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Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar

Sylvia PlathFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1963

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Book Brief

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Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1963
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New York City • 1950s

Publication Year

1963

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1050L

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Super Short Summary

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath tells the story of 19-year-old Esther Greenwood, a college student who works as an intern at a prestigious magazine in New York City but struggles with depression, identity, and societal expectations. Her journey includes a mental breakdown, several suicide attempts, hospitalization, and gradual recovery with the help of a compassionate psychiatrist. The book addresses sensitive topics such as mental illness, suicide, and sexual assault.

Melancholic

Mysterious

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.2

1,060,705 ratings

76%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a profound exploration of mental illness, offering a deep, albeit dark, insight into the protagonist's psyche. Critics praise Plath's lyrical prose and authentic portrayal of depression. Some find the narrative intense and unsettling. The novel remains a poignant, if heavy, literary classic.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Bell Jar?

Readers who appreciate The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath typically enjoy introspective narratives exploring mental health, identity, and societal pressures. Fans of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper would likely be drawn to Plath's poignant, semi-autobiographical prose.

4.2

1,060,705 ratings

76%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New York City • 1950s

Publication Year

1963

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1050L

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