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emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
this was a really great read. it had a great plot, timeline, cast of characters, and multiple POVs (including a dog!). i always love reconnecting/small world coincidences and found family plotlines and there were really good ones here. i loved this and can’t wait to watch the show!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
Minor: Domestic abuse
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Sexual harassment
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Sexual harassment
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was pretty enjoyable! I absolutely loved the elements of magical realism - the whole book felt JUST outside of reality in the best way. The chemistry being done was extremely handwavy and made little to no sense, and normally this would bother me as a trained scientist, but I was able to categorize those aspects right next to the talking dog, unattainably genius child, and kitchen chemistry lab renovations. The plot was engaging enough to keep me reading, the characters were loveable, and the overall theme was very feel-good (it was quite girl-boss-white-feminist-y for my taste, but not to an unbearable degree).
Major trigger warning regarding sexual violence in the beginning of the book, which definitely took away from the lightness that it seemed the rest of the book was trying to achieve and this was a big disconnect for me.
Overall a good read, but I truthfully haven't thought about it once since I finished. Except for the dog - he was the BEST character and I did miss him for a few days after closing the book for the last time.
Major trigger warning regarding sexual violence in the beginning of the book, which definitely took away from the lightness that it seemed the rest of the book was trying to achieve and this was a big disconnect for me.
Overall a good read, but I truthfully haven't thought about it once since I finished. Except for the dog - he was the BEST character and I did miss him for a few days after closing the book for the last time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Death
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
So, I absolutely LOVED this book!! I can't wait to reread it some day. I loved following Elizabeth's story, although it also made me furious at how women were treated throughout history. This focuses on the 1960's and even though things have changed for the better since then, there are still some things that need changing now. (And I do get the criticism that some people mentioned about Elizabeth feeling like a 21st century woman time-travelling back to the 1950s/60s and with that background trying to make a life in society.)
The characters Bonnie Garmus wrote felt very real (maybe a bit stereotypical at some points but, nevertheless, real).I especially loved Elizabeth's relationship with her daughter, Mad. Although she originally didn't want children, once Mad was in her life I felt like that changed to accomodate the changed reality. I also loved that Garmus didn't portray motherhood as being easy-going from the beginning. Elizabeth does struggle with her new role as a mother and therefore a rolemodel and caregiver to a younger being. What I also loved about that was that she raised Mad to be independent and curious but not naive.
The characters Bonnie Garmus wrote felt very real (maybe a bit stereotypical at some points but, nevertheless, real).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Grief, Gaslighting