Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

28 reviews

haysebecca's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Absolutely fantastic, I'm pretty critical of books, and no issues DNFing something, but not once did that thought even cross my mind. I truly feel this is a book that everyone should read.

Lessons in Chemistry is icredibly well written, the pacing is amazing the characters are all fully formed and no one feels like a cardboard cut out. 

The reading experience is fantastic, some books you read because you want answers to something, or because you like a singular character, but some books you read because they flow so well that you basically float through the book. This is one of those. 

The Author uses multiple POVs, and does an amazing job of it, never once are you asking why someone's thoughts are relevant or quationin who it is that your reading. 

The story comes full circle, nothing is left dangling, no threads are untied, and the ending is *chefs kiss*. You close the book feeling like it's complete, and wanting more, but aknowledging that anything else would ruin the finality and drag too long. 

All of the (main) characters are very well written, and almost feel like friends. They have flaws, they have quirks, but most of all, they're very human and very well developed. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Suicide

Minor: Pedophilia and Racism

chrysanthxmum's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Misogyny

Moderate: Eating disorder, Racism, Bullying, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Car accident, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Suicide, Hate crime, and Sexism

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-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? Yes

4.25

I wish this book had been brave enough have more diverse characters. The beginning 2/3s of the book dragged for me but once I got past a certain point I was somewhat invested. I think the book had room to also depict the inequality of treatment amongst women of differing races and it just did not go where I had hoped it would. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Car accident

Minor: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Vomit, and Panic attacks/disorders

The dog has periodic spurts of panic, particularly in regards to his past with bombs.

astronautin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Sexism

Moderate: Racism, Car accident, and Death of parent

pajaka13's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual assault

rusina's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring fast-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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Death, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Car accident, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Vomit, and Body shaming

Minor: Rape, Classism, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

emray14's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Elizabeth was a self centered, egotistical woman who genuinely seemed to have no care for the way in which her actions might affect those she cares about. Elizabeth continuously bashes stay at home moms and women in non-science fields, which is contradictory to her insistence that women can be anything (just so long as she approves). The book  gives just two sentences to racism and one sentence to homophobia. Her weird ass comparison of her interest in science to her dead brother’s queerness wholly misses the mark. 

The sweet moments were sweet and the sad moments were sad. When it wants to be emotional, it succeeds beautifully. The format was fun to read, what with all the changing povs, but the graphic sexual assault scene and Elizabeth’s selfishness kept this could-be fantastic book from reaching 5 stars.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Rape

Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Homophobia, Child abuse, Racism, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse

stupidforcupid's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Everything was perfect during Calvin & Elizabeth's love story, but right after that I was kind of let down :// The book eventually picked back up though :)

This whole book was a treat! It's a story about women, for women, by a woman. Even though the events of this book take place in 50s/60s America, you can still relate to all of the women's experiences (which says a lot). The imagery the author used is amazing; I could see it all in my head; the dresses, the food, the homes and the offices, the characters and the cars.
Anyway, this was a phenomenal debut for Garmus (who's madly talented). I hope to see her taking on more stories in the future.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexism

Moderate: Suicide, Abortion, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Racism

caitlinvdj's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Self harm, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, War, Toxic relationship, and Racism

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!

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Blood and Suicide

Minor: Racism