Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

104 reviews

theemilystarr's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexism, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Grief and Death

Minor: Suicide

kds247's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• 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

4.0

This was a solid book. I did have some issues with it such as the layout of the book and the way the author wrapped things up with too neat of a bow, but it had an intriguing voice and storyline. With that being said, I especially loved the conversations between the characters about things such as religion, found/unconventional families, housewives, and the treatment of women. It was tackled brilliantly, written in such an elegant way where I can call this book a great feminist book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Misogyny, Grief, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Death, and Sexism

Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief

Minor: Vomit, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Pregnancy, and Blood

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

Bonnie Garmus' Lessons in Chemistry is such an accomplished piece of writing, which makes it all the more astonishing that it's by a debut author (albeit one with a lot of life experience behind her).

This novel started slow (and dark - readers should be aware [I wasn't] that

there is a violent, graphic sexual assault

before you hit page 50), but once it got going, it grabbed hold of me and did not let go.

Elizabeth Zott is such an incredible main character - tough, uncompromising, fiercely intelligent, and strong-willed (almost too much so, there were times I wished she would bend just a little, but no, she would not), but she did have a gentler side which I appreciated reading about.

Elizabeth needs every bit of willpower, because number one, she was a scientist, and number two, she was an unmarried woman living in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, a time which did not look kindly on women, particularly women who did not fit their prescribed stereotypes.

Fair warning to readers that the misogyny in this book is extreme, infuriatingly so. It comes from not only men but some women too. The sexism was so overwhelmingly awful at times that I had to stop and wonder if it actually was as terrible as Garmus depicts. I'm not sure, but I know that women definitely got a raw deal in this period of history.

The other infuriating thing to read about was so many of the terrible events in the novel could have been prevented if certain people had been less greedy, small-minded, or desperate. But then I guess there wouldn't have been a story, so go figure.

There were a few things that didn't quite work for me. The switches between POV characters would often occur within the same section, and even in the same paragraph at times, which was jarring as I would need to figure out whose POV I was reading.

Also, the POV of Elizabeth's

dog, Six Thirty

was a good idea in theory but didn't work on the page.

Would a dog really have that many thoughts going on in his/her brain?

I also found it hard to believe the advanced intelligence of

Elizabeth's daughter, Madeline. But then I guess some rare children really are that gifted, so I suppose it's not entirely implausible. But still.

Anyway, overall this was a really great read, albeit one with some pretty dark themes - I would advise prospective readers to check the content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Car accident, Death, Pregnancy, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Sexism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Cursing

Minor: Pedophilia, Homophobia, and Child death

hcox's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death, and Physical abuse

historychatter's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Abandonment, Suicide, Sexism, Misogyny, Death, Sexual violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Grief, and Cursing

Minor: Vomit and Homophobia

wheelyautistic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Death of parent, Bullying, Sexual violence, Classism, Hate crime, Ableism, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Sexism, Death, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Violence, Suicide attempt, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

valgray's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.5

I found this to be very fun and enjoyable.  An great read!  As a woman who also studied and works in the field of Chemistry I found this very relatable and I am thankful that I did not have to experience the difficulties the main character did.  We have come a long way in accepting women in STEM fields of work but we have a way to go.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Rape, Death, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Abandonment

readingsokrates's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Death, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Violence

amsswim's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

Liked this one a lot. Not much more I have to say about it other than I think it will translate well into a TV show.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Rape, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Homophobia, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Bullying, Suicide, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Medical content

Minor: Police brutality, Animal death, and Miscarriage

beb0p's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Abandonment, Grief, Vomit, Suicide, Car accident, Death, and Sexism