Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

102 reviews

outer_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

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

3.5

PLEASE READ THE CONTENT WARNINGS BEFORE DIVING INTO THIS BOOK!!!! (another to add amongst the others from below, 'BIRTH AND LABOR')

Short summary: We follow Elizabeth Zott, a chemist, where she faces the challenges of loss, gain and different paths that she takes in her life to make a change for herself and others in the sixties where women where not seen as equal as men.

Likes:

• the flow of the writing is beautiful. it's too descriptive in my eyes while too short and abrupt. I could still feel the characters' behaviours and how they feel from them showing it without telling. As well as having not too long description which made it easier for my head to paint a picture of the world and the characters.
• the characters have very varying personalities and behaviours.
• its not so realistic that its super fun to read. like having an overly smart dog that could learn over 900 words from the vocabulary and has the attention of a human being.
• I love that the chemical terms were not that complicated to understand.

Dislikes:

• I did chuckle on some instances in the book but it wasn't much despite it being marketed as a 'Humorous' book.

Final thoughts:
This is book is unrealistic in the aspect of 'every single man was sexist and unaccepting of women back in the 60s'. But there were topics that were very interesting and realistic that still exists today such as sexism, misogyny and people are ingrained to refuse to put the first foot at the door for change due to fear. I love the little humours here and there but it wasn't a lot. It was fun and emotional to watch Elizabeth's hard journey from what she wanted to something completely beyond her imaginations but still did what she loved. I know I gave it a 3.5/5, it doesn't mean it was bad I really enjoyed the book whether somethings are realistic or not. It was such a fun read for me!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Suicide and Blood

Minor: Racism

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Vomit, Abortion, and Alcohol

dom_brlw's review against another edition

dark funny informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Sexual harassment

corrin_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Car accident

bonaimee_books's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really enjoyed this! Elizabeth Zott is  a brilliant character. All the characters were generally well-rounded, and the narrative was engaging, but I felt  it lacked narrative depth in places. Like when Walter divulges to the reader that Elizabeth is his best friend. It was plausible, but it felt like  we were  being told rather than shown, and I felt this way about a lot of the secondary characters. I think parts were ripe for more storytelling, which I think is where the tv adaptation has more scope.

Discussion of science, religion, misogyny and sexism, amongst others, were deftly handled and still feel alarmingly necessary in our modern world. There were some very touching moments throughout. It was very almost a 4-star rating because I was really taken with Six-Thirty, but ultimately it remained a solid 3-star overall.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism

Minor: Death, Rape, Blood, Grief, Car accident, and Pregnancy

j_nell's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood and Car accident

clareasday's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion

maddie_luvs_books's review against another edition

emotional funny informative tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

kds247's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

This was a solid book. I did have some issues with it such as the layout of the book and the way the author wrapped things up with too neat of a bow, but it had an intriguing voice and storyline. With that being said, I especially loved the conversations between the characters about things such as religion, found/unconventional families, housewives, and the treatment of women. It was tackled brilliantly, written in such an elegant way where I can call this book a great feminist book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Vomit, and Pregnancy

saskiahill's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Grief

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism and Abortion