The Bell Jar vs The Book Club for Troublesome Women: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Feminism, Adult, Fiction
The Bell Jar
The Bell Jar is the only novel written by American poet Sylvia Plath. It is an intensely realistic and emotional record of a successful and talented young woman's descent into madness.
vs
The Book Club for Troublesome Women
By early 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan, Viv Buschetti, and Bitsy Cobb, suburban housewives in a brand-new "planned community" in Northern Virginia, appear to have it all. The fact that "all" doesn't feel like enough…
The verdict
- Readers rate The Bell Jar highest: The Bell Jar 4.4 · The Book Club for Troublesome Women 4.1.
- The Bell Jar is the quickest read — about 5 hours vs 7 for The Book Club for Troublesome Women.
- The Book Club for Troublesome Women has the widest readership — 155168 ratings behind its score.
- The Bell Jar runs the darker storyline; The Book Club for Troublesome Women stays the lighter read.
How to choose
Want a one-evening read?
The Bell Jar
≈ 5h vs 7h for The Book Club for Troublesome Women
Just want the better-reviewed one?
The Bell Jar
4.4 vs 4.1 from readers
New to the genre?
The Book Club for Troublesome Women
Moderate vs Demanding for The Bell Jar
In the mood for something dark?
The Bell Jar
a darker storyline than The Book Club for Troublesome Women
Want something lighter?
The Book Club for Troublesome Women
an easier tone than The Bell Jar
Scores by source
| The Bell Jar | The Book Club for Troublesome Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | — | 4.1 (155168) |
| Hardcover | — | 4.2 (35) |
| Google Books | 4.5 (2) | — |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (555) | 4.5 (869) |
Reception
| The Bell Jar | The Book Club for Troublesome Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 555 | 155168 |
| Editions | 177 | 1 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | — |
| Want to read | — | 214531 |
| Pages | 272 | 392 |