Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Eine Frage der Chemie by Bonnie Garmus

38 reviews

britishnbroke's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

vixenreader's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Although a few things tie together in a nice bow, the strength of the cast of characters, especially our protagonist, and the themes of truth, change, and perseverance make this novel a crowd-pleaser. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Car accident, Grief, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Medical content, Mental illness, Police brutality, Abandonment, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Homophobia, and Cursing

Minor: Classism, Vomit, Infidelity, and Abortion

Be aware that there is discussions of marriage outside of wedlock, doubt in religion, bomb threats, and abuse of power in science, education, religious institutions, and television.

miciahsreads's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective 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

characters - 5/1
worldbuilding - 5/1
writing - 5/1
enjoyment - 5/1
plot - 5/1

narration - 1/1

literally phenomenal novel. flawless. i’m obsessed, i’m in love, i’m floored. if i could give this more than five stars i would. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Bullying, Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

serenity_by_jan's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• 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? Yes

2.75

This book is definitely an enjoyable read, though it is a far cry from historical fiction. The only elements that allude to the time period that the story is supposedly set are the occasional description of the physical setting (appliances, television shows, books). Readers must also suspend belief to entertain the protagonist's uncannily identical mannerisms to modern progressive liberals.

The use of tropes and typecasts severely dim the ingenuity of the book. Most of the plot points can be seen from miles away, but they are still entertaining to see unfurl. Though this book touches on topics such as sexual assault, discrimination, and grief, it reads more like a fluffy beach read than an impactful piece.

The protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, has a genius child and an equally genius dog (the latter of which has many needless monologues of his own). Though this book lacks suspense, it does not bore. Instead, as the reader can already predict the main plot points, the book fills in the threads that lead from one event to the next.
Furthermore, most of the male characters are painstakingly one-dimensional: Lazy, stupid, sexist. We are meant to be fond of Calvin Evans, Zott's partner, though the author's means of provoking this from the reader is by making him the only developed male character. This is a pitiful and cheap way to write, and probably the most disappointing theme in the book.

Finally, although this book is ostensibly feminist, the main plot diverges considerably from its empowering tone and settles resolutely in disappointing territory.

At last, in the final chapters of the book, the protagonist, Zott, gets her job back . . .  due to her relations with a man. The whole ending to the story revolved around her late partner, Calvin Evans; though his life could have made a good story in and of itself, I read this book to see what happens to Zott, not to her partner. It seems as though the author drags you around, getting you attached to Zott, only to reveal that it was Evans' story all along. Disappointing to say the least, though it didn't completely ruin the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide, Slavery, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

hi_mari's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Rape

Moderate: Suicide attempt

quinkell98's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

I loved the writing style. Made it difficult to put down! I knew everything was interconnected, but felt I put the pieces into place just as the author wanted me to realize them. Third person omniscient that often switched characters’ POVs throughout the scene. Also, lots of great, still applicable/poignant quotes on the role of gender and religion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence

lizziaha's review against another edition

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

elizabeth zott is just so cool. and as much as this book deals with some really heavy topics, it’s so wonderfully hopeful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Death, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident

Minor: Domestic abuse

amy14's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Rape, Vomit, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Death of parent, Sexism, Misogyny, Violence, Sexual violence, and Grief

sarcasmpotato's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Miscarriage and Vomit

amberinbookland's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Grief, Rape, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Child abuse, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Fatphobia