The Bell Jar
-
-
4.3 • 264 Ratings
-
-
- $16.99
Publisher Description
A realistic and emotional look at a woman who falls into the grips of insanity written by the iconic American writer Sylvia Plath
“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 chronicles the crack-up of Esther Greenwood: brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under—maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the reader into Esther’s breakdown with such intensity that Esther’s neuroses become completely real and even rational, as probable and accessible an experience as going to the movies. Such deep penetration into the dark and harrowing corners of the psyche is an extraordinary accomplishment and has made The Bell Jar 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.