The Bell Jar

By: Sylvia Plath

Narrated by: Maggie Gyllenhaal

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

READ BY THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ACTRESS MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL
'A modern classic.' Guardian
'A near-perfect work of art.' Joyce Carol Oates
I was supposed to be having the time of my life . . .
Working as an intern for a New York fashion magazine in the summer of 1953, Esther Greenwood is on the brink of her future. Yet she is also on the edge of a darkness that makes her world increasingly unreal. Esther's vision of the world shimmers and shifts: day-to-day living in the sultry city, her crazed men-friends, the hot dinner dances . . .
The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath's only novel, is partially based on Plath's own life. It has been celebrated for its darkly funny and razor sharp portrait of 1950s society, and has sold millions of copies worldwide.
ONE OF THE BBC'S '100 NOVELS THAT SHAPED OUR WORLD'
'As clear and readable as it is witty and disturbing.' New York Times Book Review

©2015 Sylvia Plath (P)2015 Faber & Faber

Dark

I didn’t realize the darkness of this book. Also, it was VERY descriptive and I was longing for more dialogue between characters but they were few and far between far between. The narrator was great but I was disappointed at the book. I guess I expected something different. If you’re okay with being sad and depressed at the end, then this book is for you.

A really interesting and moving piece.

Such a different read. Really interesting content- a bit morbid but gets you thinking. I enjoyed it a lot, read it in one sitting.

Beautiful and touching

Absolutely wonderful masterpiece by Sylvia Plath. As someone who has experienced mental illness myself, I find the main character/narrator highly relatable and compelling. Definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a nuanced fiction novel about the effects of depression, or anyone who just enjoys good writing and a great story.

Great performance

Enjoyed the book and Maggie's voice is just perfect.
Definitely listening it again. Highly recommended.

Loved it!

I absolutely loved this audiobook! The feelings of the main character are relatable to a lot of people, I think. Plath’s writing is beautiful and Gyllenhaal voicing the main character is a perfect match. After completing the novel I missed Gyllenhaal’s narration so much that I also purchased her take on the 35h Anna Karenina (which I just finished and loved). I warmly recommend this novel!

Intense

Very intense book from the person with mental illness.. well written though. Feels like if creepy!

Wonderfully read by Maggie Gyllenhaal

You believe that Maggie is Plath, or Esther, she really does this important book justice.

A classic narrated by a classic

Sylvia Plath has always been a love of mine and I have revisited The Bell Jar several times in my life. This is the first time I've listened in audiobook format and was so excited to see that Maggie Gyllenhaal narrated it. Her performance in Mona Lisa Smile, in specific, and her incredible voice acting skills lent itself so well to this book.

The Bell Jar is moving in its ability to pay attention to very small details and stitch those details together to tell a story of a life misunderstood, grief, abandonment, and daily life with Bipolar Disorder not only in the 1950s, but today, as well.

Esther whispering into your ear

I've always struggled to finish reading the Bell Jar, but this was disturbingly fascinating.
You are treated to Sylvia Plath's words, delivered flawlessly by Maggie Gyllenhaal, perfevt incarnation of Esther.

Amazing

this book changed my life in a way that can't be summed up any longer than the minimum number of words would allow.