I don't know why this description (among other bits of Plath's writing) has stuck with me for so long, but I always found it one of those moments that tells you just as much about a character's interior and it does about their exterior. The Bell Jar was such a huge part of my teen life; one of those that helped me to find and form my #identity as a young woman. #ripple #FlyHighJuly #BeautifulWords
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620
Leftcoastzen Great book 5y
CBee I don‘t know how many times I‘ve read and reread this - it‘s such a powerful read ❤️ 5y
Eggs 👏🏻📚👍🏼 A true classic 5y
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OriginalCyn620 A classic for sure! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y
Andrea313 @Leftcoastzen @CBee @Eggs @OriginalCyn620 I knew I'd find others who love it as much as I do! What did each of you find in this one that spoke to you, if I may ask? 5y
CBee @Andrea313 oh gosh. To be honest, when I first read it, I was in a bit of a depression. I credit this book with helping me understand that I wasn‘t alone. And I‘ve come back to it over the years and it helps me just as much ❤️ 5y
Leftcoastzen It‘s been a long time, I‘m due for a re-read.I love her poetry as well.I feel her pain as she tried in that era to be more than the roles assigned to women.I feel her disappointment when she gets to NYC feeling her co winners might have more aspirations as she does & fall short. 5y
Andrea313 @CBee Thank you for sharing that. This book also helped me feel less alone; a big reason I read it so many times, especially in my teen and college years! ❤️ 5y
Andrea313 @Leftcoastzen Yes! Particularly her wanting more than women were "supposed" to want in those days, and confronting the hypocrisy around how women were viewed and treated. I was reading so many so-called classics at that age, meaning many old books by men, and having Plath's strong female voice tear through all of that was such a revelation. 5y
Eggs @Andrea313 It‘s been 40+ years since I read it...so specificity eludes me. It was fresh, original, and left a lasting impression. Due for a reread since I‘ve learned a lot more since then about Plath and her poetry 5y
Andrea313 @Eggs Fresh and original, yes!!! I just knew I'd never read anything like it. It's been more than 10 years since I've picked it up; I think I'll do so this weekend. If you ever return to it, I'd love to hear if anything changed for you with time or the new things you've learned about the author. 📚❤️ 5y
OriginalCyn620 @Andrea313 it‘s been a while too since I‘ve read it, but I agree with @Leftcoastzen. What I love is the metaphor of the title. Esther felt confined, like a butterfly in a bell jar. 5y
Leftcoastzen @OriginalCyn620 oh yes ! That metaphor ! I had a internal shift when I read that for the first time. 5y
CBee @Leftcoastzen her poetry is amazing too! 5y
CBee @Andrea313 of course! The main times I read and reread it were those angst-y high school and college years. It just spoke to me every time. Never gets old! 5y
Andrea313 @Leftcoastzen @OriginalCyn620 YES to that metaphor of being confined! I will also never forget the image of Esther's many options for her future spread in front of her like branches of a fig tree, but the longer she goes without choosing one, the more they shrivel and die. I felt that so hard when I was young. I'm loving hearing from each of you; thank you all for sharing! @CBee @Eggs 5y
Leftcoastzen You are welcome! An icon of a book! 5y
CBee @Andrea313 never tire of talking about the Bell Jar! 🙂 5y
Eggs Great discussion! And @Andrea313 I‘ll let you know when I reread!! I read it as college sophomore, along w a Doris Lessing book. I recall the relief of knowing the deep feelings of being a woman and I no longer felt adrift with my own headspace (edited) 5y
Andrea313 @Eggs I haven't read any Doris Lessing, and now you've inspired me to look her up! Thanks for the tip! 5y
