Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Eine Frage der Chemie

I loved this book and loved the character Elizabeth Zott. This is a great representation of what women during that time frame and continue to struggle with in the world (certainty not to the same extent). There are great characters who steal your heart and you can't help but root for as they struggle through the ups and downs of life. I ADORED the chapters/insights from 6:30's perspective ❤️

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jaduhluhdabooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective 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

Truly exceptional. I felt so empowered and seen reading this book. As an academic, as a Black woman, and as someone who is reaching for some high aspirations in the world, I felt heard and understood. Elizabeth Zott is a chemist, an iconic, well rounded, and powerful chemist. This was a book about pursuit and tenacity and inevitability of resiliency that comes with the life of minority. It was profound in structuring the sexist and patriarchal systems of the 1900s. It was revealing of the quiet and brooding strength of the house wife and mother. It was striking of the pain and the weariness of the unlived reality that many men take for granted of the woman. It was a sobering reminder of just how far we have come and yet so much father we still have yet to go.

I am grateful for this book and for this story telling. I am proud of who I am and what I desire and believe it. This text grapples with questions I’ve consistently presented myself, especially as a person who believes in God. It’s real. It’s raw. It’s grasping. And I loved every second of it.

I think I would’ve appreciated a tie in of the racism talk angle with an actual person of color experiencing the depth that their intersectionality brings into the academic world and the societal. Other than that, this is a read I would 100% recommend.

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ecmiller's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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vj_thompson's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

This book 🥹 I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would and wish more people would read it, or at least give it a chance!!

There is a reason this is a five star read. This writing is beautiful, intentional, and meaningful. Each word was written with purpose. Everything in this story; backstory, inner monologue, character, had reason. I LOVED how everything was wrapped up in the end. Of course I cried 😭 Ugh, please read!!

Last thought, Six-thirty is my favorite character. I highlighted so many of his parts. He is a wise dog.

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ragepollins's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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arrow3002's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Lessons in Chemistry is a tale of a bad ass woman working against a very prejudice world, and I am absolutely here for it. It was such a fun read, and I really enjoyed the way Bonnie was able to tell Elizabeth's story through all the different chapters of her life. Throughout the book it will occasionally switch to a different character's perspective, and I found myself quite enjoying the change in pace. It added a lot more to the narrative instead of confusing the reader in the guise of character development. The women empowerment, that is the main driving force behind this book, was beautifully done. There were many points where I felt that gender discrimination was handled in a very elegant yet profound way that I don't see often. There is so much in this book that makes it a genuinely great read. I devoured the book in a couple of hours and was left feeling very satisfied with how everything played out in the end. Also, Elizabeth and Calvin’s relationship had my heart absolutely melting, and let’s not forget the absolute legend that is Six Thirty. I fell in love with all the characters and felt such a strong connection with each and every one of them, which is a very hard to accomplish. Despite all the good, there were a couple of personal issues I had with the book that kept it from being a 5 star. I will start of by saying I am bias when it comes to the topic I will be bringing up, and I understand that everyone will have a different opinion, and that is more than totally okay and welcomed. But I felt that there was a strong anti-religion message continued throughout the whole entirety of the story, specifically anti-Catholic. There were a lot of times that I felt like I was being ridiculed for my beliefs and a lot of the stereo types often circulated about the catholic church were very much present in the book. I will not deny that the things that occur in the book definitely do happen and are not right in ANY way. But if you are a person of faith, there is a lot said in the book that you will probably find very hurtful due to the point of view the author is coming from. I am a huge believer in the power behind science and how important it is to the betterment of everyone, but I also hold my religious beliefs at the same importance. I totally believe that you can rely on science AND God at the same time. Again, I understand where the author and the main character is coming from, and in no way invalidating their beliefs or experience. It just took away from the enjoyment I was having with the book so much so that I felt a need to comment on it. If you do not like the book then stop reading it and move on, but it is a point I want to acknowledge for those who are religious and want to read the book. Again, other than my problem with how the church is portrayed, the story is an empowering and inspiring tale of a women in STEM and had me feeling empowered by the end of it. I will definitely suggest this book to anyone who comes to me asking for a fun and witty read that will keep them from wanting to put it down.

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bel017's review against another edition

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dark

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azrah786's review against another edition

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3.25

CW: sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape, sexism, misogyny, gaslighting, pregnancy, violence, injury, blood, death, death of parent, car accident, suicide, grief, abandonment, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, child abuse, bullying, body shaming, religious bigotry, homophobia, vomit, toxic relationship
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The hype well and truly reeled me in with this book plus I’m always down for more women in STEM rep in books, but I’ve got to say this now belongs in my list of most frustrating books I’ve ever read and for a myriad of reasons.

It’s a pretty easy book to read. The writing is straightforward, the story flows well though I will admit the constant changing of points of view did take some time to get used to. What made me mad were the characters and how horrible literally every single person was.

Now I expected to get mad with this book. It takes a jab at the patriarchy by showcasing the many injustices women have faced for years and are still facing today when it comes to being a part of society. The “ideal role” we’ve always been expected to fit into.

But for a book spearheading feminism I was mad at the protagonist too. She felt like a caricature to the point that a lot of the time I couldn’t take her seriously? In fact I found her precocious 3 year old and unbelievably advanced dog to be less unusual?

The cooking part and merging it with science was fun but it did start to get a little tedious by the end. Overall an okay book but I also now find myself mad that, for the overall message the book stands for, I couldn’t like it more.
Final Rating – 3.25/5 Stars

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