This is a delayed review as I didn't want to review it immediately after reading it to see if my opinion was just a "reader's high" or if it was truly legitimate.

It was truly legitimate.

The Bell Jar is a story of a young girl with high aspirations who slowly descends into self-loathing and depression. Our protagonist is our insight into mental illness. Esther's depression is so real that I felt as if I were reading my own thoughts and feelings on a page. Some books, when writing about mental health, the introduction to mental health is often sudden and jarring. Sylvia Plath handles it perfectly and, by the time I had noticed Esther's depression, she was about to attempt suicide. She is admitted and her details of life in a mental institution and ECT was horrifying. I almost had a panic attack reading about it.

With all of that being said, this is probably my favorite book of all time and it's not even close. It tackles a subject that is very near and dear to my heart. Coming from someone with mental illness, reading this is almost like looking into a mirror. This book can be uncomfortable and I think that's intentional. Mental illness is very uncomfortable. I highly recommend this book.