The Bell Jar
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4.2 • 347 Ratings
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
Performed by Maggie Gyllenhaal
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels
“A coming–of–age masterpiece.” —Boston Globe
""It is this perfectly wrought prose and the freshness of Plath's voice in The Bell Jar that make this book enduring in its appeal."" —USA Today
The Bell Jar is Sylvia Plath’s masterwork—an acclaimed and timeless novel about a young woman falling into the grip of mental illness and societal pressures.
The story chronicles the breakdown of Esther Greenwood, a bright, beautiful, enormously talented college student coming of age in 1950s America, as she navigates the pressures of society along with her own ambitions. While at a prestigious, competitively won position at a New York City magazine one summer, Esther finds herself struggling with the looming expectations of marriage, motherhood, and giving up on her dreams to achieve them. She becomes increasingly disillusioned and her mental health deteriorates, ultimately leading her to undergo harsh treatment and therapy.
""Funny, intense, enormously human"" (Cosmopolitan), The Bell Jar is a poignant exploration into the darkest and most harrowing corners of the human psyche and remains an extraordinary accomplishment from one of the country's most luminous talents.
Customer Reviews
Stunning narration, stunning narrative
First — it goes without saying that, even for someone whose primary medium is the poem, Plath’s apparent gift for narrative prose is on par with any established novelist.
Any woman, and particularly those in the throes of college, emerging into the working world, disenchanted with social performance, consumed by a sense of isolation and cynicism, will finish this novel with a heavy sense of familiarity.
Esther’s lucid, relatable, and startlingly rational movement into nervous despair should remind all of us of the fragile, temporary nature of selfhood.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, by the way, is an exquisite narrator. Never once in the course of this audiobook did I get the impression she was “reading from a page.” She told the story as though she were Esther herself, including emphasis and sarcasm, smiling audibly, and subtly altering her tone and breathing to make the story move reliably through time. An excellent performance.
Devastatingly beautiful novel, perfect reading. I highly recommend.
Amazing
Even my husband loved the book, MAN RECOMMENDED!!! 🙌🙌
his words were “this book is interesting 🤔”
Boring.
Someone get that narrator a Celsius. The vibe of the book is dull and oddly elitist. If this book is autobiographical, it shines a nauseating light on her cringeworthy entitlement and innate cruel nature. Plain and simple…Plath is a mean girl. She is who would happen if Cormac Macarthy and Hemingway had a baby. (Sprinkle in some Adele)
Self involved, ungrateful, selfish. Not at all surprised about how her story ended. Tragic. Stringing a set of words together does not make you brilliant. Figuring out that it’s not all about you does. A selfish, selfish girl.