una de ellas， logró transmitirme algo。 por momentos， sentía que no era tan "fuerte" como decían， pero la realidad es que me estaba desgarrando por dentro， de una forma tan sutil que no lo notaba。su forma de escribir me encantó， siento que tuvo la cantidad perfecta de descripciones y diálogos。 en ningún momento me saturó， fue bastante fluida。mi única crítica es el racismo que plasma sylvia plath tenía una manera muy única de expresar emociones， desde las más simples a las más complejas， y en cada una de ellas， logró transmitirme algo。 por momentos， sentía que no era tan "fuerte" como decían， pero la realidad es que me estaba desgarrando por dentro， de una forma tan sutil que no lo notaba。su forma de escribir me encantó， siento que tuvo la cantidad perfecta de descripciones y diálogos。 en ningún momento me saturó， fue bastante fluida。mi única crítica es el racismo que plasma en la novela， con descripciones innecesarias。 pero hay que contextualizar， plath nació en el año 1932。 creo que nuestro trabajo， como lectores， es， justamente， reconocer qué está mal。 no voy a negar que perturba a la lectura， más que nada los primeros capítulos， porque se siente como un bombardeo。 pero， reiterando， debemos reconocerlo y repudiarlo， apartando a la autora de ello， ya que vivía en los 50s。 es nuestra responsabilidad， no la de ella。recomiendo mucho sus poemas。 。。。more

Wah ，

I'd give it a higher rating if it hadn't triggered me so much， brilliant for its time I'd give it a higher rating if it hadn't triggered me so much， brilliant for its time 。。。more

Andrea Bongiovanni ，

I had always heard how this book had impacted a lot of people yet never felt the urge to read it until recently， but boy am I glad I did。 Esther’s tale is one I think most people relate to when it comes to mental illness， particularly the anxiety and depression that comes with wanting to be successful but always feeling like you’re two steps too late。 I usually try to take my time reading books but I really could not stop to put this book down。 Several times I felt like the air was sucked out of I had always heard how this book had impacted a lot of people yet never felt the urge to read it until recently， but boy am I glad I did。 Esther’s tale is one I think most people relate to when it comes to mental illness， particularly the anxiety and depression that comes with wanting to be successful but always feeling like you’re two steps too late。 I usually try to take my time reading books but I really could not stop to put this book down。 Several times I felt like the air was sucked out of me solely because of how real and relatable her mental struggles were。 I think as a young adult it was so painful but refreshing to see how Esther felt lost and lonely despite seemingly having everything at the tip of her fingers， almost as if she is holding a clump of sand that slowly but surely is sleeping right through her fingers， escaping her life forever。 I felt swallowed whole by Plath’s writing， not only because of the story itself but the uncomplicated and effortless flow of the words。 The way she captures thoughts and feelings of anxiety and depression in a straightforward yet expressive manner honestly amazed me。 Mental illness is a lifelong disease and Plath manages to capture the highs and lows and uncertainty that comes alongside it。 。。。more

oskar ，

Pijnlijk herkenbare schets van een zoekende ziel。

smarandul ，

I don't know how I feel about this。 I do not hate it。 I in fact kind of like it。 I don't know what that says about my well being。 But yes， Silvia Plath you're still one of my favorites。 I don't know how I feel about this。 I do not hate it。 I in fact kind of like it。 I don't know what that says about my well being。 But yes， Silvia Plath you're still one of my favorites。 。。。more

cal ，

Nothing revolutionary， sped read the last three chapters。 It was alright at the beginning but didn't last up to any sort of hype， nor was I able to feel inspired， related or even just like anything from this book。 This is my first time reading sylvia's writing， I quite like some of her poetry， but this book was 60% nothing。。。like it made no sense half the time as well。 And I love things that go on about mundane life， but this couldn't even do that properly。 Really bad honestly。 Nothing revolutionary， sped read the last three chapters。 It was alright at the beginning but didn't last up to any sort of hype， nor was I able to feel inspired， related or even just like anything from this book。 This is my first time reading sylvia's writing， I quite like some of her poetry， but this book was 60% nothing。。。like it made no sense half the time as well。 And I love things that go on about mundane life， but this couldn't even do that properly。 Really bad honestly。 。。。more

andra ，

“I am I am I am” - I think for some reason these simple words will be the ones to haunt me most whenever I think of this book。 There’s such a profound meaning to it that seems to only fully unfold itself in my mind when I reflect back on everything that I’ve read。 It’s the sort of book that has a slow， gradual effect on your life; the sort of book you find yourself thinking about months after you’ve read it， daydreaming in the soft fresh gloom of surreal evenings。

fallon sherrill ，

huh

Sayuri Kokumai ，

Such a good book。 But I think I could enjoy it better if I wasn't called a slur ever other chapter Such a good book。 But I think I could enjoy it better if I wasn't called a slur ever other chapter 。。。more

Kashaf ，

I almost passed out reading a particularly gruesome part of the book-- so I wouldn't recommend to more sensitive folks who can't stand blood。 There were times when I thought the writing was absolutely beautiful。 But they were weaved into moments that didn't seem to add to the plot at all。 Randomly， the narrator would make remarks about people of color that were dehumanizing and simply unnecessary。 I related to some parts of the narrator's struggle with mental health， and I thought it was interes I almost passed out reading a particularly gruesome part of the book-- so I wouldn't recommend to more sensitive folks who can't stand blood。 There were times when I thought the writing was absolutely beautiful。 But they were weaved into moments that didn't seem to add to the plot at all。 Randomly， the narrator would make remarks about people of color that were dehumanizing and simply unnecessary。 I related to some parts of the narrator's struggle with mental health， and I thought it was interesting to see her train of thoughts unravel。 But overall， it was a depressing book and my life would have remained the same if I hadn't read it at all。 。。。more

Anjum Haz ，

Back to back classic read and this one won my heart too！In this era of mental depression， this book goes inside the life of a hard working girl， becoming a lady who scored A grade in all subjects she took and yet entered in a phase of depression， finding herself despising works she used to love…Living in New York in 1950 as a woman was much different than as a man， of course living anywhere was different。 But excelling in all ways as men and being treated differently is pathetic。 Esther， the pro Back to back classic read and this one won my heart too！In this era of mental depression， this book goes inside the life of a hard working girl， becoming a lady who scored A grade in all subjects she took and yet entered in a phase of depression， finding herself despising works she used to love…Living in New York in 1950 as a woman was much different than as a man， of course living anywhere was different。 But excelling in all ways as men and being treated differently is pathetic。 Esther， the protagonist， feels like an outsider in the prevailing culture。 Sylvia Plath depicts the character and setting with amazing details that makes you reach deep inside the time and place and inside Esther’s head。 You see the part of the city in 1950 as Esther。 You try to feel her pain or from time to time you can relate to her situation as well。A short read。 The scenes of the story change fast as demanded by the protagonist’s illness maybe。 I believe Esther would find more souls to share her burden if she was born fifty years later… this is a wine， gets better as late it is read。 。。。more

Adrianna Hładun ，

4。5 Mocna książka， szczególnie patrząc na dalsze losy autorki。

Cici La ，

The author did a fantastic job of bringing the reader into the mind of the main character。 However， the main character was apathetic and as the reader I kept hoping that that would change as I continued reading， but it did not。 Overall， it was a good expression of the character's mind， but it lacked a clear plot or intrigue。 The author did a fantastic job of bringing the reader into the mind of the main character。 However， the main character was apathetic and as the reader I kept hoping that that would change as I continued reading， but it did not。 Overall， it was a good expression of the character's mind， but it lacked a clear plot or intrigue。 。。。more

a__areads ，

Shelving because I’m not in the mood and emotional capacity to understand the FL; will probably read later

Felix Schaasberg ，

A satire on 1950s New York with so much meaning it's ridiculous。It looks at femininity， mental illness， and psychiatrists in such a modern way that i find it hard to believe it was written in the 60sOne of the best ever。 A satire on 1950s New York with so much meaning it's ridiculous。It looks at femininity， mental illness， and psychiatrists in such a modern way that i find it hard to believe it was written in the 60sOne of the best ever。 。。。more

Lucia Cayuela ，

Guau

Kate ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Sylvia Plath's writing is phenomenal， of course because she was a very talented poet foremost。 This book felt like reading the letter of a close friend， and the way her language and presentation of events changed as the characters mental wellbeing declined truly broke my heart。 I adore this book， and whilst I felt emotionally exhausted at its end， the description of depression and anxiety felt like reading my own diary。 The way Plath described the impending sense of dread towards the future that Sylvia Plath's writing is phenomenal， of course because she was a very talented poet foremost。 This book felt like reading the letter of a close friend， and the way her language and presentation of events changed as the characters mental wellbeing declined truly broke my heart。 I adore this book， and whilst I felt emotionally exhausted at its end， the description of depression and anxiety felt like reading my own diary。 The way Plath described the impending sense of dread towards the future that comes with anxiety was like finally putting into words something completely indescribable。 I cannot say enough how heavily I adored each word， and how wonderful it felt to see my own thoughts and feeling vocalised。 A book I'm grateful to have read。 。。。more

Tonya Mitchell ，

Loved the Bell Jar until it seemed to lose its shape。 A happy ending felt an odd fit。

Anna ，

Molt interessant per entendre com eren tractades les malalties mentals i entrar en el cervell d'una dona que en patia una。 Molt recomanable。 Molt interessant per entendre com eren tractades les malalties mentals i entrar en el cervell d'una dona que en patia una。 Molt recomanable。 。。。more

Dessie ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Very well written book。 I can't help but be influenced by the knowledge of what happened to Sylvia Plath - I almost want to give it 4*。The ending made me especially sad， because it was hopeful。 Very well written book。 I can't help but be influenced by the knowledge of what happened to Sylvia Plath - I almost want to give it 4*。The ending made me especially sad， because it was hopeful。 。。。more

Vlad ，

This book was long on my long list of the books to read， and I came by it by chance during my trip to the USA， so now I had to finally read it。 I knew the gist of it - that it was a thinly disguised autobiography， the tragic fate of the author， bouts of depression， that she was a poet and that her marriage collapsed。 But for some reason I made up a totally different picture of the book based on this knowledge。 The book can be roughly divided into two parts - a fly on the wall， witty description This book was long on my long list of the books to read， and I came by it by chance during my trip to the USA， so now I had to finally read it。 I knew the gist of it - that it was a thinly disguised autobiography， the tragic fate of the author， bouts of depression， that she was a poet and that her marriage collapsed。 But for some reason I made up a totally different picture of the book based on this knowledge。 The book can be roughly divided into two parts - a fly on the wall， witty description of the modern young female life in the early 50s， I'd say quite Salinger-esque， spiced up with description of a "man's world"， with emancipation and feminism seemingly long-overdue。 Then there is an abrupt change， a somewhat ambiguous nervous breakdown and the second half of the book actually takes place in an asylum， which I was not prepared for。 The narrative is continued in a matter-of-fact style， and the treatment process， the whole systems seems crude and inadequate。 However， there is not a lot of introspection on the part of the author， so you make up your own explanations。 You start to wonder， how many young women went psychotic just because the 50s society was structured in a way it was， where women were getting conflicting societal and biological urges and were not able to open up about their neuroses to anyone， even themselves。In any case， this was a great book by a definite young talent， sad that as it turned out there would be no more novels from Sylvia。 。。。more

ミンじん minjin ，

4。3Nice。 Her humor was perfect， made me laugh hard sometimes。 Listened to the audiobook for the first time， and it was really cool。 Good experience。

maca ，

Este libro tiene advertencias de contenido que creo necesario， se busquen antes de comenzar la lectura。 No se lo recomiendo a cualquiera。Leer este libro fue una aventura de sensaciones: en un principio， confusión por no entender por qué a la gente le gustaba tanto， luego quedar horrorizada （y encantada， al mismo tiempo） con ciertas frases tan contundentes， y terminar sintiendo al llegar a las últimas páginas que sí fue una muy buena lectura a pesar de las cosas que no me gustaron （los chistes ra Este libro tiene advertencias de contenido que creo necesario， se busquen antes de comenzar la lectura。 No se lo recomiendo a cualquiera。Leer este libro fue una aventura de sensaciones: en un principio， confusión por no entender por qué a la gente le gustaba tanto， luego quedar horrorizada （y encantada， al mismo tiempo） con ciertas frases tan contundentes， y terminar sintiendo al llegar a las últimas páginas que sí fue una muy buena lectura a pesar de las cosas que no me gustaron （los chistes racistas， menos mal que estamos en el 2022）。Lo que más me impacta （y ahora me hace comprender por qué tanta gente me lo ha recomendado） es que este libro haya sido una especie de 'autobiografía' de la propia Sylvia y que haya construido a un alter ego basado en todo lo que la autora sufrió durante su corta vida （Esther Greenwood）。Simpatizar con el personaje principal al principio es muy difícil （y diría que imposible） pero， con el pasar de las páginas， ese malestar que uno siente con la protagonista se va transformando （muy gradualmente） en lástima。 。。。more

Renan Torres ，

cortante :"（ cortante :"（ 。。。more

Domenic Ferreri ，

Review incoming。。。

Sienesappel ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Dit boek was zo grappig soms ik heb echt hardop gelachen。 Daarnaast was het gewoon een heel mooi boek ook。 Het klinkt een beetje raar maar de depressie is mooi omschreven。 Was heel entertaining

Ezra ，

haunting， beautiful， true

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Bell Jar

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Bell Jar&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Bell Jar&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0