When I saw the pink cover and read that it tells the story of a girl working in a fashion magazine, I thought it would be a clichéd story. So I was all the more surprised by the rawness, the vulnerability and beautiful prose that awaited me in this book. It’s a bold, unapologetic story that feels too real to be comfortable, and it brought out ideas and aspects of myself that I didn’t know existed. As we follow the female protagonist into her mental illness, we gain an insight into how it can affect just about anyone. It’s a story about identity and self-acceptance and I get why a lot of teenage girls read it.
The whole narrative becomes even more haunting when you research the author and realise that her life is reflected throughout the whole book. There are parallels everywhere!
And although I could praise this book for a long time, something else surprised me. Because nobody warned me about the blatant racism and homophobia that the book contains! I know those were different times, but not everyone in 1963 had to write such hateful speeches against people of a different origin or sexuality. It made me feel uncomfortable and conflicted, which is also why I had a difficult time rating this book.
Overall, though, “The Bell Jar” is worth reading because it’s one of a kind, even if it is rather disturbing and you have to be prepared for a few questionable comments!
