Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

51 reviews

carnimdream's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Death

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Suicide

chloemakesbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.0

This won me over. A little too neat, but laugh-out-loud and tear-jerker moments included. Ending was abrupt. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Suicide

Minor: Pregnancy, Alcoholism, and Pedophilia

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: 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

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

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

elisalasater's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad 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? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide, Car accident, Pregnancy, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse

snackykennedy's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring sad fast-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

0.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Alcoholism and Child death

Minor: Violence

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: Misogyny, Death, Grief, and Sexism

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

Minor: Abortion and Alcoholism

uranaishi's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Car accident, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, Vomit, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Bullying, and Classism

Minor: Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, Animal death, Racism, Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pedophilia, Abortion, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Physical abuse

lasunflower's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

3.5

The blurb and reviews on the cover dont really accurately explain what the book was about. I got the impression that its a funny book about a quirky scientist turned TV host in the 50/60s. It is hard to describe (it is literary fiction after all). I'd say somewhere between a dysfunctional found family story and a fictional idiosyncratic feminist biography.

It is written in a witty way, but I wouldn't say funny. The cooking show doesn't form much content of the book: it doesn't become a thing until halfway through and even then isn't much of the content. Be aware that the book from the beginning dives into dark themes: ca page 20 is a rape scene and not much later is a conversation hitting on themes of suicide, child rape, abandonment, death of parents etc. I understand why Garmus did this (as it occurred at the beginning of Zott's career) but it was too jarring, especially considering what I was expecting the book to be about.

Overall, I liked how it was written, though some scenes were a bit strange. Like the cafeteria scene was a bit strange to hear from the perspectives of people not otherwise on the book (and happening early on, nearly put me off the book) or the chapters from the dog's perspective too. I think if these chapters were cut, the book would have flowed a lot better. Sometimes they felt like Garmus was just trying to be quirky instead of give new perspectives.

This book has given me lots of food for thought.

Just so others are aware, this book focuses on the white straight woman experience only. I commend Garmus for not doing too many themes in the book, but just for readers to be aware, as it is a recent feminist book, but isn't reflective of third wave intersectional feminism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Death, Rape, Car accident, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Grief

Moderate: Religious bigotry

Minor: Confinement, Pregnancy, Outing, Alcoholism, Suicide, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

feelingpeachygreen's review against another edition

funny 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? No

5.0

I loved this so much that I read it in 24 hours. I wolfed the whole thing down. Greedily.

I absolutely adored Zott. I adored Harriet. I adored Mad. I loved them all.

<Spoiler>
There's tragedy and triumph and normally I don't like the Deus ex machina of a rich family member/spouse coming in and saving the day.

But this was just incredibly wholesome - and there's a fantasy element of this book that makes the unrealistic ending. Like the dogs communication tactics.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism