Scan barcode
vanessatombolini's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Suicide and Grief
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
rmataloni's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Abandonment
wolfsong12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
melissabristol's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
cavallonee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, Car accident, and Death of parent
kds247's review against another edition
- 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
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
beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
This novel started slow (and dark - readers should be aware [I wasn't] that
Elizabeth Zott is such an incredible main character - tough, uncompromising, fiercely intelligent, and strong-willed (almost too much so, there were times I wished she would bend just a little, but no, she would not), but she did have a gentler side which I appreciated reading about.
Elizabeth needs every bit of willpower, because number one, she was a scientist, and number two, she was an unmarried woman living in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, a time which did not look kindly on women, particularly women who did not fit their prescribed stereotypes.
Fair warning to readers that the misogyny in this book is extreme, infuriatingly so. It comes from not only men but some women too. The sexism was so overwhelmingly awful at times that I had to stop and wonder if it actually was as terrible as Garmus depicts. I'm not sure, but I know that women definitely got a raw deal in this period of history.
The other infuriating thing to read about was so many of the terrible events in the novel could have been prevented if certain people had been less greedy, small-minded, or desperate. But then I guess there wouldn't have been a story, so go figure.
There were a few things that didn't quite work for me. The switches between POV characters would often occur within the same section, and even in the same paragraph at times, which was jarring as I would need to figure out whose POV I was reading.
Also, the POV of Elizabeth's
Anyway, overall this was a really great read, albeit one with some pretty dark themes - I would advise prospective readers to check the content warnings.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, and Pedophilia
marionmarzipan's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
wheelyautistic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
erinwolf1997's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Car accident, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicide, and Death of parent