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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is not a serious book. It deals with serious topics, sometimes haphazardly, but in no way pretends or wants to be taken as a serious book. It has a thinking/talking dog that knows over 1k words in English, an incredibly intelligent, emotionally mature, wise beyond her 7 years, little girl, an afternoon cooking show that catapulted its hostess to international fame, and a woman as brilliant as she is obtuse. All in the 60s.
With that out of the way and our expectations settled, this is a wonderful book. It's silly and sad and sweet and sincere. It's simple in its depiction of the female condition in the 60s and wishful on the way to dismantle it.
With that out of the way and our expectations settled, this is a wonderful book. It's silly and sad and sweet and sincere. It's simple in its depiction of the female condition in the 60s and wishful on the way to dismantle it.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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:
No
Truly excellent feel-good book. The biochemist in me is so happy to have read this.
This book captured me from the start and was a super quick read with so much depth. I think it's easy to forget how much the world has changed in 75 years and it was refreshing to have a main character who went against culture norms and didn't fully compromise her desires for something more in life than to be a wife or a mother. While she became a mother she didn't allow it to be what defined her
No spoilers. Listened to via Libby.
This book may not have been for me, if I was not listening to it, I do not think I would have read it. It does have a good story and absolutely love the woman empowerment that she portrays, but it just was not for me.
Would I recommend? Maybe, to the ones that I think would enjoy this type of book.
This book may not have been for me, if I was not listening to it, I do not think I would have read it. It does have a good story and absolutely love the woman empowerment that she portrays, but it just was not for me.
Would I recommend? Maybe, to the ones that I think would enjoy this type of book.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Woof. There is so much to dislike about this book. I almost DNF'd it after chapter three.
Do yourself a favor and google all the triggers in this book before picking it up.
Spoiler filled review below.
There is so much I disliked about this book. There is on page rape and attempted sexual assault. There is implied pedophilia. There is literally so much sexism - which I did expect from a book based in the 50s and 60s.
Elizabeth is not a likable character. She's like an after-school special for feminism. She's also a Mary Sue. I absolutely hate to use that term, but it's true. She's good at all different kinds of chemistry and she became a good rower literally overnight just by reading a physics book. What?
There is also internal monologue from the dog? Who was taught around 1,000 words in English? Literally made no sense. I don't give a damn about knowing what went on inside the mind of the dog.
Elizabeth & Calvin's daughter is also unrealistically intelligent and well-spoken. Even a smart and precocious 4-year-old wouldn't know the word "incontinent." It seems like the author has never met a child.
The only redeeming thing about this book was Elizabeth and Calvin's relationship, which I thought was cute for a while. But he died and gave me nothing to look forward to.
Do yourself a favor and google all the triggers in this book before picking it up.
Spoiler filled review below.
Spoiler
There is so much I disliked about this book. There is on page rape and attempted sexual assault. There is implied pedophilia. There is literally so much sexism - which I did expect from a book based in the 50s and 60s.
Elizabeth is not a likable character. She's like an after-school special for feminism. She's also a Mary Sue. I absolutely hate to use that term, but it's true. She's good at all different kinds of chemistry and she became a good rower literally overnight just by reading a physics book. What?
There is also internal monologue from the dog? Who was taught around 1,000 words in English? Literally made no sense. I don't give a damn about knowing what went on inside the mind of the dog.
Elizabeth & Calvin's daughter is also unrealistically intelligent and well-spoken. Even a smart and precocious 4-year-old wouldn't know the word "incontinent." It seems like the author has never met a child.
The only redeeming thing about this book was Elizabeth and Calvin's relationship, which I thought was cute for a while. But he died and gave me nothing to look forward to.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Charming and delightful while also real
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
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 AND the only good and kind Christian in the book, get ready for this, admitted that 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
Just read how cringe this is.
“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.
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????Spoiler
he didn't even believe in God.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.
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
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse