The Bell Jar
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Narrated by:
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Maggie Gyllenhaal
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Written by:
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Sylvia Plath
About this listen
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
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What listeners say about The Bell Jar
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Sandi
- 2020-02-13
Wonderfully Read!
This book is timeless. Yes it was written of and in another time but what it says is just as true today. Ms. Plath's semi biographical fiction speaks of depression. Which she suffered most of her adult life.
The Bell Jar is still relevant as any one of us could be Esther. Yet as depressing as this book sounds, it isn't. Esther is young and witty and you really begin to care and become more hopeful and some of us even identify with her.
A powerful and well written book that should be on your to listen list.
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2 people found this helpful
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- JohnS
- 2021-05-25
Worth the time
This is a book that deserves the reviews it gets. It is a study of class division and personal growth and pain. Highly recommended.
The narration by Maggie Gyllenhaal is excellent.
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- Anonymous User
- 2024-08-16
Excellent
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s narration brings this story to life.
Beautifully written novel with rich, vivid language.
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- R.Redd
- 2019-07-17
The Bell Jar
This is one of my favourite books of all time and the narrator does an excellent job of capturing the feeling and evokes a wonderful mental picture.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Anastasia Beaverhausen
- 2022-03-01
Superb!
The Bell Jar is one of my favourite books and Maggie Gyllenhaal is the perfect narrator. She sounds just like I imagined Esther Greenwood would sound, complete with the proper emotion and intonation.
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- none
- 2023-12-16
kept my attention
Kept my attention. The story flowed nicely and it seems this would be a good book for many ages.
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- katelynn saunders
- 2021-01-23
loved it
loved it so much, more then I thought then I ever would. amazing voice reader aswell
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- Cheryl St-Elier
- 2021-01-18
a poet at heart
I think listening to this story was the ultimate experience because Plath's use of words sounds so mezmerizing to the ear, that at times I was tempted to lose track of the action. Her description brought me right to the 50's and 60's of the last century, warts and all. For Mental Health awareness, women's issues, or simply euphony, an excellent choice.
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- S.S.
- 2022-02-10
A masterpiece of narration
The book is haunting and visceral. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s narration is so good, she’s inextricably tied with Esther Greenwood in my head now.
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- Anonymous User
- 2021-01-29
helped me put my privilege into perspective.
everyone struggles. everyone gets abused in some way or another. trying to look at the jar half full instead of half empty is impossible.
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