Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

185 reviews

chelly_reads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

zombiezami's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

I have seen that this book continues to be popular, and I wanted to try it for myself. I adored the characters and the writing. I thought the book was paced well, but there were a few threads that were started and never went anywhere. For example:

Walter's crush on Harriet and Elizabeth's participation in the rowing team after her pregnancy

. I also felt that, although it was in character for Elizabeth to be antiracist because she finds racism and all other forms of bigotry to be illogical, there are no Black characters or other characters of color in the book. Finally, the author employs some words turns of phrase that were definitely not used in the 1950s/1960s: e.g. "fast forward to now."

Even with all these caveats, I enjoyed the book very much, and I would highly recommend it. The author does an excellent job of showing how structural sexism harms all of society, not just women. The tragedies in the book feel very complex and human.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Vomit, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual assault, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Cursing

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Blood, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Outing, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Suicide, and Abandonment

Minor: Slavery, Sexual content, Gun violence, War, and Animal cruelty

laurenbaggy's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Death, Pregnancy, and Car accident

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Outing, Grief, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Violence

kllrbls's review against another edition

dark inspiring sad medium-paced

3.5

I enjoyed the

biological mom

plot, but I wished that it had been revealed in a more show-don’t-tell manner, rather than having everything spelled out in the last few chapters. I also found Elizabeth's use of chemistry jargon to be sooo extra--it's as if she assumed it was all general knowledge. However, still an interesting read. The relationship plot was particularly exciting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Cursing, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Death, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Death of parent and Car accident

mamaewalk's review against another edition

inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

First half 3 stars, second half 4. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Suicide

cmbohn's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Death

Minor: Suicide, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Biphobia

hcumbie's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

Witty, feminist, sad, infuriating for women,  somehow mysterious at the same time. Some parts were dull but I was rooting for Elizabeth the whole book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Rape, Suicide, Misogyny, and Death

Minor: Pregnancy

rhiannon814r's review

medium-paced

• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Car accident, Death, Misogyny, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Body shaming, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Grief

vplett4's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide

Moderate: Rape, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

kickitupanotch7's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative mysterious relaxing sad 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

Phenomenal with extremely developed characters. Includes the most interesting perspective of a dog I’ve ever seen or heard. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Car accident, Sexism, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse