Reviews with content warning for Rape - La brillante destinée d'Elizabeth Zott

Reviews tagging 'Rape'

La brillante destinée d'Elizabeth Zott by Bonnie Garmus

2629 reviews

helfire124's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

Content Warnings

summer_s's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I nearly quit this book a few chapters in and I'm very glad I didn't. There's some early trauma and it's heavy (and honestly, I felt unnecessary in such detail) but it's a good story and the moments of joy and levity and reflection are excellent. There's some solid wins that are very gratifying too, especially as a woman in science/the world. I would highly recommend to others as long as you give the content warnings a glance and know what you're in for - I was caught off guard and it made the experience worse for me (I'm sure I didn't get all the warnings, maybe check a few other reviews too).

Content Warnings

kmrose's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional funny 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

Content Warnings

knittingjenni's review against another edition

1.5

sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Sure, the book hit on some of the social issues of the time mostly sexism. But I found the main character unlikeable and her method of dealing with the issues unrealistic and unrelatable.

Content Warnings

_jennilein_'s review against another edition

4.25

emotional funny inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

karingforbooks's review against another edition

3.0

dark funny reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Is Elizabeth autistic? She reads that way to me but I don’t know and I don’t know if it’s good rep or not.
I liked the dog and the science basis was interesting. Could have lived without the SA scenes. Fade to black would have been enough. I laughed at lines multiple times. It’s a super white book - there isn’t even a character of color in the book. I know it’s historical fiction but the intensity and level of feminism felt very 21st century and out of place. I didn’t particularly like the writing style itself either.
That said, it is relevant and I like the empowerment through Elizabeth. Could have lived without the romance being the catalyst but appreciate it wasn’t the woman who died. Basically for anything I enjoyed, the opposite also exists in this book so I’m full of contradictions and I can’t tell if I like it or not. Not especially except for some moments. Hence 3*

Content Warnings

annabarnardwright's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-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

My favourite read in ages, this book is unlike anything I’ve read before and I raced through it. I loved the characters, the plot, the writing style, the social commentary, the humour, everything. Even the narration from the dog’s perspective felt somehow completely believable. I didn’t see what was coming at any point but looking back afterwards it all tied in very cleverly. I’d highly recommend this to anyone.

Content Warnings