Finished: The Bell Jar (Plath). Heartbreaking book about a college student's plunge into mental illness. A very good book that is supposed to be somewhat autobiographical for the author, Sylvia Plath. It was so scary to read about this bright young woman who was so successful and accomplished in college falling into the depths of depression and being treated in a psychiatric hospital. The character finally made it out from under the stifling "bell jar", as did the author...but the author did eventually take her own life right after The Bell Jar was published. So sad. It makes me count my blessings, yet still worry at the same time what pressure these young college-aged kids are under to succeed, excel and be the best in these competitive times.