About the book
‘The Bell Jar‘ is Sylvia Plath‘s account of a young woman’s breakdown. Renowned for its intensity and its vivid prose, the novel follows her attempted suicide, hospitalisation and recovery.
Reviewed by Boater’s Book Club
All found it an easy quick read and considered it autobiographical, sensitively and well written and interesting with more to it than the first read highlighted. However all thought it would be difficult to recommend. We all liked the information on New York, the characters especially Ester (her intelligence, new awareness of life, how she described her thoughts, her usage of the fig tree) and we liked the title The Bell Jar and how that was represented in the book. All commented on the aspects of depression, its treatment, how it had come about and why she was depressed, her searching for self, the ordeal it created for her mother and the suicide attempts. It was considered good that the book was published when it was considering how suicide was viewed at that time.
Star rating: ***
Hampshire Libraries 
Review by Perspectives
A beautifully written description of the disintegration of a young woman’s mind. A powerful and emotive book. Quite difficult to read knowing what ultimately happened to Sylvia Plath but definitely worth reading – highly recommended.
Star rating: ****
LikeLike
Review by Godshill WI
This is a difficult book to “enjoy” but several of us did; others found it profoundly depressing. Nonetheless, it was beautifully written with some beautiful prose.
Star rating: none given
LikeLike