The Bell Jar

I devoured this book. I really enjoyed the writing style and could imagine the inside of Esther’s head very clearly. Her fragmented reality was captivating, though confusing at first. In the end, I liked this aspect because it helped me better understand Esther and how her mind worked.

At times, I was frustrated with her, since there were things that could have made her life easier, but that frustration only came from wanting the best for her. I did find it hard to follow the passage of time in the story, though it didn’t take away from the experience.

The book is definitely dated and very much of its time. I understand why it’s not considered the best depiction of mental health today, but it was still interesting to see how mental illness was understood and treated in the past, and how those views shaped Esther’s experience in ways I couldn’t fully grasp.

Overall, it was a fascinating and important book. I personally loved the ending, since it shows that growth and recovery aren’t linear. They’re slow, quiet, and imperfect.

4/5 Stars