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poisonviolet's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I've seen reviews of this book with people talking about how annoying Elizabeth Zott is because she refers to everyday items in their scientific terms. So I needed to come over here and tell them to stfu. Let's be real here, I'm sure Elizabeth Zott is on the autistic spectrum, but back then no one was going to label it. and why should they? She is clearly passionate about her work, so much so she takes it home with her. I think its rather endearing and if you don't whatever. That's not even the main point of the story. Science is used as a metaphor and to drive the story onward. The true root of this story is womanhood. So if you are complaining about her being annoying in 2024, maybe you're the problem!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Sexism
Moderate: Death, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
annierosebel's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book!
The pacing was great and it really succeeded in the balance of day-to-day life and plot-driving moments.
Elizabeth is such a great character - she seems neurodivergent-coded to me and I love her. Six thirty, BEST boy.
I also love the idea of women supporting women and how complex that can be - there isn't always a simple answer.
I am quite happy to suspend belief for a story as long as it isn't ridiculous, so things that other people say are 'soap opera esque' don't bother me too much. I also kept forgetting it wasn't set in modern day in a super conservative area, which, yikes.
I don't disagree that Elizabeth has a load of privilege being white, straight, and 'pretty', but I think this book already covered a lot and the subtle mentions of this were pretty than risking awkward, heavy-handed, bad content.
The pacing was great and it really succeeded in the balance of day-to-day life and plot-driving moments.
Elizabeth is such a great character - she seems neurodivergent-coded to me and I love her. Six thirty, BEST boy.
I also love the idea of women supporting women and how complex that can be - there isn't always a simple answer.
I am quite happy to suspend belief for a story as long as it isn't ridiculous, so things that other people say are 'soap opera esque' don't bother me too much. I also kept forgetting it wasn't set in modern day in a super conservative area, which, yikes.
I don't disagree that Elizabeth has a load of privilege being white, straight, and 'pretty', but I think this book already covered a lot and the subtle mentions of this were pretty than risking awkward, heavy-handed, bad content.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Suicide
trickstercast's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
bseigel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
ehknits's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Death
Minor: Death of parent and Violence
easlan's review against another edition
Started out with DV/assault/suicide. I couldn't follow along with the story and there was a lot of technical jargon I wasn't interested in. I'll try again another time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide
ilzabet's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexism
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Domestic abuse
bites_of_books's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.0
This book was a gift from one of my best friends and I breezed through it!
Narratively there were a couple of things that seemed a bit forced, things that took me out of the story because they were presented in a way that just didn't fully work for me. That being said, I think the characters were really unique and interesting with really complex motivations. I liked the outspoken main character who sticks to her values and doesn't let romance or anything else get in the way of the things that matter most to her.
All in all this is a story of a chemist who happens to be a woman in the 1950s and all the obstacles that she must overcome to reach her goals. On the way she finds love, family, and friends, which was quite satisfying to read about. However, it's not an easy read there are difficult topics that are pretty hard to read so do check content warnings before reading!
Narratively there were a couple of things that seemed a bit forced, things that took me out of the story because they were presented in a way that just didn't fully work for me. That being said, I think the characters were really unique and interesting with really complex motivations. I liked the outspoken main character who sticks to her values and doesn't let romance or anything else get in the way of the things that matter most to her.
All in all this is a story of a chemist who happens to be a woman in the 1950s and all the obstacles that she must overcome to reach her goals. On the way she finds love, family, and friends, which was quite satisfying to read about. However, it's not an easy read there are difficult topics that are pretty hard to read so do check content warnings before reading!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Blood, Child abuse, and Suicide
skylarkblue1's review against another edition
This was a slog to read through. I did not give a crap about any characters and apparently all feminist fiction is now just "look! this woman's life sucks! she's so smart but she's just constantly explicitly abused and shit all the time!". The blurb is complete false advertising, I got to the 50% mark and the only mention of the cooking show was a paragraph to 2 at the very very start. TV industry has been mentioned a single time since. The story so far has just been the main character being abused, screamed at and being depressed with a shitty husband.
There's just constant POV changes to everyone and everything - including the goddamn dog. It's not split up by chapters, it'd just be one paragraph is from one character, the next from someone completely different. I could not tell you what year any of the events that happened are from. I could not even really tell you all the different characters and who they where as people because honestly most of them didn't feel like people. The guys where mainly just misogynistic pricks, though some liked rowing! but that was about it for them. The women where mainly just "I'm being looked down on and abused but I'm secretly smart!" or just, idk, like not wanting to challenge the status quo so they where even flatter than that?
I'm reading this for a book club but even though there's still multiple days before the meeting I just don't care enough to read more. I don't even care about the cooking show element which was super interesting to me when I first heard about it.
There's just constant POV changes to everyone and everything - including the goddamn dog. It's not split up by chapters, it'd just be one paragraph is from one character, the next from someone completely different. I could not tell you what year any of the events that happened are from. I could not even really tell you all the different characters and who they where as people because honestly most of them didn't feel like people. The guys where mainly just misogynistic pricks, though some liked rowing! but that was about it for them. The women where mainly just "I'm being looked down on and abused but I'm secretly smart!" or just, idk, like not wanting to challenge the status quo so they where even flatter than that?
I'm reading this for a book club but even though there's still multiple days before the meeting I just don't care enough to read more. I don't even care about the cooking show element which was super interesting to me when I first heard about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Death, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexism, Rape, and Fatphobia
ofi's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
i thought the six-thirty pov episode of the series was the saddest thing i’d ever seen but then i read the book every single line in his pov is much much worse. six-thirty i would give my life for you
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization