Bell Jar

Rating:
Summary: intellectual/social
Review: i could not count the number of times that i have felt as though my life was a no win situation. i completely identified with esther, not only because of her depression, which i too have suffered through, but because of the way that she feels compelled to choose between either her intellectual capabilities and the constraints of a hypocritical world. When both fail her... i was deeply moved at her genuiness and her vivid descripion... i would recommend that, if you have not already, you read this book. and if you have read it - read it again, and again, and again....

Rating:
Summary: Plath gives a true look into the brain of a neurotic.
Review: The Bell Jar gives identity to all of us who suffer from depression. Plath took apart the details of the life that hides behind a depressed soul, not giving definition to, but relating to those who suffer the same. One knows a truly well written book by how involved one gets into the lives of its characters. The time that I spent reading this book brought me to look at my own life. As a result, I lapsed into one of my depressive spells, but this was no ordinary "hate life" spell. I recognized so much that I shared with Esther. I asked my psychology teacher, who recommended the book to me, if most of his students come back to him and tell him that the book affected them in the same way it affected me. When a book forces you to look at your life and you find yourself completely absorbed into every fiber of its content, it truly is a treasure.

Rating:
Summary: Best potrayal of depression and women in fiction
Review: Sylvia Plath has a uniquely brilliant voice. Her disciplined, careful, quiet and emotional language makes The Bell Jar a masterpiece. It is both disturbing and understated; remarkably so when one considers the subject matter and the fact the this story is autobiographical in nature. Esther is a young woman blessed with talent and intelligence, and the means to exercize them. We gather that her life has been basically happy and satisfing. But privilged young women, perhaps especially privilged young women, are not immune to mental illness. We follow Esther through her increasingly distorted perceptions, which are vivid and accurate descriptions of a depressive's world. The treatments are almost as bad as her illness. But by the end of the novel, Esther is on the mend. Things are looking up; the dark journey Plath takes us on ends with a vision of light. This is made especially tragic as Plath herself committed suicide. Esther got through it, but Sylvia didn't. Anyone who has been lucky enough to never experience a major depressive episode will find a new perspective about mental illness in this book.

Rating:
Summary: If only the psychiatrists understood this well . . .
Review: Over the past few months I have spent hours in the library with psychology books and journals, trying to understand the depression I am experiencing. It wasn't until I checked out a copy of The Bell Jar that I began to feel less lonely. All the technical information I found in the journals was nothing compared to Plath's portrait of depression. She does not give lists of the symptoms of depression; instead, I felt clear recognition of the feelings Esther was experiencing. I recommend this book to anyone experiencing depression who needs to feel that they are not alone.

Rating:
Summary: An account of one girl's experiences with severe depression.
Review: The Bell Jar is even more powerful because it is an autobiographical piece. I would recommend it to anyone who has doubted the humanity of mental illness, to anyone who needs to open their eyes to the terrifying, ever-present pain of depression. The Bell Jar is not only a well written novel, but extremely good therapy.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: I found the book a bit confusing as the scenes were so abrupt and short...giving the feeling of being "disjointed" from the book at every opportunity.

Rating:
Summary: if a book were a child..
Review: ...i feel this way about this book....i've read this book many times...it was the first...and the last of all books that I have identified completely with...read her poetry...it's just as wonderful....i still refer back to the Bell Jar like a dictionary..quoting it...etc. etc.

Rating:
Summary: The book I've re-read constantly...
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read.

I do not know how many times I have read this book, but I suspect it is over 20. I would recommend The Bell Jar to anyone who has ever questioned their inner feelings, or who has ever felt as though they were different from others.

This book continues to strike a chord with me.

Rating:
Summary: Sylvia Plath's Ingenious Autobiography
Review: This tale of Sylvia Plath's life is extraordinary and phenomenal. You feel as if you are going through Esther's life, discoveries and experiences. It is incredible how Plath depicts Esther's every move with such detail as she struggles with life inside "The Bell Jar."

Rating:
Summary: Too much to handle.
Review: I could never find words beautiful enough to describe this book. It changed my life. I own over 20 copies of it, different editions and forms. Anyone who likes Plath or this book should take the time to read her poetry as well. "Ariel" is a good book of poetry to start with.