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The Bell Jar
 

Bell Jar (P.S.)

by Sylvia Plath

Plath was an excellent poet but is known to many for this largely autobiographical novel. The Bell Jar tells the story of a gifted young woman's mental breakdown beginning during a summer internship as a junior editor at a magazine in New York City in the early 1950s. The real Plath committed suicide in 1963 and left behind this scathingly sad, honest and perfectly-written book, which remains... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  classic,  depression,  psychology,  american literature (all tags)

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Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
Meg S
  • Rated 5 stars

“It is not a classic for nothing. I am a HUGE Plath fan to begin with. This book is extremely well-written, albeit heart-breakingly sad. This story is engaging and worth every minute reading and re-reading. It is the tale of one woman's journey into despair. She is extremely intelligent and witty. Every woman and man will relate, on some level, to her thought process or experiences during her mental breakdown. This book is so real...it reaches out and grabs you in the most profound way.”

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Didn’t Like It

Renae O
  • Rated 2 stars

“Not a favorite of mine. I have no doubt that Sylvia Plath is an amazing poet, as the imagery in her novel is above average. However, I found the book hard to follow - especially the first half of it. It did make me realize that nothing is life is as bad as it seems. There is always someone worse off than yourself...”

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Community:
  • Rated 4.10473 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.5 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • lyn [is amazing!]

    lyn [is amazing!] said:

    “This is a pretty intense book to read, but its written very well. It had a really Catcher in the Rye feel to it at the beginning, plus it had lots of metaphors and it was a really beautiful book. Certainly not one to read if you are easily depressed though.”

    posted 3 weeks ago
  • Katlyn K

    katlyn k said:

    “My all time favorite book. I have read it twice. I think I love it so much because I can really relate to Esther. My favorite part was her discussion of the fig tree. BEST and most moving metaphor/imagery I have ever encountered!”

    posted 3 weeks ago
  • Selina C

    selina c said:

    “One of my favourites, I read it in my first year of varsity..it made an impression on me, as I could totally relate to Esther. Having suffered from depression myself - the book rang true. It is beautfully written, but I have to say I had to give this book away because in the end it depressed me that Sylvia Plath killed herself in the end. Maybe it is just my magical thinking but just having the book on my shelf affected me and I don't think it any good for me to read it over and over.”

    posted Sunday, June 1 2008
  • Pat T

    pat t said:

    “Odd Duck, I read this one too. I felt I had a cloud over my head all the time as I read it. Not one I would read over and over again.”

    posted Thursday, April 17 2008
  • buoyant

    buoyant said:

    “Seeing this cover, I am reminded of how intensely the book affected me twenty five years ago. I have yet to read a better book on the crushing effects of schizophrenia/depression in everyday normal life .... specially on one so young and talented. The film is loosely based on Sylvia Plaths own life and that gives the book its power.”

    posted Tuesday, March 4 2008
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