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mannieg's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I enjoyed reading it but once I was out of the flow of the book (and especially once I heard the interview with the author at the end of the audiobook) all of the little, annoying things got more and more significant to the point where even thinking about this book makes me furious. It doesn’t help that I was unable to properly vent my spleen during book club (I’m not good at speaking extemporaneously) where almost everyone adored it. Here are my main gripes:
- All of the characters were caricatures – and all of the men were pigs or cowards. Yes, including the “good ones.” The ones that aren’t slobbering sexual predators are utterly spineless
(the TV producer) or secretly act against Elizabeth’s expressed wishes because they know what’s best for her(Calvin) . And fine, if you want to show the how harmful the patriarchy is for men, that’s a valid and worthwhile endeavor but after a few timid passes this book just entirely gave up on that angle in favor of making Elizabeth the ONLY “good” character in the book. - Rewarmed, uncritical second-wave feminism. It is 2024. How can you write a book set in 1950s California and not have a single POC? How can you present the experiences of an absurdly intelligent white woman who is fortunate enough to own a house and have unlimited, unpaid childcare from her abused neighbor as a rugged individualist who successfully beats the system? How come all of these women who consume her show have no agency, are unable to advocate for themselves except through Elizabeth Zott, and never found a way to articulate their dissatisfaction with being housewives until she came along? There is a complete lack of recognition or empathy towards the experiences of literally every other woman – except maybe for the one who became a heart surgeon. Eye roll. And while quite a bit of hay is made about gender traitors
like the secretary (who just so happened to be fat and ugly) Elizabeth made a living off of these dissatisfied housewives and then dropped them like hot potatoes because that job wasn’t professionally fulfilling for her. A shining example of women supporting women. - Cut the capitalist crap. Why do I get the impression this book is telling me financial earnings and professional accomplishments determine the value of a human life? That gainful employment is the desired end state of every man and woman in the world? I am descended from a long line of what this book would derisively call housewives who lived happy, fulfilled lives and were fully actualized individuals in their own rights. There is no one in this book who represents that reality. A woman who is forced to work a crappy minimum wage job has suffered a loss of agency the same way that one who is forced to stay home and mind the kids has suffered a loss of agency.
- Where is the “historical” in “historical fiction”? I hate that this book passes itself off as in any way historical when it’s really a mish-mash of all of the worst stereotypes about the 50s crammed into a single book and then dialed up to 11. Not only that, Elizabeth herself is completely anachronistic – but anachronistic as if her daughter wrote the story. (Oh wait…) Some elements of this book might count as historical but giving it the imprimatur of historical fiction makes it seem like it’s more than a boomer author preaching to the millennials about “how good you have it, now sit down and stop talking about intersectionality.”
- Bury the Gays! Perhaps a minor quibble but I really thought we had progressed beyond stories where homosexual characters die tragically just so that readers (or other characters) can discover themselves.
So glad the only non-straight individual in this ENTIRE book offs himself in the first chapter for the sole purpose of Elizabeth’s personal growth. Love that for him.
Things I liked about this book: the dog, the cooking, the audiobook narrator, the fact that it was a quick bubblegum read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, and Death
slamslibrary's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Wowie! Read this for my work book club and I’m grateful that I was able to finish in time! Super interesting perspectives on gender- they way it’s supposed onto us & a total performance. It had a way of spending a lot of time talking about a whole lot of nothing and then dropping an incredibly traumatic piece to the storyline right as a chapter finishes up. Elizabeth Zott is an icon and I’d love to interact with her as a nonbinary queer person- I honestly think we’d really get along. Definitely got neurodivergent vibes from both her and Cal!! Loved it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Sexism, Misogyny, Abandonment, Rape, Grief, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Pregnancy
All moderate because they mostly feel like they come out of nowhere but also don’t go into incredible detail. I didn’t feel unsafe, but a bit on edge at points!ruusaer's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Misogyny
Moderate: Suicide, Death, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Drug use, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, and Eating disorder
pixie_d's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
The book seems to be fighting against bigotry towards women, but it unapologetically, and probably unconsciously, exhibits massive bigotry towards Catholicism, which the author treats as nothing more than a cheap way to fill out a melodramatic plot with cartoon villains.
There is also unacknowledged racism and sexism. Like The Collected Regrets of Clover, which I also read this month, this author signaled "bad" characters by their looks. Ladies, describing someone as having a "hooked" or "prominent" nose to indicate bad characters or villainy is racist. I'm sure you weren't even aware you did that, but someone on the editing team should have called it out. In this book, she signals the rapist villain by the looks of his wife (not a typo. He's a rapist. The author is unconsciously racist by how she describes the wife's looks.) In that chapter she also signals the antagonist secretary by her fat hips. That's sexist because women should not internalize and then judge other women by those standards, particularly not to signal bad character. Later the main character gives a speech about how you shouldn't judge women, and incidentally people of color, but to throw that in as just a phrase in your speech doesn't make you not a racist. It was a weak attempt to draw that in, where it wasn't integral to the rest of the book. Bleh.
There is also unacknowledged racism and sexism. Like The Collected Regrets of Clover, which I also read this month, this author signaled "bad" characters by their looks. Ladies, describing someone as having a "hooked" or "prominent" nose to indicate bad characters or villainy is racist. I'm sure you weren't even aware you did that, but someone on the editing team should have called it out. In this book, she signals the rapist villain by the looks of his wife (not a typo. He's a rapist. The author is unconsciously racist by how she describes the wife's looks.) In that chapter she also signals the antagonist secretary by her fat hips. That's sexist because women should not internalize and then judge other women by those standards, particularly not to signal bad character. Later the main character gives a speech about how you shouldn't judge women, and incidentally people of color, but to throw that in as just a phrase in your speech doesn't make you not a racist. It was a weak attempt to draw that in, where it wasn't integral to the rest of the book. Bleh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Misogyny
Minor: Racism and Fatphobia
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Please please please! Check the content warnings and know that all of them are prevalent in this book, but you think you can handle them PLEASE read this book.
Elizabeth Zott is an amazing character, and a survivor. She is the embodiment of female power and a force to be reckoned with.
The things Zott experiences in the work place are appalling and no one would call her personal life easy. In real life, a woman in Zott’s shoes wouldn’t be faulted for breaking down or giving up. But Zott doesn’t let anything stop her from reaching her goals. She goes on have a wonderful life in spite of the horrendous things she’s had to survive, because she is a survivor.
Parts of this book had me in tears while others had me fill with so much pride I thought I would burst. At its core, this book is about the strength and resilience of women and I can’t recommend it enough. This will be a book I won’t stop thinking about for a very, very long time.
Elizabeth Zott is an amazing character, and a survivor. She is the embodiment of female power and a force to be reckoned with.
The things Zott experiences in the work place are appalling and no one would call her personal life easy. In real life, a woman in Zott’s shoes wouldn’t be faulted for breaking down or giving up. But Zott doesn’t let anything stop her from reaching her goals. She goes on have a wonderful life in spite of the horrendous things she’s had to survive, because she is a survivor.
Parts of this book had me in tears while others had me fill with so much pride I thought I would burst. At its core, this book is about the strength and resilience of women and I can’t recommend it enough. This will be a book I won’t stop thinking about for a very, very long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Abandonment, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Blood, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Car accident, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Abortion, Vomit, Alcohol, and Pedophilia
vanessatombolini's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Grief and Suicide
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Vomit, Car accident, Racism, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
pauline_2704's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Rape, Self harm, Death, and Grief
Minor: Fatphobia and Homophobia
cavallonee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Fatphobia, Death, Gaslighting, and Grief
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Vomit
belovedb33's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
robyn1998's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
This wasn't my cup of tea at all. I felt almost as if it was written to be a film - it was full of snappy dialogue and mic drop moments. Slight marvel/girlboss vibes. The characters were either good or evil archetypes.
The main character was horribly annoying, stereotypically nerdy, with no indication as to why anyone in her life actually liked her.
The book was very anachronistic. Elizabeth, the main character, seemed to have been transplanted from the modern day into the 1950s, replete with 2022 feminist talking points- most of which, it was implied, everyone else was too dumb to understand.
Add in the graphic and unnecessary rape scenes, the somehow very bleak and pessimistic outlook on humanity, the talking dog, the anti-religion standpoint, and the fact that everyone bad was fat, and this has to be a 1 star read for me.
The main character was horribly annoying, stereotypically nerdy, with no indication as to why anyone in her life actually liked her.
The book was very anachronistic. Elizabeth, the main character, seemed to have been transplanted from the modern day into the 1950s, replete with 2022 feminist talking points- most of which, it was implied, everyone else was too dumb to understand.
Add in the graphic and unnecessary rape scenes, the somehow very bleak and pessimistic outlook on humanity, the talking dog, the anti-religion standpoint, and the fact that everyone bad was fat, and this has to be a 1 star read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Suicide