Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

58 reviews

bookforestsprite's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-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: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Pedophilia and Vomit

CN: contains a side storyline with a Bury Your Gays trope

lmconway_ak's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted fast-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? Yes

5.0

Yep, a five star read. The commentary on male chauvinism, racism, and religious fallacies is presented with deep understanding while keeping the read fun and lighthearted. The addition of Six Thirty's POV was a stroke of genius. A must read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexism, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Car accident

iordanmoore'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was entertaining, funny, and heartbreaking (sometimes all at once). Elizabeth Zott is one of my new favorite female characters. Would highly recommend to anyone who loves smart and good writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcoholism, Self harm, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment

bloomingbookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

2.75

It’s hard to rate this book. What I can say for sure is that it is absolutely not “laugh out loud funny” as the back of the book proclaims. Don’t be fooled by the cheery cover - the first half of the book was quite dark and had many upsetting scenes. The second half was intriguing but the tone felt off considering the darker scenes at the beginning of the book. All in all, I didn’t hate it, but I can’t say I’d recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Pregnancy

Minor: Body shaming and Religious bigotry

hammock_napper's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry

spootilious's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

 

 

Read: July 17th, 2024
 Title: Lessons in Chemistry 
 Author: Bonnie Garmus 

Genre:  Historical Fiction 

Rating: 2/5
 Review: 

I have been contemplating how to review this for a few hours now. It’s difficult because I really enjoyed reading the book. It made me smile, cringe, and cry; though I think the ‘Laugh out Loud’ reviews are a bit farfetched. In fact, this novel wasn’t just heavy, it hit like a freight train (pun intended). 

I suppose my biggest conflict is that I really really like the message of the novel and the focus on social injustices. 

The issue then becomes all the things I didn’t like about the novel. 

The work was written well enough but Garmus switch so drastically from one injustice to another that I felt as if I were getting whiplash. She moved back and fourth so much that I don’t think any one subject got as much attention as it deserved. The one focused on the most being Women Empowerment but it felt more like anti-men than pro-women… That being said, I am the type of woman that will ALWAYS choose the bear. Still, I think it would be nice to see a feminist store that builds its own ladder rather than using the destroyed men as stepping stones to empowerment… Cuz in the end it means we still need them… even if in a negative way. 

I found the dialog to often be condescending as well. Almost as if Garmus was throwing in ever intelligent sound word she could find. It felt forced. People of high intelligence can sound as brilliant as their IQ without sounding like a robot. 

The unapologetic and vulgar nature of the atrocities throughout the book is both disturbing and refreshing. I’ve mentioned it in a rare review but I have to admire an author who can simply write a horrific act without defending or explaining it, it makes it hit harder. 

That being said… There was a lot… and jumping from it to a ‘funny’ quip or one liner made the whole thing feel off putting… 

 

Overall I really enjoyed the read, just not the way it was written. I would recommend this to individuals who enjoy heavy reads/sad reads, drama, historical fiction that borders on fantasy, or a strong feminist tone. 

 

TBH I loved the show though. Very well done. 

QUOTES:
 “The librarian is the most important educator in school. What she doesn’t know, she can find out. This is not an opinion; it’s a fact.” 

“Imagine if all men took women seriously. Education would change. The workforce would revolutionize. Marriage counsellors would go out of business.” 

“Courage is the root of change—and change is what we’re chemically designed to do.” 

“Sometimes I think," she said slowly, "that if a man were to spend a day being a woman in America, he wouldn't make it past noon.” 

 

 

TW: Rape, Adultery, Religious bigotry, Racism, Feminism, Sexism, Animal harm, parental death, death of a child, death of a parent, pedophilia, sexual assault, sexual harassment, bombs, death threats, car accidents, suicide, domestic abuse, vomit, abandonment, mentions of abortion, alcoholism, drug use, blood, body shaming, bullying, child abuse, toxic relationships, stalking, slurs, gaslighting, grief, fatphobia, emotional abuse, classism, alcohol, animal cruelty, pregnancy, miscarriage, infidelity, emotional abuse, medical content. 

 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

3vathunder's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Car accident, and Death of parent

whats_miranda_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, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

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

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

ofi's review against another edition

emotional 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

5.0

i thought the six-thirty pov episode of the series was the saddest thing i’d ever seen but then i read the book every single line in his pov is much much worse. six-thirty i would give my life for you

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

chrysanthxmum's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Grief

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