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worm_on_the_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The writing style was quirky which reflected the quirkiness of Elizabeth and I just loved the story from start to finish. In fact, I usually don’t like books written in a non-linear kinda fashion, but Bonnie Garmus has done a superb job in weaving this story.
This book had me gripped pretty much from the first page, I couldn’t put it down, and when I had to put it down I just thought about it.
Not only did this book have me feeling things, it also made me think, truly think, about how this book isn’t set that long ago, and how this was the reality for women. I don’t think I’ve read a book in this era that quite handles it the way Bonnie Garmus did.
Once again I will say wow, just wow.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
rubberrosebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is by far my newest favorite book of all time, and I hope to read many more novels by Bonnie in the future. The research to write this beautifully powerful story deserves five stars in and of itself. I'm looking forward to watching the t.v. series, but nothing will compare to the poetic writing of Bonnie Garmus.
Do yourself a favor and put this at the TOP of your TBR list!
Graphic: Sexual assault, Car accident, Death, Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Rape
afternoondreamer'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, and Sexism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Body shaming, Religious bigotry, and Car accident
killerwhaletank's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
To be fair, it’s not horrible but I did not connect with the characters. I never warmed up to Elizabeth or Calvin or their brief romance. The majority of the cast in book is extremely unpleasant to Elizabeth and there aren’t many “good” characters in the book. (Sometimes I can’t blame them because I find both Elizabeth and Calvin unpleasant as well.) There are a few supporting cast members (her TV producer, her neighbour, a little bit of the Reverend) that save the book from just being a few hundred pages of “everyone in the world other than Elizabeth and Calvin are completely unenlightened a$$holes”.
Yes, the dog is unbelievably anthropomorphic. If you can’t handle that, you’ll hate it. I actually enjoyed that part. I wasn’t sure at first about it, but the dog ended up being the most interesting and probably well-rounded character in the book, and really grew on me.
Yes, the daughter is an unbelievable level of genius. If you can’t handle that you’ll hate it too. I didn’t love it, but next to the dog, Mad was probably the next most rounded character. I rolled my eyes more than a few times.
I really hated that most of the men that featured in the story were basically rapists and jerks except for one or two. And speaking of rapists… trigger warning, there are not one, not two, but three separate instances of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, or references to past sexual assaults in this book. Does it inform Elizabeth’s character at all? No, not really, except that it’s the story to why she always has a pencil behind her ear? For the level of trauma and effect it had on her life, I didn’t think it was really dealt with at all.
And for the religion part of it… I am not a religious person, but I don’t care if others are. Even as a non-religious person, I found this book’s anti-religion message kind of grating. It wasn’t because of the message itself, but it left me with the impression that the author thought anyone who believes in religion is somehow lesser than Elizabeth and her super wonderful woke and enlightened way of seeing the world.
Overall, meh. I don’t recommend it and found it a slog to get through. But, I can see where others would enjoy it, so if you did love the book, I wouldn’t be staging an intervention for you or anything… It just wasn’t for me as there was no one to really feel connected to.
Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Death
Moderate: Bullying and Abandonment
Minor: Suicide
charlottedow's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, Rape, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Child abuse, Grief, Violence, and Suicide
alexandra_k_r's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Suicide
niamhgray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Minor: Rape
Trigger warning rapejaylene's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, and Bullying
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Death, and Abandonment
I would with how many content warnings I added, I would say sexism is the only one that is scattered throughout the entire story. It sounds like it is heavier than it really is.gracielou2000'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug use, Child abuse, Death of parent, Infidelity, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, and Car accident
Minor: Fatphobia, Abortion, and Addiction
lilyclare2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny