I was fascinated with the beginning of this story, which some say it may have been a mirror to the life of the author.
The second half, is where it began to lose me. I do enjoy eclectic people and books; however, this was all over the place. I feel that if I would have read this when the book was originally published it would have been a five star read for me. ( )

FWA gues editor recommendation

Un libro che non mi ha detto nulla purtroppo. ( )

The author has a casual and easy reading style hence the book flows seamlessly from start to finish. It is a quick and effortless read.

The book is loosely autobiographical and paints an apparently accurate picture of a young woman going through significant depression. However, the reality is that the sensitivities of this book will appeal far more to a female audience.

As a baby boomer male, I had difficulty identifying with the protagonist's views and experiences, and frankly found her to be quite unlikeable. ( )

The Bell Jar tells the first person story of Esther, a very talented young college student who should be on the top of the world with a cool internship in NY. Unfortunately, she is grappling with depression which initially is just hinted at, but as the book progresses becomes more and more apparent. Plath's writing is so simple and yet so vivid that you cannot help but have tremendous empathy for Esther even though her behavior is not always the best. The book also explores interesting themes of sexuality and feminism and clearly evokes the time period (fifties) although the writing itself feels contemporary.

I hope to read an biography about Plath if I can find one; I think it would make very compelling reading after finishing this novel which certainly stemmed from Plath's own experience. ( )