Esther Greenwood is at college and is fighting two battles, one against her own desire for perfection in all things - grades, boyfriend, looks, career - and the other against remorseless mental illness. As her depression deepens she finds herself encased in it, bell-jarred away from the rest of the world. This is the story of her journey back into reality. Highly readable, witty and disturbing, The Bell Jar is Sylvia Plath's only novel and was originally published under a pseudonym in 1963. What it has to say about what women expect of themselves, and what society expects of women, is as sharply relevant today as it has always been.
The Bell Jar (FF Classics)
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From Amazon
Plath was an excellent poet but is known to many for this largely autobiographical novel. The Bell Jar tells the story of a gifted young woman's mental breakdown beginning during a summer internship as a junior editor at a magazine in New York City in the early 1950s. The real Plath committed suicide in 1963 and left behind this scathingly sad, honest and perfectly-written book, which remains one of the best-told tales of a woman's descent into insanity.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Library Journal
This 25th-anniversary edition of Plath's posthumous autobiographical novel includes a new foreword by the book's original editor, Frances McCullough; biographical notes; and eight previously unpublished drawings by Plath. Bravo to HarperCollins for putting all this together at a reasonable price.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By kimmy
Format:Paperback
The Bell Jar deals with many of the political and social issues of the 1950s, such as life within an anti-communist country. However, in my opinion, the most pressing issue is the conflicting view of female sexuality. In the novel, Sylvia Plath presents many different types of stereotypical women ranging from the then strongly encouraged role of a devoted housewife, to the sexually permissive female characters, to the successful career centered type woman. Esther Greenwood, like many girls going through adolescence, has a difficult choice to make: which type of women should she become, while having to keep in mind the sacrifices she will have to make for either paths of her life? What makes this interesting is how each one of these woman represents a different type of female empowerment and has come to influence Esther's perception in one way or another.
Sylvia Plath uses powerful imagery throughout the novel to help the reader gain a better understanding of the intense emotions a young woman goes through while trying to find her identity. I recommend this novel to all women, as it addresses many relatable issues women face when living under the current complex societal values and pressures.
Sylvia Plath uses powerful imagery throughout the novel to help the reader gain a better understanding of the intense emotions a young woman goes through while trying to find her identity. I recommend this novel to all women, as it addresses many relatable issues women face when living under the current complex societal values and pressures.
By TheTechGirl
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The title pretty much sums up my feelings about this book. There's always been positive buzz about The Bell Jar, but I found it rather slow and dull. The protagonist's complaints were not as interesting as those of Catcher In The Rye's Holden Caulfield. She was very dull and at times irritating. It's not a long read, but I wouldn't invest the time in re-reading it. Something like The Virgin Suicides may be better, but in the same category for readers.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was a gift for my daughter for Christmas and what she asked for and so it was the perfect gift.
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 636 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth the read
A different sort of story to read these days; old traditional ways, and the non-acceptance of depression. A dark read, but also interesting.
Published on July 11 2010 by Booklover
5.0 out of 5 stars
`The air of the bell jar wadded around me and I couldn't stir.'
Esther Greenwood, a college student from Massachusetts wins a dream assignment, with eleven other students, on a big New York fashion magazine. Read more
Published on April 20 2010 by J. Cameron-Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars
A look a depression
A clasic I recomend reading. if you didn't already know plath published this book under a sudo name and two weeks later committed suicide. Read more
Published on Sep 25 2009 by Amy Sinclair
5.0 out of 5 stars
funny, lyrical, and sometimes painful -- like your own life
Don't be put off by the book's reputation as the story of a depressed not-quite-a-woman-not-a-girl protagonist--and certainly don't be put off by the fact that Sylvia Plath died... Read more
Published on July 11 2004 by Gogs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
This was the first book we read in our book club and we gave it five stars! When reading this keep in my the 'semi-autobiographical' nature of the story. Read more
Published on April 22 2004 by Kerry
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating and Real
Read it through in less than a few days and could not, would not put it down. The Bell Jar allowed me to see into the depth of the character's feelings and mind. Read more
Published on April 6 2004 by "bokchoygurl"
3.0 out of 5 stars
Had to see what all the hype was for myself
Well first, lets cut to the chase, the book is not as bad as a three star, but not worthy of a four star either. I'd give it a passing grade of 72%. Read more
Published on Mar 5 2004 by Huff Daddy
5.0 out of 5 stars
bell jar
i thought this book was really good because it showed the world through Ester's eyes. Some poeple say that it is just a depressing book, but they have obivously never been... Read more
Published on Jun 21 2003 by evanescent
5.0 out of 5 stars
Poetic Catcher
The story can be compared to Catcher In The Rye in that the main characters of both stories are similarly out of place in society. Read more
Published on Jun 12 2003 by Michael
5.0 out of 5 stars
anyone who can fault this work based on entertainment value
Anyone who can fault this work based on entertainment value
Anyone who can fault this work based on entertainment value is a fool. Read more
Published on Dec 15 2002 by Scott
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
