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kcarney86'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Grief, Abandonment, Suicide, and Sexism
Moderate: Bullying, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Vomit, and Rape
Minor: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
eule's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Even though I highly respect this work of literature, I have to mention some aspects that I did not quite enjoy.
Firstly, the character perspectives change all the time all of a sudden which can be quite confusing (love Six-Thirty’s pov though).
Secondly, the main plot is revealed right in the beginning (the first couple chapters) which was kind of off-putting.
Furthermore, I perceived Elizabeth as to perfect. She always seems strong and confident and unapproachable.
And lastly, it seems like the book wanted to pursue to many plots. One being the „women’s rights in science and work - plot“, another being the „mystery about Calvin Evans - plot“ and just another one being the „how to be a family - plot“. It just seems like the novel should include every possible trope.
To conclude, I recommend this book as an educational and revolutionary novel about the rise of feminism.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Vomit, Sexual assault, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Misogyny
leannanecdote's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Death, Grief, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Rape, Suicide, Sexual harassment, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Infidelity, Abortion, Cannibalism, and Miscarriage
hannahaileen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Blood, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Car accident, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Suicide
Minor: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, and Abortion
natashahillier's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: Suicide, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
hlureh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Car accident, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death of parent, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Alcoholism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
annaofjesup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Misogyny, Death, Car accident, Rape, Grief, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Abandonment, and Cursing
Minor: Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Homophobia
jkneebone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I did listen to the audiobook, and I didn’t like the narration style very much, so perhaps I would have liked this better if I’d read the physical version. We’ll never know.
I’ll admit that some of my gripes with this book are more personal preference - I’m not a fan of the use of third person omniscient, for example, and I found Elizabeth Zott to be quite annoying as a main character. In some situations her perseverance was admirable, and I liked how she drew attention to the discrimination she faced as a woman; however in other situations she was so stubborn as to be idiotic. The way she refused to understand how any of her behavior might prove to be an issue, especially once she got on TV, made it seem like she had no awareness or understanding of how society worked.
In my view there were some technical issues with Lessons in Chemistry, eg it wasn’t very well written. Frankly, I think it was too long by half, and a lot of the backstory and tangents could have been removed. On the stylistic side, some things were over-exaggerated to the point of absurdism (eg, Elizabeth teaching her dog 900+ words) while others were treated extremely seriously (eg, the sexism Elizabeth faced) which made me unsure of how I was supposed to be reading the overall tone. There was practically no character growth or development, despite how many people’s heads we got to peek into, and so many of the characters read more like caricatures with no nuance at all, including some of the main players. And for a book ostensibly about a woman scientist, so much of the story from start to finish ended up being centered around Calvin.
Overall, this was fine. There were some funny parts, and even a few moments that tugged at my heartstrings, albeit in the same way as commercials with sad animals do. It’s entertaining enough, I suppose, even if the plot is trying to do *way* too much. (IMO it would have benefited from another round of editing.) But best book of the year or any of the other superlatives people have been throwing in its direction? Agree to disagree.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body shaming, Suicide, Death of parent, Child death, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Domestic abuse
risemini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Cancer, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Sexism, Car accident, Grief, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
soshereads_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexism, Pregnancy, Grief, Car accident, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, Bullying, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcoholism and Pedophilia