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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-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
As a woman in STEM, this book made me reflect quite a bit on all of the privileges that I have gained in only a few decades, but also made me recognize the disparities between the experience of men and women in STEM that still exist (ex. Only about 20% of computer science students are women). When the housewives talk down about themselves and their abilities, I can recognize myself making those same types of comments in the classroom.
Not 5 stars because I found Elizabeth to be a bit too socially inept at times. Like if you only use the chemical name for things, people aren’t going to understand and that will only make them feel MORE incapable/stupid as their husbands have told them they are. So basically I just wanted to whack her sometimes throughout the book because she was annoying me:
Not 5 stars because I found Elizabeth to be a bit too socially inept at times. Like if you only use the chemical name for things, people aren’t going to understand and that will only make them feel MORE incapable/stupid as their husbands have told them they are. So basically I just wanted to whack her sometimes throughout the book because she was annoying me:
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
funny
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
Okay so this is a great story and wonderfully written. I throughly enjoyed it, but there are a few things I would change.
What I enjoyed:
1. Loved when they encouraged Phillis to be a heart surgeon.
2. Loved Elizabeth’s signature obstinacy.
3. Loved that housewife was acknowledged as a very hard job (just not the only job for a woman)
4. Loved the merging of progressive ideals in a time frame largely characterized but unprogressive ideals
5. Absolutely loved the merging of cooking and chemistry
6. Frask redemption arc was great.
Now what I would change:
1. Perhaps adding some prominent bipoc/lgbtq characters. The book touches on it, but I do think it would be better if the book actively included them in the narrative.
2. Having the only confirmed lgbtq person commit suicide is definitely not my favorite plot point
3. I’d keep calvin alive just a month or so longer because I think a discussion between him and Elizabeth about the pregnancy would be super interesting. Then having him die unexpectedly would be a bit more powerful (lost plans kind of thing).
4. I understand using the chemical names as she is a chemist but I do think it’s condescending to her audience to not also include the colloquial names. Idk it gives a bit of thesaurus energy sometimes. Say both! Words are free!
5. Personally not a fan of the dog narrator. It’s a toss up and I think liking it is fine, I just wasn’t into it.
What I enjoyed:
1. Loved when they encouraged Phillis to be a heart surgeon.
2. Loved Elizabeth’s signature obstinacy.
3. Loved that housewife was acknowledged as a very hard job (just not the only job for a woman)
4. Loved the merging of progressive ideals in a time frame largely characterized but unprogressive ideals
5. Absolutely loved the merging of cooking and chemistry
6. Frask redemption arc was great.
Now what I would change:
1. Perhaps adding some prominent bipoc/lgbtq characters. The book touches on it, but I do think it would be better if the book actively included them in the narrative.
2. Having the only confirmed lgbtq person commit suicide is definitely not my favorite plot point
3. I’d keep calvin alive just a month or so longer because I think a discussion between him and Elizabeth about the pregnancy would be super interesting. Then having him die unexpectedly would be a bit more powerful (lost plans kind of thing).
4. I understand using the chemical names as she is a chemist but I do think it’s condescending to her audience to not also include the colloquial names. Idk it gives a bit of thesaurus energy sometimes. Say both! Words are free!
5. Personally not a fan of the dog narrator. It’s a toss up and I think liking it is fine, I just wasn’t into it.
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad