The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath


Bob thought this was very good. He came to it knowing nothing much about the author or her background so he approached it very much with an open mind. The first half of the book reminded him of J. D. Salinger (of whom he's a fan), telling of a fashionable and privileged young woman moving through academia and the literary world but feeling very uncomfortable with all that she's doing until she attempts suicide and ends up in a mental institution. The second half, her life and experiences in hospital is less interesting. It's starkly honest about her suicide attempts without being gory or sensational.
Bob 23/5/04

By the same author


The frames have gone all funny - click to make it good.