Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Kaikki on kemiaa by Bonnie Garmus

543 reviews

axmai's review against another edition

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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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melchncookies's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

I read along with the audiobook. I don’t typically love the last few chapters of books, but this one had me rapt until the last sentence. It ended at the perfect time, all hope and wonder, but I also wish it had gone on. I also recognize the book would have ended badly if it had. So, 5⭐️ doesn’t seem good enough, but it’s what we have. Best read of the year so far.

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bookishpip's review against another edition

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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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clare_dv's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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taylor_bb's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? Yes

3.25

I’ve never been so deceived by a book description before. Usually, I have good idea about what a book is about just by reading the blurbs or, in the case of this book, seeing trailers for TV/Movie adaptations. But this book completely threw off my game… and for bad reasons.

Using descriptions like “laugh-out-loud funny” and “original and vibrant as its protagonist” could not be more wrong. Just because there is humor in the book, it DOES NOT mean that this is a “laugh-out-loud funny” book,

especially since a graphic SA scene is described not even 5% the way in.

Even though I knew that this took place in the mid-20th century, I did not expect the constant references to SA.

Do NOT get me started on the CONSTANT misogyny. Again, I get it, it’s the 50s-70s, with a woman in STEM, it’s going to happen… but God it felt like every chapter included some misogynistic obstacle with Elizabeth on the brunt end of it. It genuinely grated on my nerves how every chapter HAD to contain some “b-b-but you’re a w-w-woman” moment, so that Elizabeth could have her girl boss moment.

While Elizabeth had the many components of a “not like other girls” character, I do appreciate that the author did not make her one entirely. In fact, I did enjoy Elizabeth’s character a lot! It just got annoying how every few pages, she would have a “misogynist-owned” moment. I mean yeah, it takes place in the mid-20th century when misogyny ran ramped, but I understood the point after the thirtieth incident, I didn’t need over half the book to consist of that.

I liked Mad, Calvin, Harriet, and Six Thirty (after reading that Bonnie Garmus has a dog named 99, THAT made a lot more sense), so I don’t have much to say about that. I’m a hopeless romantic at heart, so I adored the beginning that focused on Calvin and Elizabeth.

The whole marriage thing was frustrating, but I get it lol. One thing about Mad though was the whole family tree thing and befriending a priest to find out more information about her dad. I REFUSE to believe any mother would be okay with walking into her house and seeing a random man hanging out with your 5/6(?)-year-old daughter. NOPE.

So, yeah, I had a few issues with it, and it felt like it dragged on and on. Will probably not reread it, too much effort, but I did enjoy a lot of the book. It was also a bit too surface-level with its feminism. It was basically saying “Hey, women were treated badly in the 50s. They should not have, and should have been able to do science.” Overall, I did enjoy it, but not enough to revisit it or overwhelmingly recommend it.

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bookb1itch's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

I can't believe it took so long for me to actually decide to read this book. Everyone i know has loved it, and i really enjoyed the TV series, but the read was MUCH better than anticipated. I love that the book was even more feminist than the TV series. And there was more 6:30. What a genius character, with uncanny intelligence and self-doubt. In my Book Club, we discussed book-inspired tattoos and inthis book I found my choice:

“The librarian is the most important educator in school. What she doesn't know, she can find out. This is not an opinion; it's a fact. Do not share this fact with Mrs. Mudford.” Not that I am likely to get a tattoo anytime soon...

I did not expect so many laugh out loud moments, many of which were at the expense of Mrs Mudford (who turns out to be a little more likeable in the series.)

I will be recommending this to everyone I know who isn't also late to this party.

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nat_kiverse's review against another edition

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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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melanieripple's review against another edition

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3.0

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kaileylebrun's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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tdouty97's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-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? It's complicated

2.75

It's just... like I get it but at the same time why? The plot is very convoluted but not enough to be charming? Why is this feminist book so much about a man? Why do 100 pages go by before the cooking show is any part of the story? Why do we get to know the dog's thoughts? Not quite sure how this one got so popular

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