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nikrib's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The narrative felt as it was going down two separate yet parallel avenues and then at the end just chose one. I reread the ending twice due to the lack of fulfillment the ending gave me. Perhaps that’s just my take, wanting more justice for this character and not a predictable sappy ending.
Some reviews speak on a lack of diversity in the book; I do not wholly concur. The narrative does not speak of race, at all, but we can assume the characters are predominately Caucasian as the way that the book is written /does/ fit the time period and realm the characters move in. However, one of the characters who is a neighbor and becomes a prominent supporting character does strike me as P.O.C. Again, time period, it would by more common for this supporting character’s actions to come from a P.O.C. For example, caring for another family’s child and the type of care being “seen as atypical compared to society” and extending normalcy of simply babysitting. This supporting character moves through the narrative differently compared to the protagonist and other minor characters. Their name is also known more as belonging to a P.O.C. for that time period.
To say that this book lacks diversity is unfair. If you took a survey of a chemistry lab, a university, a studio, (all from that time period) the race ratio would indeed be significantly heavy handed on Caucasian, if not solely Caucasian. Those were unfortunate times. Now, this book is fiction, yes, so the author could have purposefully written in some diversity. Although, just as the author chose to leave race out of the narrative, readers can choose to place race in the narrative. There’s creative freedom here. A reader could absolutely make the protagonist a P.O.C. The lack of specifics on race in the narrative allow for flexibility per reader. If the book didn’t have a Caucasian woman on the cover, I don’t believe there would be reviews commenting lack of diversity.
The other 1950-60’s themes are used throughout the narrative to bring attention to issues pertaining to that time (and in this case, focusing on the battles that women faced and are still facing current day).
The chemistry themes are ever present but not annoyingly so, unless you’re a chemist and care that there are minor flaws. There is a sexual assault scene (r@pe) in the beginning of the book and again later sexual exposure, both of which are traumatic for the character but does allude to everlasting issues revolving sexism, patriarchal power in the workplace, and the fact that women are continuously assaulted. While that is a sensitive subject for a lot of people, I believe it was powerful and purposeful in the narrative to shed light on women’s issues and women’s rights.
There is a dog (don’t worry, nothing happens to him) and he’s a (fun? I’m not sure my idea of this dog aligns with the author) addition to the narrative. I’m not sure where people are getting comedy out of this book. I think I may have laughed two or three times, but more of a scoff than anything comical. All in all, good book and likable main characters. I’m eager to watch the tv adaptation. Although, I stick by my yearning for a different ending.
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death, Medical content, Sexual violence, Classism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Grief, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
jcshells's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Vomit
Minor: Eating disorder, Grief, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Pedophilia, and Excrement
zombiezami's review against another edition
4.25
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.
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
fairytalefootnotes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Pregnancy, Rape, and Medical content
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Abortion and Pedophilia
jei_reads_sometimes's review
- 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
2.5
The first half of it dragged quite a bit, it was honestly the second half that kept it from getting a lower score. The dog povs were always very jarring and the "feminism" of it felt flat. I know a lot of people really loved this book but I wish it were being marketed better. I don't think I was their target audience.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Car accident, Death, Rape, Sexism, Death of parent, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Suicide
Moderate: Medical content, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
rmataloni's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Bullying, Grief, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Medical content
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, and Suicide
amsswim's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Grief, Rape, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Homophobia, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Bullying, Suicide, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Medical content
Minor: Police brutality, Animal death, and Miscarriage
chloebaboey's review
4.0
Graphic: Death, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Body shaming, Car accident, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicide, Child abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Alcohol, Eating disorder, and Medical content
kk_gotit_goinon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Medical trauma, and Medical content
uranaishi's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Car accident, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, Vomit, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Bullying, and Classism
Minor: Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, Animal death, Racism, Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pedophilia, Abortion, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Physical abuse