Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

26 reviews

hannahpa's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Body shaming, Car accident, Death, Grief, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

romeo_juliet_'s review

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

2.5

Lessons in Chemistry has a fascinating setting and a host of interesting supporting characters. Calvin, in particular, stands out as a loveable character whose backstory - and legacy - drives much of the novel. However, Elizabeth can be frustrating and few of her flaws are examined in detail; she reads a little like someone from 2022 has been dropped into the 1950s and early 1960s. The novel also overdoes several of the points it is trying to make whilst failing to address  other relevant topics.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, and Religious bigotry

Sexual violence, death and grief are graphic and consistent topics throughout the novel.

annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition

emotional inspiring fast-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

4.25

it's like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but even better imo. i fell in love with Elizabeth Zott, whose experiences are painful to read and made me want to scream with indignation. in fact, (almost*) the whole cast was lovable—not just  "able to be loved", but rather, "no choice but to love". an engaging, many-threaded story full of heart that weaved into one for a rock-solid ending (for which i'm a sucker).

*except, to be honest, Walter Pine. i don't see how he was much better than the villainous men before him (Donatti and Lebensmal); maybe he was "just following orders", but as if that makes up for it. he's a devoted father, but what kind of daughter's role model is complicit in the mistreatment of women under his own purview? but of course he's ultimately

rewarded with a promotion—which i don't fault the writing for, it's prob the most realistic course of events unfortunately—but less believably, becomes bffs with Elizabeth at the drop of a hat

?? he may recognize the err of his ways, but did he follow that up with any significant changes, e.g. use his newfound power to uplift those he previously kept down? not that we know of. maybe i hold a grudge like Calvin but i don't really see how Walter redeemed himself.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Blood, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Miscarriage, Cursing, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gore, Vomit, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Classism, Violence, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Abortion, Child abuse, Body shaming, Child death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Racism

grboph's review

challenging hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

I really liked this book. My grandmother recommended it to me and got it for me, and I'm very glad she did! The characters and story were all very memorable, and I especially loved the addition of Six-Thirty as a secondary character - that was very unique and heartwarming. As a woman pursuing a career in science, this book was also very eye-opening to the sexism and other challenges that women in science faced relatively recently, and reminded me to appreciate the people who came before me. I felt so many emotions while reading Lessons in Chemistry and found myself really rooting for the main characters all the way through. I'm not sure how else to describe this book, other than by saying I'd recommend it to just about anyone out there, but particularly people interested in STEM.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Bullying, Death, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Rape, Grief, and Medical content

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Abortion, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and War

vargo's review

emotional hopeful informative 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Grief, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Sexual violence, and Suicide

laurataylor's review

adventurous emotional funny reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Pregnancy, and Suicide