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Melissa's Reviews > The Bell Jar
The Bell Jar
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Okay, I know this is a classic, well-written, etc. My rating is not based on the writing, but solely on how much I enjoyed reading the book鈥nd I didn鈥檛 enjoy it at all. From the very beginning, even before her breakdown, I found very little to care for or associate with about Esther. She seemed cynical, disdainful, self-important, and manipulative. I just flat out didn鈥檛 like her. So when she really began to have some trouble mentally (actually, even before that) I, as a reader, wanted to close the book and get away from her rather than keep reading and see her through it. When I did finish the book, it felt more like a relief than an accomplishment. This is not a story I ever want to revisit. There is much talk of suicide in The Bell Jar and it vividly describes what it can be like to experience a descent into depression. I admire it for what it is but it's just not my cup of tea. It left me feeling gloomy and unsettled.
In the same vein, I would recommend Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen. I felt more involved with that one and felt like I learned a good bit about the subject matter.
In the same vein, I would recommend Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen. I felt more involved with that one and felt like I learned a good bit about the subject matter.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
August 1, 2008
–
Finished Reading
August 27, 2008
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Liz
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rated it 4 stars
Jul 01, 2009 08:29PM
Thanks for the recommendation!
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I agree with you about Esther. From the very start, I found it difficult to like her.
This is EXACTLY how I feel about this book. The first half of the book gave me no reason to feel connected to this whiny, obsessive person. It was just sad. Maybe I know too much about Plath, going into the book and it ruined it for me?
I agree! I read Girl, Interrupted right before I read the Bell Jar and found Kaysen much easier to sympathize with then I did Esther.
Melissa, thanks for pointing out why I'm having such trouble with this book.. I feel the same way. I also enjoyed much more Girl, Interrupted
Urm, I may be missing something,at which point was she manipulative?
It's been nearly four years since I read this book so I only remember it vaguely. I seem to recall a situation in which Esther manipulates the dean into letting her out of a class she thought was going to be very hard for her (I think it was chemistry?) by convincing the teacher that she should take something that would challenge her intellect instead of sitting through chemistry for an easy A. At the time, I thought it was kind of an eye-roller that she would avoid her problem rather than accept the challenge. I can see now though that Esther's difficultly with handling this kind of pressure might have been written in to show symptoms of her oncoming troubles. One of the reasons I still think the book was well-written. :)
I thought the exact same thing. Down to the recommendation of. Girl, interrupted.
I thought of the same thing! I couldn't relate to Esther. She's self-destructive.
Yes agreed! It took me the first couple of suicide attempts before i put down the book.
Complete agreement. Can think of a thousand better ways to use my time.
I agree. I鈥檓 only halfway through but I can鈥檛 stand this girl already. To me she just seems so boring, or maybe that鈥檚 just the lack of plot that鈥檚 giving me that feeling. I want to finish it just to say I did, since this is considered a classic, but wow it鈥檚 a slog to get through.
I want to finish this but it鈥檚 a pain to get through. I want to find beauty in this book but I just *sigh* put it down several times. Still trying to decide if I should continue reading this
Completely Agree!!! @Venessa same tbh i DNFed at the end because it was too confusing to me
I had the same experience!
I finished the book today, and I had the same thoughts and experience. I also couldn't relate to Esther.
I just finished this book and I鈥檓 so relieved to be done with it. I had a hard time with the different storylines and how they randomly picked up and just struggled to feel any empathy toward Esther.
Bell Jar left me indifferent as well..
Your review represented me. I couldn't get involved in the story.
You expressed my thoughts to a tee.
