Maria Pena Pena itibaren Duvoisin, Хаити
I enjoyed this book more than I expected. It had been recommended by a teacher in high school, and I had long forgotten about the book. On a whim, I picked it up at a local bookstore. I didn't put it down - I'm not so sure I could have. The Bell Jar follows Esther Greenwood and her descent into mental illness. I found her to be so real - unlike characters from other books I had read. Her introspection and misadventures were at times funny and others very melancholic, but she was always real. Esther was relatable. As a student going on to my doctoral degree, I have often questioned some of the same things Esther did - marriage, family, work - and where I fit into the mélange. The Bell Jar also seemed very autobiographical. It was woven together through so many stereotypes of Plath's time - women's roles, mental illness, premarital sex, chastity for women - that still seem relevant today. (I was surprised that it did not seem dated.) The events that mirrored her life and people in her life was hard to miss. I only wish that I could have followed Esther later in her life. If you haven't read it, I would put this book at the top of your list.