Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

71 reviews

savheath's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

Minor: Child death and Abandonment

anna220310's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-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

5.0

I don't think I've ever read a book about people that are incredibly intelligent, but also totally clueless in some areas, and also hopelessly devotedly in love with each other. Lessons in Chemistry is utterly heartbreaking, funny and hopeful, all at the same time. Elizabeth Zott is refreshingly honest and true to herself in a world where most bend and break and shrink themselves into the narrow offered to them by society, parents, partners etc.
Now, let's take a moment to bring to mind what we truly deeply want for ourselves, and then recommit to it. It is never too late.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Death, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Death of parent and Child death

annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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? No

4.25

it's like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but even better imo. i fell in love with Elizabeth Zott, whose experiences are painful to read and made me want to scream with indignation. in fact, (almost*) the whole cast was lovable—not just  "able to be loved", but rather, "no choice but to love". an engaging, many-threaded story full of heart that weaved into one for a rock-solid ending (for which i'm a sucker).

*except, to be honest, Walter Pine. i don't see how he was much better than the villainous men before him (Donatti and Lebensmal); maybe he was "just following orders", but as if that makes up for it. he's a devoted father, but what kind of daughter's role model is complicit in the mistreatment of women under his own purview? but of course he's ultimately

rewarded with a promotion—which i don't fault the writing for, it's prob the most realistic course of events unfortunately—but less believably, becomes bffs with Elizabeth at the drop of a hat

?? he may recognize the err of his ways, but did he follow that up with any significant changes, e.g. use his newfound power to uplift those he previously kept down? not that we know of. maybe i hold a grudge like Calvin but i don't really see how Walter redeemed himself.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Blood, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Miscarriage, Cursing, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gore, Vomit, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Classism, Violence, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Abortion, Child abuse, Body shaming, Child death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Racism

book_of_the_north's review against another edition

dark funny relaxing fast-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

3.0

Please do read the trigger warnings!

For the main this book is a fun jaunt, well rounded characters, a quirky narrative style and a pace that canters along nicely. Nothing is cryptic, the plot weaves rather than twists with a flow that provides satisfaction rather than surprise. 

It achieves this in complete juxtaposition to the horror and tragedy contained in the main casts lives. A stylish choice well executed. 

But I do repeat, please read the trigger warnings. The topics come often without warning in fairly graphic detail or are so woven into the plot that they are discussed almost in every chapter. 

The social commentary is one dimensional and I would have loved to see more than the two nods to the wider landscape and a more intersectional view. However, we see life from Elizabeths perspective and the absence itself speaks volumes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death, Bullying, and Rape

Moderate: Death of parent and Homophobia

Minor: Child abuse and Child death

lindseybarnett's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent, Cursing, Child death, Car accident, and Murder

satsumaorange's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring 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

4.5

I was initially turned off by this book due to the cover and title - it appeared like one of those dime-a-dozen romance books I tend to avoid. But my amazing mother, a woman in science who has been my inspiration since childhood, highly recommended it and gifted it to me as a Christmas present. And boy, am I so glad she did. 

This book was fantastic, compelling, and simultaneously infuriating. Every other page, I felt myself coming to Elizabeth's defense on every side. It angered me so deeply the way she was treated, that I started bookmarking every time someone said or did something genuinely kind to her. Total number: 20. If you are sensitive to sexism, I'd advise you to brace yourself.

HOWEVER. 

Elizabeth was a compelling character to me, and I kept reading just to watch her shine as herself despite her hardships. Some people may have issues with her pragmatic, blunt, and very literal personality, but I actually really enjoy characters like Elizabeth! I choose to interpret her mannerisms as indicative of autism, which made her relatable and endearing to me. 

If you have been turned away by the cover, I do encourage you to try Lessons in Chemistry. It's a wonderful story of empowering women, overcoming enormous adversity, and finding the true meaning of family. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Death, Classism, Grief, Car accident, and Gaslighting

Minor: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Child death, Outing, Death of parent, Vomit, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

heatherace's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, and Child death

corriejn's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Rape, Suicide, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Death of parent

Minor: Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts

name_user's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Abandonment, Car accident, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Child death, and Pregnancy

Minor: Pedophilia

janaptrsn's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

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

1.5

I was not able to enjoy this book for a few different reasons. I rated it 1.5 stars for the premise of it being a feminist book and representing women in STEM, especially in a time where there was so much misogyny around it. First off, the marketing for this book sets an entirely different tone than what I experienced reading it. I want to highlight that there are NO trigger warnings and very early on in the book there is a sudden graphic rape scene that I was not prepared for, as the book is marketed as a light, funny read. Then the main character is introduced to her love interest and their relationship feels unnatural to me since they go from him being sexist towards her to her being in love with him - no romantic build up. That made both characters unlikable and boring to me and it was hard to connect to them and their relationship. The dog‘s pov is very strange to me and personnaly I didn‘t enjoy reading his inner monologue and having him be a semi-human? The plot overall was a bit strange to me and felt boring lots of times. Throughout the book I was never able to warm up to Elizabeth as a character, her social awkwardness didn’t make her seem relatable, but cold and uninteresting. Towards the end I only kept reading so I could finish the book but I mentally checked out on what was really happening. Overall the main things I believe are wrong about this book are the false marketing and the absence of trigger warnings. The remaining points are mostly my personal taste and I can see how others might enjoy tose parts of the book!

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexism and Child death