Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Eine Frage der Chemie by Bonnie Garmus

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

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

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

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

annabelja's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse

thewinterwillow's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

finished my read in 4 days, absolutely captivating 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, and Sexual assault

Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

queenlet's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Suicide

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

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

nick_w's review against another edition

inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Suicide

Moderate: Domestic abuse

bri_morgan's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide and Pregnancy

mad_is_rad's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5 stars, no questions asked. This book hit in all the right places. Elizabeth Zott is now in my mental index of favourite characters of all time. It’s a book about a scientist with a cooking show…but really it’s a book about deep love, persistence, inner strength, being dealt a bad hand, and doing the right thing anyway. Lessons in Chemistry will be hard to top this year. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Grief, and Car accident

Minor: Domestic abuse and Death of parent

emray14's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Elizabeth was a self centered, egotistical woman who genuinely seemed to have no care for the way in which her actions might affect those she cares about. Elizabeth continuously bashes stay at home moms and women in non-science fields, which is contradictory to her insistence that women can be anything (just so long as she approves). The book  gives just two sentences to racism and one sentence to homophobia. Her weird ass comparison of her interest in science to her dead brother’s queerness wholly misses the mark. 

The sweet moments were sweet and the sad moments were sad. When it wants to be emotional, it succeeds beautifully. The format was fun to read, what with all the changing povs, but the graphic sexual assault scene and Elizabeth’s selfishness kept this could-be fantastic book from reaching 5 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, and Pregnancy