Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

275 reviews

theebster's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I personally found the plot to be a little too soap-y/trope-y by the end. But Zott kept me going with her electric personality. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Abandonment

Minor: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

bookswithlauren's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

ksilvio's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

anke3100's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was both the best and worst book I've ever read. Elizabeth Zott, the main character, will be my forever favourite fictional character. 

The book is highly upsetting in many ways and powering through felt hard at times. Nevertheless, it was worth it. The plot is upsetting because it targets the sexism and abuse of women (in science) of the 1950s and 60s in a realistic way. It's neither exagerrated nor romanticised or brushed off. It's real and that's upsetting. Because even though things have changed, women today still face similar if not the same discrimination. Which is why it's so important to talk about it the way that this book does, in a sober and realistic way. Elizabeth Zott is the guiding light throughout this book, changing the world by believing in herself, in women and in science. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, and Pregnancy

bobinsbooknook's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad medium-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

My book club pick this month and what a read! I really enjoyed this book so much for so many reasons it’ll be hard to do it justice in a review.

I enjoyed the characters a lot in this book partially the strong MFC Elizabeth challenging the status quo of women in science.  I found all the characters  really well rounded and complex in their interactions which made for some really beautiful and emotional arcs. 

Plot wise, whilst there is an element (no pun intended) of romance, it doesn’t negate or minimise the main themes of the book. 

This was a completely unique read and loved how the plot unravels and intwines with eachother from the slight tangents the book takes so it all forms a very cohesive story.

This book made me laugh, snap my fingers as some of the pure “Girl boss” moves whilst also warming and breaking my heart at the same time. 

I can understand why the heavier science terminology could be confusing and put some readers off. I won’t pretend I understood all of the terminology… thought honestly I don’t think you need to in order to love story and would highly recommend giving it a go!  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death, Suicide, Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

spootilious's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

 

 

Read: July 17th, 2024
 Title: Lessons in Chemistry 
 Author: Bonnie Garmus 

Genre:  Historical Fiction 

Rating: 2/5
 Review: 

I have been contemplating how to review this for a few hours now. It’s difficult because I really enjoyed reading the book. It made me smile, cringe, and cry; though I think the ‘Laugh out Loud’ reviews are a bit farfetched. In fact, this novel wasn’t just heavy, it hit like a freight train (pun intended). 

I suppose my biggest conflict is that I really really like the message of the novel and the focus on social injustices. 

The issue then becomes all the things I didn’t like about the novel. 

The work was written well enough but Garmus switch so drastically from one injustice to another that I felt as if I were getting whiplash. She moved back and fourth so much that I don’t think any one subject got as much attention as it deserved. The one focused on the most being Women Empowerment but it felt more like anti-men than pro-women… That being said, I am the type of woman that will ALWAYS choose the bear. Still, I think it would be nice to see a feminist store that builds its own ladder rather than using the destroyed men as stepping stones to empowerment… Cuz in the end it means we still need them… even if in a negative way. 

I found the dialog to often be condescending as well. Almost as if Garmus was throwing in ever intelligent sound word she could find. It felt forced. People of high intelligence can sound as brilliant as their IQ without sounding like a robot. 

The unapologetic and vulgar nature of the atrocities throughout the book is both disturbing and refreshing. I’ve mentioned it in a rare review but I have to admire an author who can simply write a horrific act without defending or explaining it, it makes it hit harder. 

That being said… There was a lot… and jumping from it to a ‘funny’ quip or one liner made the whole thing feel off putting… 

 

Overall I really enjoyed the read, just not the way it was written. I would recommend this to individuals who enjoy heavy reads/sad reads, drama, historical fiction that borders on fantasy, or a strong feminist tone. 

 

TBH I loved the show though. Very well done. 

QUOTES:
 “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.” 

“Imagine if all men took women seriously. Education would change. The workforce would revolutionize. Marriage counsellors would go out of business.” 

“Courage is the root of change—and change is what we’re chemically designed to do.” 

“Sometimes I think," she said slowly, "that if a man were to spend a day being a woman in America, he wouldn't make it past noon.” 

 

 

TW: Rape, Adultery, Religious bigotry, Racism, Feminism, Sexism, Animal harm, parental death, death of a child, death of a parent, pedophilia, sexual assault, sexual harassment, bombs, death threats, car accidents, suicide, domestic abuse, vomit, abandonment, mentions of abortion, alcoholism, drug use, blood, body shaming, bullying, child abuse, toxic relationships, stalking, slurs, gaslighting, grief, fatphobia, emotional abuse, classism, alcohol, animal cruelty, pregnancy, miscarriage, infidelity, emotional abuse, medical content. 

 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

noxa's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

1.0

This author can’t seem to wrap her head around the concept that religion and science are not mutually exclusive. Hell, just in my direct family alone, 83% of us studied science in university and we are all very comfortable in our faith… for a man of God to take 1 chemistry course and suddenly be so shaken in his faith? A. Skill issue. B. That reeks of a severe lack of understanding of religion to me. C. One of the most idiotic lines I’ve read in a book in a while. 

It’s also a pretty wild choice to have a book set in the USA in the 50s and 60s and to have the only mention of black people be an offhand comment about supporting Rosa Parks. Not a single person of color in this book? Seriously? In CALIFORNIA? 

There’s also somehow enough religious extremists in their town for Elizabeth to get death threats & an attempted bombing for saying that she’s an atheist on air but not a single racist exists to complain about her explicitly supporting the Civil Rights movement. Sure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Car accident

Minor: Pedophilia

jessica2978's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death and Vomit

leontyna's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring fast-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? No

4.0

The characters and events in the book felt totally unrealistic most of the time but it was a great read. It felt like reading a fairy tale. Also if the show existed, I would have totally watched it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Grief

Moderate: Death and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide, and Vomit

polkadotteapott's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and Death of parent