Rating: 
Summary: something lured me to this book...
Review: While reading something, somewhere, I saw this book mentioned, and I ordered it from the library. Normally I have a list of books waiting to be read, but for some reason I bypassed them and read this book.Wow! An incredible read! It was so well written, so real. I kept saying, "but she is so sane!" and then everything turned, like the weather sometimes does... I recommend it highly!
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT Classic!
Review: I've been trying to broaden my reading range by throwing in a few classics here and there. One I had been interested in for quite some time is The Bell Jar. And with the Sylvia Plath movie coming out soon, I thought reading this book might be a nice complement to that. And what a real pleasure it turned out to be! The Bell Jar does not read like a classic - "classic" being the term of very old books with very old language - the description I've always had for the classic genre. This book has a very contemporary writing style, and despite it being written in the 1960s, The Bell Jar's topic of mental illness certainly transcends the generations and can be related by many people no matter when they read the book. I absolutely loved it! The Bell Jar tells the story of a young Esther Greenwood at the beginning of her mental decline. She first recognizes its oncoming during a summer of interning at a magazine company in New York City. Trying to fit in with the other interns, as well as dealing with boys and co-workers prove to be a struggle at times for Esther. And later, when the real depression and suicidal thoughts set in, readers are invited into a dark and scary world, one created realistically and with honesty by Ms. Plath. This book ranks high on my list of all-time favorites. I'm so glad I read it. From now on, if people want to read a classic (or a darn good book for that matter), I won't hesitate to suggest The Bell Jar. It's fantastic!
Rating:
Summary: The Bell Jar, a stirring account
Review: When I read Sylvia's story for the first time I could feel her pain!
Her descriptions of all the hospital tortures she went through made me wince.
I reccomend that if you have any idea of who Sylvia Plath was that you read her novel, in her own words. It will move you.
Rating: 
Summary: Captivating portrayal of descent into mental illness
Review: As a psychologist, I believe that Sylvia Plath's novel accurately portrays the confusion and disorientation that accompany mental illness. Unfortunately, while the main character, a young college student named Ester Greenwood, rings true, the book itself is as confusing and disorienting as Ester's life. Plath's literary style seems to be to wander from scene-to-scene and present-to-past with little or no transition. The book was so disjointed that at times I looked to see if there were pages missing; how Ester goes from point A to point B is often unclear. Despite this, Ester is a real person undergoing a real struggle with a real disorder. Her thoughts of suicide are described in a simple, matter of fact manner that is extremely honest, and both the positive and negative aspects of her treatment are exposed. The book's ending, while optimistic, is overshadowed by Plath's own eventual suicide; it is the author's own experience and tragedy which makes this largely autobiographical novel a classic.
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Summary: well, what can I say
Review: Was recommended to me by my girlfriend. Didnt think i would like it, but boy did I. The suttleness of the emotions and the way it makes you question your own sanity.
Excellent
Rating:
Summary: Exquisite
Review: This novel is fascinating because it is not driven by the usual plot devices writers use to move a story along. The reader is sucked into this book by Sylvia Plath's exquisite narrative voice: her similies are still startling even after so many years, her word choices are flawless, and she is a master at choosing just the right details-- and nothing more to bog down the narrative flow-- that illuminate a scene. The plot has a true ring to me. I suspect that most people who have made it through most of a college program, and must confront the courses and people which they have managed to avoid for many semesters; that, or not finish their program, would feel the same way. I don't think a person must be depressive in order to relate to the malaise of the beginning of the book. By the time things become, well...strange, the reader has already been pulled into Esther's head, and sees events from her perspective. Her depression seems almost inevitable. Beautiful and perfect.
Rating: 
Summary: NH review of the bell jar.
Review: This book was very unique. Im not really excited about reading, but when i picked up this book i just coundn't put it down. My favorite part of this book is the short possitive messages they send. It was a real life story that inspire people to become better people. I ranked this a 4 because of the great unique writting and drama's. -nh
Rating:
Summary: The Ending
Review: One of the reviewers here stated "Plath should have spent a little more time working out the ending." The ending of the book was, of course, dictated by her own circumstances. The ending of Plath herself, however, is indeed something one wishes she had spent a little more time working out.
Rating:
Summary: The Bell Jar still resonates
Review: I just read the Bell Jar, and I was shocked at how much I could relate to the main character. Esther is 19 years old, and at that age I was feeling and experiencing so many of the same things. The time was different, the specifics were different, and our genders are different, and yet this book hit so close to home that it was uncomfortable, and yet cathartic, to read it. This book perfectly depicts the feeling of being a very young adult in our society, and looking at the world around you and seeing absolutely nothing that appeals to you. It depicts the confusion, pain, isolation, and even insanity that can be the result. I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially to young people who are struggling to find their footing in a society that can be cold, frightening, and overwhelming.
Rating:
Summary: Captivatingly Brilliant
Review: This novel is a must read - period. The way the author takes you into Esthers depression and brings you through each step of the way is just brilliant. Even as a reader, you realized she was in deep and every justified thought was turned around to show just how deep in she was. Its amazing and perfect. If you have ever gone through depression, then this book will amaze you in ways you could never imagine, because things you once couldn't understand or comprehend... you see in the book and suddenly it begins to make a bit more sense. You relate to it - pointing out certain parts saying 'I've been there...' or 'Thats how I feel...' and through to progession of the book, realize just how bad 'there' really is. I love this book to death and I highly recommend it to anyone who is ever remotely interested in it. I won't lie... the beginning was a bit confusing and made you wonder about certain things but by the middle you are caught up inside the book and you will never regret reading it.
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