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A review by keysmashhh
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Plot: 4.5
Character: 4.5/5
Relationships: 3.5/5
World-Building: 3.5/5
Genre: 5/5
things I liked
- THIS BOOK IS ABSOLUTELY THE FEMALE VERSION OF THE CATCHER IN RYE!! So much so that at one point the main character uses the word "phony" and I was sure the MC must have been based on Holden Caufield
- I loved the very strong sense of character voice, and the cynicism of the main character was a great read
- the plot genuinely shocked me at points, I think the fact I went into this book knowing very little about it helped make it more of a shock when major plot twists happened
- I loved the way Slyvia Plath writes, like most classics with lots of big fluffy metaphors and purple prose infuriates me but this book used such interesting literary devices and comparisons without distracting me from the essence of the story
- at the end of the audiobook it had an interesting biographical section about Sylvia plath which was v. interesting
- I can't quite describe it but something about the way the settings were written was really effective in this book
- the lady who narrated the audiobook had a nice voice :)
- there wasn't a moment where I felt like it was too slow or too fast
- definatly makes me want to read other classic feminist novels
things that were meh
- all the other characters sort of fell short compared to the protagonist
things I didn't like
- the blatant racism made this book super uncomfortable to read at points
Character: 4.5/5
Relationships: 3.5/5
World-Building: 3.5/5
Genre: 5/5
things I liked
- THIS BOOK IS ABSOLUTELY THE FEMALE VERSION OF THE CATCHER IN RYE!! So much so that at one point the main character uses the word "phony" and I was sure the MC must have been based on Holden Caufield
- I loved the very strong sense of character voice, and the cynicism of the main character was a great read
- the plot genuinely shocked me at points, I think the fact I went into this book knowing very little about it helped make it more of a shock when major plot twists happened
- I loved the way Slyvia Plath writes, like most classics with lots of big fluffy metaphors and purple prose infuriates me but this book used such interesting literary devices and comparisons without distracting me from the essence of the story
- at the end of the audiobook it had an interesting biographical section about Sylvia plath which was v. interesting
- I can't quite describe it but something about the way the settings were written was really effective in this book
- the lady who narrated the audiobook had a nice voice :)
- there wasn't a moment where I felt like it was too slow or too fast
- definatly makes me want to read other classic feminist novels
things that were meh
- all the other characters sort of fell short compared to the protagonist
things I didn't like
- the blatant racism made this book super uncomfortable to read at points