Sylvia Plath: The Bell Jar and Poems

by Raychel Haugrud Reiff

A biography of writer Sylvia Plath that describes her era, her major works--the novel The bell jar and her poetry--her life, and the legacy of her writing.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Fiction

144 pages, Library Binding

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Maya Akbay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bell Jar is my Bible, and Sylvia is the one person I feel like I know completely even though we've never met. Her poetry is too beautiful for words as well.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romanticized Depression: Insightful, dark, insane.. very Sylvia. Beautifully written.

[Connor Garris · Rating 5 out of 5]

4th reread of this book. Amazing. Will always come back to it

[Vannessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was not what I was expecting. I guess I should have read a few more pages in the book before I picked up this book at the library. I thought It was your typical classic book with an intro about the author's work/life. Nope this book was just one long intro. I was not happy at first since I needed to read the story for a research paper comparing a colombian poet to sylvia ( This is for a spanish paper). Afterward I'm glad I read it. The opinions in this book were interesting and now I feel a little more informed about the story. I really want to read The Bell Jar now. I bought Sylvia's other books Crossing The Waters and Ariel. On the flip side I like to typically read intros/critiques after I have read the said book. For fear of letting those opinions taint my own view of the book. I also like the element of surprise.

[lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect novel to begin my college career

[Kurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

54. The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath. 296 pages. This is an interesting, well-written story by the poet/author who eventually commits suicide. Actually, it is a text about her journey into mental illness. The story is not easy to read, but is worth reading if you enjoy stories from the author’s own point of view. ***Three stars.

[Kathleen McKim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, for an overview of her life. Offers an even-handed approach, by considering multiple explanations for the cause of her suicide. Less bias than I've read in other places. It's not a very deep discussion, but gets the job done as a secondary source for the high school student, which is the target audience.

[Shruti]

Dont know what to rate this..still thinking about it. Reminds me of 'Awakening' by Kate Chopin...but this somehow is more "awake". Will reread this I think...too many layers, too many themes for me wrap my head around. But, Plath seems, honestly like a wiser, braver, sparklier, tragic soul-sister.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still reading. So far not at all what I expected, which was a maudlin looking glass into one woman's descent into madness. Beautifully written. Loving it so far. Getting to my back-burnered books.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poetry and writes with such elegance.

[Mohamed Galal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some new insights into insanity, schizophrenia and suicide. A perfect recipe to lead a happy life. (I could never had a more ideal beginning of my day).

[Lucy Ellis-Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful heart-rending story of descent into depression, or perhaps a bi-polar condition, during the early part of the 20th century. Definitely part-biographical, and inevitably the knowledge of the tragic ending of Plath's life only weeks after she wrote this colours perceptions of the work.
The Bell Jar itself is an insightful tale of how an apparently successful 'A' grade student, who seems to have everything for a happy life, can be betrayed by her own brain chemistry, as well as by the social expectations of her time.
Esther seems set for a happy and successful life. She excels academically, and seems likely to be able to develop a good career. But she suffers inner turmoil, possibly to some extent situational after her father's loss. She also feels inadequate, despite her track record of academic success. Perhaps something of 'high achiever' syndrome - nothing she does is good enough. And quite possibly, there is the chemical element involved, the failure of brain chemicals to provide the right balance. She makes a suicide attempt. experiences suicidal ideation, and is treated at two different hospitals by two different doctors. At the second of these, a college acquaintance who is also being treated and who seems to be recovering, kills herself.
Throughout the book also runs the thread of the problems of being an intelligent woman in these times, when a woman was primarily expected to give up her own aspirations to marry, have children, and support her husband's career. Men are so much more important than women! Plath experienced plenty of all these issues in her own short life. She wrote this story from the heart.
Her poem 'Daddy' is one of her later poems. Its relation to the novel is pretty clear. I'm not going to analyse it here. I suggest you read it for yourself. The terrible ways in which she was torn by her love and hate for the father who really did die when she was only 9 years old, is heart-breaking. Her sense of abandonment, and her comparison of her feeling for him with those for her husband, has to be read and felt for what it is. RIP Sylvia.

[Cameryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative, I read this right after I read the Bel Jar, and after I finished this I felt more informed about the book (my review of the bell jar still stands. Still not a fan) However I did take off some stars because this book puts Plath in a progressive, feminist "light" that portrays the Bell Jar as a womens rights manifesto, but completely ignores the overt racism in the book? It's not feminism if it doesn't include all women!! And, unfortunately, it seems as Plaths works just pertains to white feminism.
I did find the organization of the autobiography/analyses very satisfying and fluent, so, three stars..?

[Emma Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay i had to reread the bell jar for class & obv i still love this book but omg it rlly made me depressed this time….when i first read it i feel like i romanticized it to a certain degree because i was struggling with similar things, but i just feel bad for esther.

also it’s very interesting to me how of the time some of the sentiments in the book are, but also how relevant they still feel.

it’s also another layer to read this and know that eventually plath will go on to commit suicide herself.
like ok happy spring break to me ig.

[Prachiti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sylvia's writing is no doubt very unique. Though the book was quite dark there's some kind of calmness in it. Almost like death but the book isn't all pessimistic the hope comes and it comes so neatly without the reader realising it. The thing that's most distinctive about the book to me is the writing, not the characters, not the story so much too but just the way the author tells the story rather how she makes us observe. It's wonderful.

[Chris Gillies · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rebellious voice, cuttingly smart like a venomous arrow. Her relatiosnships with Buddy (a first lover) and Joan (a friend from the asylum) were intresting, insightful and realistic. Doreen (a freind from her internship in NY) wasn't expanded upon in the second half of the book unfortunately. Plath communicates an aversion to societal norms, dies and becomes reborn again in this brutal yet honest depiction. Maggie Gyllanhal captures her energy perfect in the the audiobook. Highly recommend

[Anamika Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been interested in the minds of the authors. My mind gets stuck of how can a person thinks that perfectly and how they organised their work in such a beautiful manner. I brought this book all of a sudden and today I have come to the end of this book. Though my view overall the journey is of a girl who has achieved all she dreamt about and lost in her way. In her mind I found a girl who is independent who is strong rather broken and messed up as well. the struggle of her getting back in life and came to an end by her self is pathetic. So I wanna say that I love this book and wanna reread again ❤️‍🩹🌻

[bhavya! · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was so insanely good and drew on a lot of parts of mental health that aren't talked about. for a woman who had an extremely tough life, plath makes some very good points about life and the fact that people who are suicidal don't always want to be.

[Zoe Goetze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s a nice, easy read for those who are just starting to learn about Plath. The analysis of her works are well written and easy to digest. It’s not incredibly detailed, however the author cites many great sources if a reader wants to broaden their research.

[Chris Gillies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebellious, with raw honesty it captured the suffocating pressure of societal expectations, mental health struggles, and the search for identity. Plath’s ability to weave emotional intensity with sharp, introspective prose, making it a profound and memorable read.

[River Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, hands down, one of the best books I’ve ever read. The story-telling is vibrant, exquisite and captivating. The tone of the narration is unbelievable. So raw and heartbreaking, I was emotional throughout.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful novel about mental health and being a woman in 1950s America. Read this novel, you will learn new something about yourself or others. Ultimately, this novel shows that you are not alone.

[Hannah Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly depressing, but somehow uplifting and hopeful all at once? Found a lot of similarities to myself and Esther Greenwood, not sure if that’s a good thing. Beautifully written.

[Justlikechet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fig tree describes how it is tbh.
So Lana del rey coded

[Yaqeen | يَقين · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I wish the Esther in real life would’ve lived and seen her work come out to the world

[Theconticell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite depressing

[Ali Isla · Rating 5 out of 5]

i adore the work of this wonderful woman.

[Ginny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very depressing.

[Desiree Butinsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oldie...but a goodie.

[Janna Leyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless. Exquisite writing. Plath writes with such a familiarity it is easy to see how certifiably insane thoughts can be seen as sane. This book should be read by every woman.