Reviews with content warning for Religious bigotry - Lezioni di chimica

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.

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hannanni41's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I'm sure Elizabeth Zott would be super mad that being a woman in STEM has only gotten marginally better since the time period when the book takes place. At least the next time a male coworker gets all faux-concerned about me being "sick" because I didn't wear makeup to a meeting I'll think of her and be able to channel my rage into something productive that would make her proud.

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teadrinker4theoceans's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

If you think you had a shitty day, Elizabeth Zott will prove you wrong.

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cjetty's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Don’t be fooled by the cover.
An excellent read

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alisafrancyne's review against another edition

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dark hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

I wanted to read this book bc it seemed to be a good story with a little bit of romance and some humor. There was no humor. Elizabeth Zott is an oh so serious character and has gone through a lot. Nothing in the book was funny, not even darkly funny. Calvin Evans was the best character

I wish they didn’t kill him off so early. His death was confusing I had to read it a few times…did he get shot or ran over?

. Her daughter Mad is the second best character. If she had a spin off book, I’d probably read it. Just with a little bit less of Elizabeth Zott. I just don’t like her as the main character. I really wish I could have gave it more stars but it’s hard to.

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readbycarina's review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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