Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

218 reviews

jamballdonut's review

challenging dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Vomit, and Death of parent

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pregnancy, Rape, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Body shaming

tangerinegem's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Honestly it took me a long time to get through this one. I kept putting it down, reading entire other books, then coming back to it. But whenever I was in it, I was IN IT. 

The vibe in this book is like a sitcom set in the 1950’s-60’s, minus the docile housewife. Elizabeth Zott (a scientist/single mom/tv host) responds to all the misogyny of the time in way that is maybe aspirational, but not very realistic. Which honestly? Is fine. I think she’s meant to be a bit of a caricature. She’s a self-taught scientist who inadvertently ends up with a cooking show where she inspires American women to be who they want to be and not just who society says they should be. 

It’s fast paced… but somehow not? The story moves through events in her life pretty quickly, but I often found myself wondering where the story was going. There are two timelines that essentially show where she is now vs. how her early life experiences color her current life.

The writing had a dead pan wit and some comedy, but is also sprinkled with some pretty intense scenes. Definitely check trigger warnings. 

This book was worth reading, especially if you are a fan of Mad Men or the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. It was very fun at times, but is not one of my favorites. 

I will say though, the dog is perfect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, and Death

Minor: Homophobia

giraffesandaudiobooks's review against another edition

dark emotional informative slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Homophobia

lostgwennel's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide

axmai's review

medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Suicide, Grief, Sexism, Gaslighting, Car accident, and Misogyny

Minor: Homophobia, Body shaming, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse

bookishpip's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Rape, Suicide, Sexism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual violence, Vomit, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Homophobia

Minor: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism

taylor_bb's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Homophobia

nat_kiverse's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Car accident, Grief, Homophobia, Rape, and Suicide

mazzoccatoadele's review

emotional funny inspiring 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

someone cooked here

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Pedophilia, Homophobia, Murder, and Suicide

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