The bell jar

I didn't realize that a book could be funny and depressing at at the same time. The first few chapters read like a piece of chick-lit & the author spends a lot of time describing trinkets, food, clothes & fabrics ( its like reading a fashion magazine) but it doesn't take too long to get to the crux of the story which makes it a classic cult read. Esther falls hard and fast to hit rock bottom. 

In a way it's about society's unwillingness to take a woman's ambition seriously. To me it seemed more about Esther's coming of age and rebirth. This is in no way is a 'girly' little book i thought it would be- it deals with some pretty gruesome issues. Esther's ordeals are horrifying - especially the 20 odd pages where she ponders about and tries out various techniques of suicide( apart from sticking her head in an oven ). 

Two things that stick out for me: 
1. The metaphor of the bell jar suffocating someone suffering from depression. 
2. " There is nothing like puking with somebody to make you into old friends." - so true.