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The Bell Jar

By: Sylvia Plath
Narrated by: Maggie Gyllenhaal
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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
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What listeners say about The Bell Jar

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

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.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

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.

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  • Overall
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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.

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1 person found this helpful

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Great performance

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

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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!

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    3 out of 5 stars

Intense

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

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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.

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6 people found this helpful

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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.

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1 person found this helpful

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awesome

I love every bit of it. sylvia is such an amazing writer and story teller. plus the narrator (maggie) was excellently eloquent.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, well narrated.

Finally gave this a listen, I have been meaning to for years. Maggie Gyllenhaal is the perfect narrator for this book, she reads clearly and in keeping with the tone of the book. Harrowing, important story.

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