Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

Eine Frage der Chemie by Bonnie Garmus

76 reviews

ramreadsagain's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

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

4.0

I absolutely loved my reading experience of this, but I must admit that there is a lot I could criticise and part of this review has been me deciding how much these criticisms affect my rating of the book. 

It's definitely a 3/5 when it comes to characterisation

I said to my friend who I was buddy reading this with that Elizabeth Zott felt like someone who had grown up in our times and timetravelled to 1960. Obviously there were women in that time who challenged the status quo and fought for radical change, but Zott just seems to do it in a very unrealistic way. She was weirdly naive and innocent about the world (cue tangent about "quirky characters that are autistic-coded but will never be called autistic because we can't have that" and the "awkward genius" trope, both of which are ableist) except when she needed to go on a Girl Power™ rant.

There was no explanation as to where she got these fully-formed feminist ideas from, especially considering that half the time she didn't seem to actually realise how misogynistic the world was, using social justice language that a woman growing up in the 1940-50s just wouldn't have access to. It got a bit repetitive for a modern reader.

Listen, I have strong negative feelings towards religion, and obviously Zott does too especially after the trauma of growing up with a scam-preacher father, but her "all religious people = bad" attitude goes so completely unchecked that I have to believe it was a main part of what the author is trying to say with the book. I do not believe that every person of faith should be portrayed as badly as they were in this book. Even the 'nice' one is still shown to constantly lie, and

doesn't even believe in God anyway

I also feel like Calvin wasn't actually portrayed as well as he could have been.

I feel like a lot of the emotion in this book is a retrospective "oh she loved him and now he's dead" whereas when he was alive I didn't actually like him all that much. There was also a "he didn't even do that much work" plotline that I felt sure was going to go somewhere but was completely dropped.

I do feel like everything was just sliiiiightly (very) overexaggerated too? She can immediately compete with male life-long rowers because uh *checks notes* physics equations. She and her (very young) daughter are geniuses in every field. Every male character is a caricature extreme misogynist; yes it was the 50's but jesus christ!!! And the vast majority of named women are shown to be simple-minded, ignorant, and judgy, except for one or two who get 'redeemed'.

5/5 when it comes to plot and some other aspects though

Six Thirty? Favourite character. He did feel a bit out of place and, honestly, completely unnecessary to the story, but I loved him anyway.

I also loved the overarching storyline and the way is was written, with dark topics not being shied away from but with other aspects shown with humour. Many awful characters got their just deserts in a satisfying way and I liked the overall way things wrapped up (though it was very sudden).

Conclusion

Honestly? Objectively this should be a 3.5-3.75 star read for me, but I enjoyed reading it so much that I can't go any lower than 4. It's by no means perfect and I do have a lot of issues, mostly with the main character, but I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Grief, Suicide, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Car accident, Child abuse, Fatphobia, and Domestic abuse

kaycerface's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexism, Bullying, Misogyny, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Car accident, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Rape, Suicide, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Vomit, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence

missjeann's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming

issyd23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense slow-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

3.0

Did not expect there to be so much rowing exposition. The perfect book for an ex-high school rower and chem student 3🚣‍♀️ 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Car accident, Classism, Death of parent, Death, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

rhi_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Sexism

Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicide, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Child abuse

katherinek's review against another edition

adventurous funny reflective tense medium-paced

• 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? No

4.25

If Six-Thirty has a million fans, I’m one of them. If Six-Thirty has one fan, it’s me. If Six-Thirty has no fans, I am dead.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Pregnancy, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Fatphobia

diorra's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

I had lots of fun reading this. Elizabeth is iconic and I love her so much. This book made me sob my eyes out and laugh too. I loved the feminism and the message this book carried. It's a very touching and inspiring and heartwarming story. This book isn't a 5 star because I was kinda hoping we could've gotten more of Elizabeth'  rise to fame and her time at supper at 6, as well as seeing more of Elizabeth after what happened in the ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexism

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Pedophilia and Fatphobia

bookobsessedmommy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Well, this was an interesting read. The primary characters are so well written, being shown as they are perceived by others and themselves. The side characters are nearly caricatures, especially the TV head, Chemistry head, and master's adviser. They were so vile I could spit, all taking what they wanted from EZ, either physically, professionally, or both. The throughline of Calvin's story ties it all up in a neat bow, but it didn't feel forced. I think my favorite characters are Mad and the priest. So much is revealed in their conversations that gets to the root of how terribly we can treat one another and how comfort is more than "I'm sorry for your loss." The most surprising addition is 6:30. A bit of a screwball addition to the motley crew, but he rounds them out nicely. There was a fair bit of pontificating, a general distaste for religion (painted as wholly bad and the root of all things terrible with zero redeeming qualities) and some odd questions/statements from the men in the book. (Like the doctor wondering why so many women choose to have kids. Seriously?) I was shocked when it ended as it felt a bit rushed (was hoping for an epilogue), but I'm looking forward to her next book for sure.

Side note: I absolutely love the fact that the author is over 60. She doesn't address ageism much in this book but I'm sure the publishing business is similar to the rest of the world in favoring youth. Seeing a woman over 40 have so much success gives me hope.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Medical content, Sexism, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual harassment, Car accident, and Grief

Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood

Minor: Child abuse and Child death

bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition

hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Classism, Murder, Religious bigotry, Death, Car accident, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Grief, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Rape, and Body shaming

hlureh's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

So ein tolles Buch. Chef‘s Kiss! Das Buch ist ein wahres auf und ab der Gefühle und ich bin sehr froh, dass es mich die letzten Wochen als Hörbuch durch meinen Alltag begleitet hat. Die Version die ich gehört habe war wunderbar gesprochen und hat perfekt zum Buch gepasst. Und das Buch selbst ist wirklich einfach ein Traum. Sicher eins der besten Bücher, die ich seit langem gelesen/gehört habe. Absolut empfehlenswert! Die Qualität des Buchs erkennt man auch daran wie gut die Charaktere gestaltet sind und wie schnell man auch selbst anfängt manche Charaktere zu mögen oder zu verachten. Auch das Storytelling war einfach auf den Punkt. Ich habe lange nicht mehr so oft Gänsehaut von einem Buch bekommen. Definitiv 5/5 Sternen.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Car accident, and Misogyny

Moderate: Death of parent, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Alcoholism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail