The Bell Jar
Written by Sylvia Plath
Narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal
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Description
The Bell Jar chronicles the crack-up of Esther Greenwood: brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under -- maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that Esther's insanity becomes completely real and even rational, as probable and accessible an experience as going to the movies. Such deep penetration into the dark and harrowing corners of the psyche is an extraordinary accomplishment and has made The Bell Jar a haunting American classic.
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About the author
Sylvia Plath (Boston, 1932 - Londres, 1963). Escritora estadounidense especialmente conocida como poeta, aunque también es autora de obras en prosa, como la novela semiautobiográfica La campana de cristal (bajo el pseudónimo de Victoria Lucas), así como de relatos y ensayos. Junto con Anne Sexton, Plath es considerada una de las principales cultivadoras del género de la poesía confesional, iniciado por Robert Lowell y W. D. Snodgrass. Plath obtuvo una beca Fulbright que le dio la posibilidad de estudiar en la Universidad de Cambridge, donde continuó escribiendo poesía, y ocasionalmente publicaba su trabajo en el periódico universitario Varsity. Allí, en Cambridge, conoció al poeta inglés Ted Hughes, con quien se casó. Tras su muerte él se encargó de la edición de su poesía completa. En Nórdica hemos publicado Tres mujeres y Dibujos.
Reviews
What people think about The Bell Jar
4.2Reader reviews
- (4/5)Sylvia Plath writes a semi-autobiographical account of her college years (early 1950's) as Esther Greenwood. "Esther" is a driven and talented student - succeeding at everything she attempts. As her life progresses, her stability begins to waver. Esther struggles with maintaining purpose in her life and experiences deep depression.The character, Esther, was so believable; I found myself drawn into her world right from the start. The writing of Esther's story brought about many emotions and definitely was a sobering read. (4/5)Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..."
- (4/5)Excellent book. "'If you love her," I said, "you'll love somebody else someday.'"
- (4/5)Sylvia Plath's story of Esther Greenwood's descent into madness is both enjoyable and terrifying at the same time. This is a true classic of teen angst in 1950s America, with particular attention paid to the difficulties that women faced during that time (and still do to this day). A classic that exposes the challenges of mental health and the monstrous "treatments" that were used to help cure people that suffer from this disease.
- (2/5)Esther's descent in a nervous breakdown. She's self-absorbed and doesn't express herself. I didn't find it sad as I believe some do.
- (4/5)A nail biting tail of a young lady with everything to gain slowly slipping into madness. Ms.Plath knows exactly how madness takes over and describes it perfectly.
- (4/5)This is [[Sylvia Plath]]'s only novel. Shortly thereafter, she took her own life. It is said that this novel is autobiographically coloured. In this novel we accompany Esther. A young woman who can not cope with her life and all the impressions and seductions. Esther is a highly intelligent student who has won a trip to NY. Already during her stay in NY one senses that she does not get along with herself and her environment. As soon as she gets home it goes mentally downhill with her. She can not read and write anymore. She is apatic and lethargic. She tries to take her own life. Thereafter, an odyssey begins through various psychiatric institutions.The book impressed me a lot.