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A review by notreadkat
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-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? No
3.5
To be completely honest this book would’ve been a lot higher for me if the politics of this book wasn’t so secular.
For a character that is overt in her feminism and support and enthusiasm to recognise the hard work and struggle being a woman is in an oppressive society, This book fails to fully consider every women, more specifically speaking Black and poc women. It’s especially frustrating and painfully clear because the main character does mention segregation and racism but that’s it, only mentions. For a book published in 2022 that battles the themes of societal issues more specifically sexism I would expect all women to be included not only ones that look like the author. Along with the time period of when the book is set (segregation, Jim Crow and Civil rights) makes it the perfect environment and setting to have such commentary about the struggles of being a women of colour.
This book is good and well written but it’s only from a white perspective. Being published in 2022 with the themes that’s it has I am disappointed that this books beliefs only include white feminism.
*content warning* - discussion about rape.
Another major gripe I had with this book is how the characters react to the sexual violence they face, more specifically speaking rape.or more so the main characters rape.
I find that the book will make the characters go through these horrific events that will affect them whilst the scene is happening but not further than that.
I wish the book portrayed how sexual violence isn’t just a bad memory that can effect you socially but, is also a prolonged traumatic memory or experience that bleeds and affects your everyday life and is not just limited to social.Zott’s rape feels like something that just happened to her and not something extremely traumatic she went through. She shows no sign of being further affected by this rape and in fact is more affected by Calvin’s death. Doing a disservice to the trauma of being raped this mischaracterisation of how sexual violence (SV) persists throughout life, feels especially personal to myself as a SA victim and to what I assume many other people who this violence has been committed against. As I feel the way the author writes the symbolism -the pencil- for rape feels more like a girlboss empowerment symbol rather than the act of desperation that it was.
*discussions of content warning over*
Overall the book is extremely well written and The characters arcs do come full circle, with statifying conclusions.
I personally would rate it a lot higher if what I previously criticised and mentioned wasn’t as serious as a topic and theme that they are, as I believe they deserve full well rounded, educated and all inclusive discussions about them.
For a character that is overt in her feminism and support and enthusiasm to recognise the hard work and struggle being a woman is in an oppressive society, This book fails to fully consider every women, more specifically speaking Black and poc women. It’s especially frustrating and painfully clear because the main character does mention segregation and racism but that’s it, only mentions. For a book published in 2022 that battles the themes of societal issues more specifically sexism I would expect all women to be included not only ones that look like the author. Along with the time period of when the book is set (segregation, Jim Crow and Civil rights) makes it the perfect environment and setting to have such commentary about the struggles of being a women of colour.
This book is good and well written but it’s only from a white perspective. Being published in 2022 with the themes that’s it has I am disappointed that this books beliefs only include white feminism.
*content warning* - discussion about rape.
Another major gripe I had with this book is how the characters react to the sexual violence they face, more specifically speaking rape.
I find that the book will make the characters go through these horrific events that will affect them whilst the scene is happening but not further than that.
I wish the book portrayed how sexual violence isn’t just a bad memory that can effect you socially but, is also a prolonged traumatic memory or experience that bleeds and affects your everyday life and is not just limited to social.
*discussions of content warning over*
Overall the book is extremely well written and The characters arcs do come full circle, with statifying conclusions.
I personally would rate it a lot higher if what I previously criticised and mentioned wasn’t as serious as a topic and theme that they are, as I believe they deserve full well rounded, educated and all inclusive discussions about them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Violence, and Suicide