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natashahillier's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: Suicide, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
hlureh's review against another edition
- 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
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
annaofjesup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Misogyny, Death, Car accident, Rape, Grief, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Abandonment, and Cursing
Minor: Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Homophobia
jkneebone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I did listen to the audiobook, and I didn’t like the narration style very much, so perhaps I would have liked this better if I’d read the physical version. We’ll never know.
I’ll admit that some of my gripes with this book are more personal preference - I’m not a fan of the use of third person omniscient, for example, and I found Elizabeth Zott to be quite annoying as a main character. In some situations her perseverance was admirable, and I liked how she drew attention to the discrimination she faced as a woman; however in other situations she was so stubborn as to be idiotic. The way she refused to understand how any of her behavior might prove to be an issue, especially once she got on TV, made it seem like she had no awareness or understanding of how society worked.
In my view there were some technical issues with Lessons in Chemistry, eg it wasn’t very well written. Frankly, I think it was too long by half, and a lot of the backstory and tangents could have been removed. On the stylistic side, some things were over-exaggerated to the point of absurdism (eg, Elizabeth teaching her dog 900+ words) while others were treated extremely seriously (eg, the sexism Elizabeth faced) which made me unsure of how I was supposed to be reading the overall tone. There was practically no character growth or development, despite how many people’s heads we got to peek into, and so many of the characters read more like caricatures with no nuance at all, including some of the main players. And for a book ostensibly about a woman scientist, so much of the story from start to finish ended up being centered around Calvin.
Overall, this was fine. There were some funny parts, and even a few moments that tugged at my heartstrings, albeit in the same way as commercials with sad animals do. It’s entertaining enough, I suppose, even if the plot is trying to do *way* too much. (IMO it would have benefited from another round of editing.) But best book of the year or any of the other superlatives people have been throwing in its direction? Agree to disagree.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body shaming, Suicide, Death of parent, Child death, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Domestic abuse
risemini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Cancer, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Sexism, Car accident, Grief, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
soshereads_'s review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexism, Pregnancy, Grief, Car accident, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, Bullying, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcoholism and Pedophilia
aimee_aj's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, and Rape
thebookpaiges's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Death, Classism, Car accident, Suicide, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Cursing, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Racial slurs
Minor: Abortion, Eating disorder, and Murder
analea_lucille's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Death, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Death of parent, and Child abuse
elpida_niki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
I loved how each character was written and evolved by the end of the book, it fell like i was falling in love when they were, feeling thrilled and anxious and petrified with them. I personally don't relate to her personality as even if i remain even a little bit grounded to reality deep inside I'm a total optimist with a big smile, but i believe we all have an Elisabeth inside us, and of course a scientist.
Luckily I'm currently studying for my university entrance exams and the school chemistry material is enough for me to understand what the book talks about (most of the time), and even though i found the genius of 6:30 a bit extreme, it didn't matter. Any flaw in this book isn't enough for me to even put a 4.75 review.
It even motivated me and think of my own future and thoughts, which i believe is the true and honest meaning of this half a kilo of a book.
To those who haven't started yet, if you didn't manage to catch the point this far, i wish you a pleasant reading (as pleasant as it can get)
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Death, Car accident, Rape, Sexual violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Suicide, Alcoholism, Vomit, Fatphobia, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Cannibalism, Homophobia, and Pedophilia