You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
nikrib'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? Yes
4.25
The narrative felt as it was going down two separate yet parallel avenues and then at the end just chose one. I reread the ending twice due to the lack of fulfillment the ending gave me. Perhaps that’s just my take, wanting more justice for this character and not a predictable sappy ending.
Some reviews speak on a lack of diversity in the book; I do not wholly concur. The narrative does not speak of race, at all, but we can assume the characters are predominately Caucasian as the way that the book is written /does/ fit the time period and realm the characters move in. However, one of the characters who is a neighbor and becomes a prominent supporting character does strike me as P.O.C. Again, time period, it would by more common for this supporting character’s actions to come from a P.O.C. For example, caring for another family’s child and the type of care being “seen as atypical compared to society” and extending normalcy of simply babysitting. This supporting character moves through the narrative differently compared to the protagonist and other minor characters. Their name is also known more as belonging to a P.O.C. for that time period.
To say that this book lacks diversity is unfair. If you took a survey of a chemistry lab, a university, a studio, (all from that time period) the race ratio would indeed be significantly heavy handed on Caucasian, if not solely Caucasian. Those were unfortunate times. Now, this book is fiction, yes, so the author could have purposefully written in some diversity. Although, just as the author chose to leave race out of the narrative, readers can choose to place race in the narrative. There’s creative freedom here. A reader could absolutely make the protagonist a P.O.C. The lack of specifics on race in the narrative allow for flexibility per reader. If the book didn’t have a Caucasian woman on the cover, I don’t believe there would be reviews commenting lack of diversity.
The other 1950-60’s themes are used throughout the narrative to bring attention to issues pertaining to that time (and in this case, focusing on the battles that women faced and are still facing current day).
The chemistry themes are ever present but not annoyingly so, unless you’re a chemist and care that there are minor flaws. There is a sexual assault scene (r@pe) in the beginning of the book and again later sexual exposure, both of which are traumatic for the character but does allude to everlasting issues revolving sexism, patriarchal power in the workplace, and the fact that women are continuously assaulted. While that is a sensitive subject for a lot of people, I believe it was powerful and purposeful in the narrative to shed light on women’s issues and women’s rights.
There is a dog (don’t worry, nothing happens to him) and he’s a (fun? I’m not sure my idea of this dog aligns with the author) addition to the narrative. I’m not sure where people are getting comedy out of this book. I think I may have laughed two or three times, but more of a scoff than anything comical. All in all, good book and likable main characters. I’m eager to watch the tv adaptation. Although, I stick by my yearning for a different ending.
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
axmai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
mushroom_fairy_in_the_woods'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
4.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Car accident, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Suicide
bookishpip'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
chaos_na_regale's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
bookb1itch'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? Yes
5.0
“The librarian is the most important educator in school. What she doesn't know, she can find out. This is not an opinion; it's a fact. Do not share this fact with Mrs. Mudford.” Not that I am likely to get a tattoo anytime soon...
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit and Car accident
kmarr'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
4.5
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
kaileylebrun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
mazzoccatoadele'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Murder
gemloukay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The book deals with sexism, particularly the struggle for women to be seen as equals in science, alongside grief, the struggles of motherhood and the need for women to support each other both then and now. If you don’t like releasing about feminism, you’ll hate it. Thankfully for me I was brought up by strong women and men who supported them, so I found it to be an inspiring read. Some of the science was a bit simplistic for a supposedly brilliant chemist but then, unlike the women in this story, I was lucky enough to be able to study it at university so maybe I’m a bit more educated in the subject than most! An inspiring story and a brilliant debut novel.
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, and Pregnancy