Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

65 reviews

miranda_is_reading's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.25

I really enjoyed this book. While traveling I brought it with me and so many people commented on it that had also read it. There was one lady who told me she hadn’t cared for it compared to all the raves I was hearing. So as I continued reading I kept waiting for the ball to drop. But, the story kept me pulled in wanting to know what was going to happen next.

My only flaw with the book, being a designer, is that the cover design (US) doesn’t fit the book at all. I know they say don’t judge a book by its cover, but knowing how design still sends a message and subconsciously influences people I was shocked to start reading this and realize it isn’t primarily a romcom type book at all. And romcom is the vibes the design totally gives in my opinion. 

Beyond that this story was captivating to me. I loved the main character, Elizabeth, and all she stands for. I love how people around her could see her as stubborn, when she was just living authentically and in truth.  I also enjoyed the ties to religious discussion in the book.

I can’t wait to watch the Apple TV show of the book and hope they stayed as true as possible to it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Blood, Rape, Suicide, and Sexual content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Child death, Cursing, Bullying, Car accident, Grief, and Homophobia

subi_doobi_doo's review against another edition

hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Great introduction to feminist literature. Really connects the reader with the  indignation and frustration of women in the 60s/in patriarchal societies.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Car accident, Cursing, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Pregnancy, Death of parent, Suicide, Child death, Sexual violence, and Child abuse

lil_saddie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Holding two truths at the same time: I enjoyed many aspects of this book and think the story telling was quite good with so many threads being woven together expertly and always taking Zott as deadly serious as she took herself. I enjoyed how fluidly the story could change POV and narration to give so many perspectives. 
Some spoilers further:
However, I wish I had checked for content warnings before reading because there are considerable themes of SA. I’m struggling with how necessary these multiple scenes and  references were as a plot point since this wasn’t based on a true story. I know it was incredibly common in the workplace without consequence in a way  that we have improved somewhat as a society today. But for a modern audience when 1 in 6 women have faced SA personally, who is the audience this narrative is trying to convince the severity of the situation to? We know the realities, and Zott being mistreated in the workplace without SA as part of the story feels like it should have been impactful enough. Not to mention how glossed over instances of pedophilia was for male characters. I guess in sum o feel those very triggering topics could have been handled bett

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Sexual assault, Vomit, Sexism, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Suicide

Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Car accident, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Child death, Animal cruelty, and Toxic relationship

sweill803's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexism

Moderate: Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Cursing, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Sexual violence

abicaro17's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

Ok this was cute. I was kinda skeptical because it's so popular but I enjoyed it! Elizabeth Zott is a chemist who by a series of mishaps becomes the star of a cooking show rooted in chemistry. The cast of characters and all their backgrounds were easy to follow and intriguing. The main themes of embracing change and perseverance despite what anyone says you can or can't do are both incredibly relevant but make sense in the story. I think my problem stems from the formatting/plot progression. I don't think this book really had a third act climax. What I would identify as the attempt wasn't even that climatic. I just think the book reads very flat and slow at times. I haven't seen the show so it might be different but the book would benefit from following traditional plot form. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Car accident, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Classism, Cursing, Misogyny, Bullying, Stalking, Grief, Sexism, Suicide, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Homophobia

leahdanielle131's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide, Rape, Sexual harassment, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit, Blood, Domestic abuse, Cursing, and Infidelity

tommelisesofia's review against another edition

funny lighthearted 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Grief, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Car accident, Vomit, Cursing, and Religious bigotry

It is White-centric.

zombiezami's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

I have seen that this book continues to be popular, and I wanted to try it for myself. I adored the characters and the writing. I thought the book was paced well, but there were a few threads that were started and never went anywhere. For example:

Walter's crush on Harriet and Elizabeth's participation in the rowing team after her pregnancy

. I also felt that, although it was in character for Elizabeth to be antiracist because she finds racism and all other forms of bigotry to be illogical, there are no Black characters or other characters of color in the book. Finally, the author employs some words turns of phrase that were definitely not used in the 1950s/1960s: e.g. "fast forward to now."

Even with all these caveats, I enjoyed the book very much, and I would highly recommend it. The author does an excellent job of showing how structural sexism harms all of society, not just women. The tragedies in the book feel very complex and human.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Vomit, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual assault, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Cursing

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Blood, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Outing, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Suicide, and Abandonment

Minor: Slavery, Sexual content, Gun violence, War, and Animal cruelty

bclozano's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing and Rape

kllrbls's review against another edition

dark inspiring sad medium-paced

3.5

I enjoyed the

biological mom

plot, but I wished that it had been revealed in a more show-don’t-tell manner, rather than having everything spelled out in the last few chapters. I also found Elizabeth's use of chemistry jargon to be sooo extra--it's as if she assumed it was all general knowledge. However, still an interesting read. The relationship plot was particularly exciting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Cursing, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Death, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Death of parent and Car accident