Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Eine Frage der Chemie by Bonnie Garmus

601 reviews

llwatts's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book is incredible! The topics are covered well and the characters are all fleshed-out and realistic. It is very sad, but you root for Elizabeth throughout the book and her successes/failures feel like those of a close friend. I would recommend this to anyone, especially those who like feminist-related books or stories focused on personal development. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Grief

Moderate: Death

There are a few points in the book in which Elizabeth and other female characters are raped. Two scenes are pretty explicit and may be triggering.

deepalidesai's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.75

I really loved this book. The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall I'd highly recommend this. One of the best books I've read in a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Domestic abuse

hmatt's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.0

I had heard raves about this book, and I think perhaps I just have different literary tastes from the people who are raving...

Yes, it's a powerful concept and interesting story. But there are a few quirks in the writing that proved a bit too much for me, namely the dog POV. That really took me out of the grittiness of the rest of the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Pregnancy

swampthoughts's review against another edition

emotional informative slow-paced

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

3.75

I would have liked this book more if the main character wasn't so insufferable. I'm a scientist and there is NO REASON to be calling salt Sodium Chlorine (obviously this is just one example).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

bloomingbookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

2.75

It’s hard to rate this book. What I can say for sure is that it is absolutely not “laugh out loud funny” as the back of the book proclaims. Don’t be fooled by the cheery cover - the first half of the book was quite dark and had many upsetting scenes. The second half was intriguing but the tone felt off considering the darker scenes at the beginning of the book. All in all, I didn’t hate it, but I can’t say I’d recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Pregnancy

Minor: Body shaming and Religious bigotry

quartz96's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

prism_'s review against another edition

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Misogyny

Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Abortion

hammock_napper's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry

yjakmouj's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Death of parent

akizato's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

What an engaging and inspiring story- really reflects some of the issues faced by women in academia today, but magnified 10x by being set in the 1950/60s. Loved the exploration of identity and what women should be allowed to be, and how being the tall poppy can be really hard. Loved that it emphasised the importance of surrounding yourself with a good support system. Especially loved that it never once looked down upon domestic tasks as inferior to science, just different things that should both be respected. Elizabeth was a really fun character who went through so much but stuck to her principles, even when it cost her greatly, and she felt very well rounded. Her romance with Calvin was so endearing, and I was genuinely sad when it was cut short (though the way he went out was kind of comical). The ending wrapped everything up neatly, but after reading so many books recently with more realistic endings, it was refreshing to read one where the main character got a happy ending, especially after all she suffered. Also I would die for Six Thirty, what a good boy!

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Suicidal thoughts