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cozycactus's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This is a literary story, so if you're looking for a cozy read -- look elsewhere. Still, the characters and circumstances feel real. It also evokes emotions on both ends of the spectrum in a way only great storytelling can.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Grief and Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Suicide, Death, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
sjexley's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
4.5
Quite possibly the last person on earth to read this, but I've been saving it for book club♥️ It's the 1960s, and Elizabeth is a chemist who keeps getting dicked over by male co-workers/men in power bc she's a female. She meets the love of her life (my fave storyline in the book), she takes up rowing, she becomes pregnant. She gets fired for said pregnancy and becomes the host of an afternoon TV cooking show (cooking is chemistry!) I loved Elizabeth. I loved the dog. I loved Mad. The sexism was hard, and I think the book missed an opportunity to include conversations about race, but I enjoyed the story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, and Misogyny
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
jamballdonut's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Vomit, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pregnancy, Rape, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Body shaming
lenaricharz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Abandonment
shadysands's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Death of parent, Grief, Rape, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
dori39's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicide and Domestic abuse
Minor: Pedophilia
nikrib's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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? Yes
4.25
I picked up this book from the library after seeing an ad for its tv adaptation. I’m not sure where I thought this story was going before cracking open the book, but it definitely was a distinctive journey. With the book’s setting of 1950-60’s, all the societal, economic, and cultural issues are at play. While I did enjoy the protagonist (often rooting for her decisions, $#@! the patriarchy) I am not fond of the book’s ending.
The narrative felt as it was going down two separate yet parallel avenues and then at the end just chose one. I reread the ending twice due to the lack of fulfillment the ending gave me. Perhaps that’s just my take, wanting more justice for this character and not a predictable sappy ending.
Some reviews speak on a lack of diversity in the book; I do not wholly concur. The narrative does not speak of race, at all, but we can assume the characters are predominately Caucasian as the way that the book is written /does/ fit the time period and realm the characters move in. However, one of the characters who is a neighbor and becomes a prominent supporting character does strike me as P.O.C. Again, time period, it would by more common for this supporting character’s actions to come from a P.O.C. For example, caring for another family’s child and the type of care being “seen as atypical compared to society” and extending normalcy of simply babysitting. This supporting character moves through the narrative differently compared to the protagonist and other minor characters. Their name is also known more as belonging to a P.O.C. for that time period.
To say that this book lacks diversity is unfair. If you took a survey of a chemistry lab, a university, a studio, (all from that time period) the race ratio would indeed be significantly heavy handed on Caucasian, if not solely Caucasian. Those were unfortunate times. Now, this book is fiction, yes, so the author could have purposefully written in some diversity. Although, just as the author chose to leave race out of the narrative, readers can choose to place race in the narrative. There’s creative freedom here. A reader could absolutely make the protagonist a P.O.C. The lack of specifics on race in the narrative allow for flexibility per reader. If the book didn’t have a Caucasian woman on the cover, I don’t believe there would be reviews commenting lack of diversity.
The other 1950-60’s themes are used throughout the narrative to bring attention to issues pertaining to that time (and in this case, focusing on the battles that women faced and are still facing current day).
The chemistry themes are ever present but not annoyingly so, unless you’re a chemist and care that there are minor flaws. There is a sexual assault scene (r@pe) in the beginning of the book and again later sexual exposure, both of which are traumatic for the character but does allude to everlasting issues revolving sexism, patriarchal power in the workplace, and the fact that women are continuously assaulted. While that is a sensitive subject for a lot of people, I believe it was powerful and purposeful in the narrative to shed light on women’s issues and women’s rights.
There is a dog (don’t worry, nothing happens to him) and he’s a (fun? I’m not sure my idea of this dog aligns with the author) addition to the narrative. I’m not sure where people are getting comedy out of this book. I think I may have laughed two or three times, but more of a scoff than anything comical. All in all, good book and likable main characters. I’m eager to watch the tv adaptation. Although, I stick by my yearning for a different ending.
The narrative felt as it was going down two separate yet parallel avenues and then at the end just chose one. I reread the ending twice due to the lack of fulfillment the ending gave me. Perhaps that’s just my take, wanting more justice for this character and not a predictable sappy ending.
Some reviews speak on a lack of diversity in the book; I do not wholly concur. The narrative does not speak of race, at all, but we can assume the characters are predominately Caucasian as the way that the book is written /does/ fit the time period and realm the characters move in. However, one of the characters who is a neighbor and becomes a prominent supporting character does strike me as P.O.C. Again, time period, it would by more common for this supporting character’s actions to come from a P.O.C. For example, caring for another family’s child and the type of care being “seen as atypical compared to society” and extending normalcy of simply babysitting. This supporting character moves through the narrative differently compared to the protagonist and other minor characters. Their name is also known more as belonging to a P.O.C. for that time period.
To say that this book lacks diversity is unfair. If you took a survey of a chemistry lab, a university, a studio, (all from that time period) the race ratio would indeed be significantly heavy handed on Caucasian, if not solely Caucasian. Those were unfortunate times. Now, this book is fiction, yes, so the author could have purposefully written in some diversity. Although, just as the author chose to leave race out of the narrative, readers can choose to place race in the narrative. There’s creative freedom here. A reader could absolutely make the protagonist a P.O.C. The lack of specifics on race in the narrative allow for flexibility per reader. If the book didn’t have a Caucasian woman on the cover, I don’t believe there would be reviews commenting lack of diversity.
The other 1950-60’s themes are used throughout the narrative to bring attention to issues pertaining to that time (and in this case, focusing on the battles that women faced and are still facing current day).
The chemistry themes are ever present but not annoyingly so, unless you’re a chemist and care that there are minor flaws. There is a sexual assault scene (r@pe) in the beginning of the book and again later sexual exposure, both of which are traumatic for the character but does allude to everlasting issues revolving sexism, patriarchal power in the workplace, and the fact that women are continuously assaulted. While that is a sensitive subject for a lot of people, I believe it was powerful and purposeful in the narrative to shed light on women’s issues and women’s rights.
There is a dog (don’t worry, nothing happens to him) and he’s a (fun? I’m not sure my idea of this dog aligns with the author) addition to the narrative. I’m not sure where people are getting comedy out of this book. I think I may have laughed two or three times, but more of a scoff than anything comical. All in all, good book and likable main characters. I’m eager to watch the tv adaptation. Although, I stick by my yearning for a different ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death, Medical content, Sexual violence, Classism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Grief, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
megangrace's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
evtoh's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0
It started out rough for me- but by the ending I was very satisfied.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexism, Misogyny, and Death of parent
katjacatbeans's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-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
5.0
I can't believe this is B.G.'s debut novel.
Elizabeth Zott is an inspiration of meticulous tenacity. I'm honestly speechless; the care and craft of all the characters is phenomenal.
i also love how Six Thirty was inspired by a dog the author owned. S-T is now my favorite supporting character ever; he's pushed Bob* out of the #1 spot (*from T. Kingfisher's book A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking)
I also deeply appreciate the unrelenting & uncompromising commitment to social justice throughout the text. There's a lot to take from that.
IT'S SO GOOD. I'm immediately watching the show on Apple TV.
Elizabeth Zott is an inspiration of meticulous tenacity. I'm honestly speechless; the care and craft of all the characters is phenomenal.
I also deeply appreciate the unrelenting & uncompromising commitment to social justice throughout the text. There's a lot to take from that.
IT'S SO GOOD. I'm immediately watching the show on Apple TV.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Death and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content