The Bell Jar

De: Sylvia Plath

Narrado por: Maggie Gyllenhaal

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.

nice voice to listen to, good pace, good clarity

exposing myself to something new, did not disappoint. interesting subject matter, an easy listen for a complex 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!

Still Relatable, Still Unsettling

I listened to The Bell Jar as an audiobook narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal, and honestly, her narration blew me away. It was the first novel I’ve actually enjoyed listening to in audio format—she gave the story such depth and emotion that it felt alive.

The book itself is beautifully written. What stood out to me the most was how Sylvia Plath captured the realities of mental health during that era. For something written in the 1960s, it still resonates strongly today. I also really appreciated the feminist themes—especially the way it portrays the limitations and pressures placed on women at the time. The way men are described in the book feels surprisingly relatable even now, which just shows how some dynamics haven’t changed as much as we’d like.

That said, I did find myself thrown off by some of the racist remarks sprinkled in. I understand it was written during the Civil Rights Movement era, and it’s not realistic to expect the same level of awareness we hold authors to today. Still, it was jarring, and it pulled me out of the story a bit.

Overall though, The Bell Jar is haunting, raw, and impactful. Paired with Gyllenhaal’s narration, it’s a novel I’m glad I experienced this way.

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.