Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

519 reviews

louisehall's review against another edition

funny inspiring mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

I would first like to say I would DEFINITELY recommend this book to anyone who is even mildly interested! I picked this back up after a slump and made my way through most of it in a few days because of how fun the novel is. It's written incredibly well written and Garmus is masterful with her comedic timing, I found myself laughing a lot!

I have one personal dislike, and I feel like this might be an unpopular opinion, but I did not love Elizabeth Zott. There were times I did, and I was always rooting for her throughout the novel - she deserved it after all she'd been through! - but there were times I found her love of science too gimmicky I suppose. Maybe its because I read this part the same day I write this, but I'm thinking of how she started talking about the Babylonians when that reporter just asked why her dog was called Six-Thirty. I understand maybe not wanting to explain the personal meaning behind it but there was also no need to be a patronising smart ass 😭 Moments like those were few and far between for me though, and as my rating shows I thoroughly enjoyed this book and LOVED the inspiring message it conveyed. I also loved the character development of Miss Frisk - we've all known a woman like her and it was refreshing to see her grow!

Overall, I'd highly recommend!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide and Death

Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, Car accident, and Grief

chrysanthxmum's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Misogyny

Moderate: Eating disorder, Racism, Bullying, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Car accident, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Suicide, Hate crime, and Sexism

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

katlinstirling_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective sad tense 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? N/A

5.0

I loved this book I’m not gonna lie. I loved the way it was written, I loved the characters and the storyline everything! Completely heartbreaking in parts and I was so angry with the sex discrimination and abuse towards women, I did actually throw the book a few times! I don’t care what anyone says this is a 5-star read to me!! ❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Car accident, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Vomit, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Death, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Medical content, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Child death, and Emotional abuse

krysley's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Car accident, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Suicide, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

redheadorganist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Suicide, Blood, Death, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Vomit, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Car accident, and Homophobia

Minor: Pedophilia, Child death, and Abortion

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

cocaworm1017's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.75

A must read for every woman, and preferably all as well. Every page was better than the last and only marked it as 4.75 instead of 5 because the ending felt rushed. Overall, this book will go down as one of my favorites.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Grief, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Vomit

the book contains a very graphic rape scene and belittling of the police after. The death of the love of her life is also very graphic, including descriptions of the scene as told by the dog.

welaneyding's review against another edition

Needlessly triggering

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Death of parent, Death, Homophobia, Bullying, Grief, Rape, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment