The Bell Jar
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4.3 • 265 Ratings
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
Performed by Maggie Gyllenhaal
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels
“A coming-of-age masterpiece. . . . Sylvia Plath has become one of the influential writers of her time.” —Boston Globe
Sylvia Plath’s masterwork—an acclaimed and enduring novel about a young woman falling into the grip of mental illness and societal pressures
Esther Greenwood is bright, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under—maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath brilliantly draws the reader into Esther’s breakdown with such intensity that her neurosis becomes palpably real, even rational—as accessible an experience as going to the movies. A deep penetration into the darkest and most harrowing corners of the human psyche, The Bell Jar is an extraordinary accomplishment and a haunting American classic.
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.