The Bell Jar

While I was reading The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath, I oscillated constantly between feeling as if the main character was actually describing what goes on in my head, and feeling completely alienated from this unfortunate individual named Esther. Her struggle with depression and suicide is something that everyone can relate to on some level - the ennui, the fatigue, the self-destructive urges - and yet is too profoundly disturbed for a happy, mentally healthy person to fully comprehend.

Esther is a fascinating girl, who sees flaws in society as clearly as she sees flaws in herself. Throughout her struggle, she studies books on psychology and identifies with hopeless cases she reads about. Her courage carries over into her evaluations of feminism, old-fashioned views on male and female roles, and mysogynism. Her thoughts reflect Plath's political views to some degree, but the book isn't exactly feminist propaganda.

As well as issues of feminism, this book reflects psychiatric technology and techniques of the day. Published in 1971, and based on a slightly earlier time period, the Esther's experiences with electric-shock therapy, multiple psychiatrists, and various mental institutions are all fascinating depictions of how mental illness was dealt with in the twentieth century.

The Bell Jar is not a cheery read, but as someone who is fascinated by both history and mental illness, I loved it. Esther and her story are not easily forgotten, and Sylvia Plath's writing makes The Bell Jar a valuable piece of modern literature.

The Disreputable History of Frankie-Landau Banks

This book seems, at first, like one of those silly Gossip Girl-type books where everyone is wealthy, and the main character suddenly becomes popular when she becomes pretty. Actually, though, it's a book about society's expectations, feminism, and being underestimated.

The main character's name is Frankie-Landau Banks, and she attends a fancy East Coast prep school where mostly everyone is smart and wealthy. She isn't exactly a feminist, but she is very bothered by the fact that everyone in her life underestimates her. Her family calls her "bunny-rabbit", and no one notices her until she goes up a few bra-sizes.

Once that happens, though, all of the guys suddenly notice her, and the most popular guy in school asks her out. They still don't take her seriously, though. The author explains how Frankie wants to be "a force to be reckoned with," and she does this by infiltrating the all-male Basset Hound Society, an old and secretive society of the most popular upperclassmen at her prep school, of which her boyfriend is president. Once she realizes that secrets are being kept from her, and that she is second fiddle to her boyfriend's friends, she becomes determined to prove all of the low expectations wrong. She succeeds in her efforts, and everyone realizes that she matters. Naturally, though, her boyfriend holds this against her, and she suddenly is left with only her nerdy best friend as a social circle.

The author, E. Lockhart, clearly sets forth a societal conflict: can a woman be successful and popular? Frankie is beautiful, smart, wealthy, charming, and generally a nice person, yet is hated as soon as she outsmarts a few people. She constantly compares herself to guys, wants to beat them at things and have what they have, but also wants them to want her. It seems reasonable to want respect and love from people at the same time, but Frankie's situation is a common one in life. I'll say right of the bat that I don't know anything about politics or politicians, but I find it offensive that Hillary Clinton, when running for a presidential election, was mocked for things like lipstick choices and her appearance. Michelle Obama is a smart, accomplished person who is important in many ways, yet the public is fixated on her shapely arms and cute dresses. This sort of thing is exactly what Frankie stands up against; if you are going to admire someone, admire them for who they are, not what they look like. And if you're going to criticize a politician, you had better have something against her other than her gender.

This book is relatively simple in message: if you're a girl, don't be a doormat. Whoever you are, don't underestimate girls. If you can't join 'em, beat 'em, but if you succeed you will definitely not be able to join 'em.