Reviews - Uma questão de química

60.9k reviews for:

Uma questão de química

Bonnie Garmus

4.23 AVERAGE

the_mancunian_candidate's review against another edition

2.5

emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

narrativene's review against another edition

2.0

This was the silliest, most absurd thing I have ever read. It walked the thin line between reality and ridiculousness.
I had high hopes. The show, starring Brie Larson, seemed charming, something I'd enjoy as a short getaway from books. The book was not an enjoyable experience.

It started okay. There was a quite surprising sexual assault early on in the chapters which I felt didn't have the levity it hoped to have. Calvin and Elizabeth's love story was cute, even if I felt it took too long to get through considering his death is literally spoiled in the book summary.

I enjoy consuming media that involves women breaking barriers and taking what they rightfully deserve; however, this book made that feel like such a joke. Every moment of injustice felt so cheesy, like I was supposed to take it seriously, but it didn't want to take the effort to make it feel serious.
Back to the absurdity, her daughter is such a weirdo. Reading 1,000 page long classics at age 4? Please give me a break.

Another thing that irked me was the discussion on religion, specifically Christianity. Now, I may just be a ridicuously sensitive church-goer, but the way God was talked about in this book felt so ironic considering some of the topics discussed, but I can't say I'm all that surprise since

Spoiler

our main character and her evil woman enemy at work had a spiderman pointing meme about being sexually assaulted and kicked out of college. It was a paragraph long and was mentioned one time later in the book. Thanks for taking this subject seriously????

AND the only good and kind Christian in the book, get ready for this, admitted that

Spoiler

he didn't even believe in God.

Thanks I guess. I understand the importance of having this subject talked about in a book that takes place in 1960s, and anyone who wasn't Christian was looked down upon, but every time religion and God was mentioned, it was quite literally talking about how stupid religion is and whoever believes in it is an idiot. Every time.

Now, get this. The book ended with

Spoiler

Calvin's mother being not only ALIVE but a super-rich foundation owner who ended up buying Hastings, fired Donatti (that'll show the men!), made Frask the head of personnel for some reason, then finds Elizabeth and tells her everything. To which Elizabeth immediately accepts her and calls her family. It was so out of pocket and random.

Just read how cringe this is.

Spoiler

"“Please, call me Elizabeth. And you are family, Avery. Madeline understood this a long time ago. It’s not Wilson she put on the family tree—it’s you.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“You’re the acorn.” Avery, her eyes a watery gray, took in some distant point across the room.
“The fairy godmother acorn,” she said to herself.
“Me.”"

Eye rolllllllll.

Of course, I had some good moments. Ignoring her weirdly modern feminism takes for a woman born and raised in the era of 50s housewives, I enjoyed Elizabeth. She did her best in all things. She loved, she cried, she tried. And she never backed down. There were also some cheesy moments of woman power" that made me go awwwww.

Other than that, this book was a waste of my time.

celjoana's review against another edition

4.5

emotional inspiring medium-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: No

I really enjoyed this book! Elizabeth Zott is an unforgettable character. I would’ve loved to watch a show like Supper at 6, and take notes on the chemistry & life lessons. I liked the discussion on religion and atheism. I fell in love with Reverend Wakely, and will forever hold 6:30 in my heart. When was the last time you read a book and really got to know a dog character?! So heartwarming. I’ll admit that it’s a slow start but have a little bit of patience and you’ll be hooked.

Content Warnings

dalekfrex's review against another edition

4.5

emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Elizabeth Zott isn't your average 60s woman, she's a chemist, who despite her determination to be a scientist, struggled to be taken seriously, until she became the face of an afternoon show called Supper at 6!

Calvin, 632, and Mad are all great characters who shaped the story and give so much to life to this story. I know Zott is not based on a single person, but I was so drawn to her mind when she was at war with herself over Calvin's death and where that left her, even after she was fired.

Really enjoyed this book, and will keep it on the shelves where it is easy to grab for a quick read from time to time.