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Summary: HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL, HEARTBREAKINGLY SAD
Review: A Catcher in the Rye for girls, the Bell Jar is as fresh and exciting as it was when first published forty years ago - it really is essential reading.
On the surface, this thinly-disguised autobiographical novel about wide-eyed young college student Esther Greenwood's experiences working in a summer job at a top New York magazine office appears to be a light, humorous read; but the hidden depths soon crack open as the story spirals disturbingly downwards into the black depression of Esther's breakdown, failed suicide attempt and subsequent psychiatric treatment. You only have to read the stunning Journals of Sylvia Plath to see how much this novel mirror's the author's own tragic life story.
Sylvia Plath is best known as a poet, and reading the beautiful narrative prose of this novel you can see why ... the words sing off the page! The Journals tell us what a talented and prolific writer Sylvia Plath was during her short lifetime, and The Bell Jar shows us what a major novelist she would have become if she had lived longer.
Rating: 
Summary: Sad
Review: This is a somewhat autobiographical account by Sylvia Plath> The main character (Esther) dabbles in perfection and suicide before ending up in a mental institiution. It was sad. My only complaint is that in schools, they don't put a lot of emphasis on this book or they just plain ignore it lik eit never existed. "The Bell Jar" should get more credit that it gets and be considered an American classic.
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Summary: Fascinating insight into the mind of the insane
Review: Sylvia Plath's semi-autobiographical story gives an outstanding insight into the mind of an insane woman. The excellent imagery in this book makes you see, feel, taste her experience. Book World described it perfectly when they say the book has "no reassuring vacations when we can keep company with the sane and listen to their lectures". Sometimes the scenes seem a little scattered with sudden jumps in time, but this is just another way she makes the reader see things how the main character experiences it. An excellent read!
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Summary: a confessionalist novel
Review: Let me first say that in rating this novel, I waffled back and forth between 4 and 5 stars. I finally decidedo n 4 stars, but it could just as easily have been 5.Sylvia Plath made a name for herself with her poetry and this, her only novel. She was one of the confessionalist poets, along with Anne Sexton, she studied with Robert Lowell. The Bell Jar carries her confessionalistic work into fiction. This is based pretty heavily on her life. The Bell Jar is like a Catcher in the Rye for girls. It's pretty well written, though you can tell it is an inexperienced novelist. It is a shame she killed herself so young, because not only was she a great poet, but she had such potential to become a great fiction writer. Plath successfully carries us down into insanity with her protagonist. The narration works very well in keeping the reader as disjointed as our heroin (It's similiar to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in that matter, only not to the extreme--and it paints a prettier and more approving picture of the mental health system of the time). We never get a good idea as to why the breakdown occurs, but as in real life, these matters are often confusing. My biggest problem with the book isn't the somewhat juvenile style of writing, but it is the ending of the novel. It seems a little to pat. We don't feel that the narrator has worked through her problems, or that her mental health should be better, it just sort of becomes better. Plath should have spent a little more time working out the ending. But it is a fine novel, one that I enjoyed.
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Summary: mind blowing
Review: Although I don't relate to this book as much as I thought I would, I honestly thought it was mind blowing. Sylvia Plath's story gripped me so much that at points i cried whilst reading it. Normally when i finish reading a book I am very opinionated about it, but this one leaves me speechless, I just don't know what to think. I've never read anything quite like it. It wonderfully describes the slow yet sudden descent into depression
Rating: 
Summary: Sylvia Plath Revealed
Review: I would love to rate this book as a five star, but it would honestly be not because of the quality of this book but because of the great admiration I have for the author. Sylvia Plath has a natural talent for poetry that is dark, lucid and sharp in its heartfelt emotion. Trust that when you read her poetry, it will absorb you and you will walk away drenched in it; it will hang on you in your daily life like a shadow. I strongly recommend reading Sylvia's poetry, specifically Arial and The Colossus. The Bell Jar does not tap into the writing skills that Sylvia is capable of. Perhaps it is because it is more of a recount, a truthful story than a visually painted portrait of the truth that she creates with surrealist imagery in her poems and even in her personal journals. This woman can write on a level of no other. In comparison to her other work this book seems almost written by someone else, or a child Sylvia. I did in fact read this book very quickly in anticipation of what depth Sylvia was to expose of herself. I believe she did just that in this book, in fact it was almost verbatim her life, with names and places slightly changed. Considering that Sylvia's life ended by her own hand, it's frightening to realize how honest this book was regarding her loss of hope. One can't help but wonder if in fact Sylvia planned this book (or it just simply is) her voice crying out from the grave, because it is in fact saying everything that this book is saying; I speak the truth, here is my pain.
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Summary: A tormented woman's legacy
Review: The Bell Jar is a poignant autobiographical novel about a young woman's road to irreversible insanity. The novel takes place in the sixties -- a time in which depression hadn't been delved into as much as it is now. While her mental condition worsened, Plath escaped her bizarre life by writing poetry. She'd also written this book. Even though she'd lost her battle with depression, Plath left this wonderful book as her legacy. The Bell Jar is poignant, twisted, surreal and, more importantly, insightful. By far, one of the best books I've read all year. I highly recommend it.
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Summary: Such a wonderful novel!
Review: "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath is such a great book.It is so honest & real when dealing with mental illness. I found myself unable to put it down & the main character so admirable. It was based upon the author's life & it just seems like a legacy. I definitely consider "The Bell Jar" a classic. I think everyone should read it to get a real glimpse into mental illness. I thought the story was so original & enthralling. GO READ IT!
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Summary: Ganci Book Review
Review: The Bell Jar is a novel written by Sylvia Plath. It is filled with the many obstacles and decisions a depressed young women is forced to face. This novel involves many young people, especially women, and everyday difficulties they must face. The bell Jar is written in a cynical tone. After reading this novel one m ay re-evaluate his or her own life and appreciate small accomplishments, successes, and relationships they are involved in.
The Bell Jar takes place from the summer of 1953 through to the winter of 1954. The novel is about a young woman who is depressed. This woman becomes a patient in several different mental hospitals. Throughout her adventures she runs into many obsacles and meets many new friends and different people along her road to recovery.
This novel starts out by expressing Esther's, the main character, worries about the execution of the Rosenburgs. Along with her worries, Esther explains about her new job opportunity. Where she travels to New York and is treated very well. All of her needs taken are of, special banquets to attend and is working at her dream job. This novel takes you through the course of her "madness." From plotting ways to kill herself to actually attempting to kill herself. This novel is packed with the heroic story of a severely depressed girl who finds some kind of peace and happiness within her life.
This novel is great to read if you like to follow someone's life journey, throungh downfall up until they finally get the success and peace that makes them happy. The readers of this book develop a kind of relationship with Esther. You can almost feel her pain and loneliness. The reader travels through time with her and she becomes more of a friend than a character. AT some pints in the novel you may feel as though she is consoling some of her deepest, most inner feelings with you. The Bell Jar is a great novel with an amazing turn out
The Bell Jar is a very cynical book. I appeals to many young women because of the problems the characters,mostly women, face. It's a book dealing with loss, depression, success, madness, and happiness. It is a great book and I recommend it to women, particularly young women. If you have read and enjoyed Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger I think you will enjoy The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
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Summary: Truly a Rush
Review: The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath, tells the story of the pain and rebirth of a young girl. We learn so much about her and her perspective of life. Although she's not trying to persuade you into believing her beliefs, she is trying to make your perspective on the real world open up. After reading this book, I am now opened up and enlightened. This book has brought me to ponder all aspects of life. It is truly a rush. Take my advice when I say, read this book!
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