Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

533 reviews

belleslibrary1012's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

Goodness, this book is the definition of perseverance. I almost gave it up and returned it to the library so many times. I could not believe a book with this following, all these awards and accolades...could be so terrible. It took exactly 214 pages to get interesting and ended before 400. The writing was dry, the chapters long, the characters forgetful. I found myself a few times having to go back and remember who someone was after being casually mentioned once four chapters ago. Needless to say, I had to work almost two full months to complete this book. Am I glad I did? Yes, because I do not like giving up on books. Also no, because I could have spent that time reading something that could grab and keep my attention full time. I'm interested to watch the adapted show and see how it gauges my attention. Perhaps this author isn't for me: regardless, it's done and I'm now ready for the next one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

megafayray's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Recommended by Rob, this is an excellent book! There were so many times I went to write down a line from the book, only to discover that it was an entire scene that was so incredibly well done that I wanted to hold onto the whole thing.
I loved the neighbour, Harriet, the most. Her strong personality and how she swept into the Zott family felt like wind. 
A particularly memorable line that Elizabeth Zott insisted on was "There's no such thing as an average housewife". I really appreciated the views on what it's like being a mother - oftentimes the struggles aren't shared as much as I think they should be, and there's enormous community and camaraderie in sharing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

jeizak's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Minor: Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Sexual harassment

porkkutletbowl's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

rebookah_h's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

raekoch's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Really thought this was an interesting and good book about feminism. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

smal_practice's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Zott has a 2020 sense of girl boss feminism in a 1950s world. Hijinks ensue, including

falling in love, death, and becoming a tv chef

.
The instances of misogyny, of which there are many as it is the main problem the protagonist Zott faces are comically exaggerated. Her villians read as if they were the caretaker of the week in "A Series of Unfortunate events" or an ill behaved child in "Charlie and the chocolate factory", their cruelty in balance with their incompetence. 
While this sometimes resulted in a chuckle from me it also felt like it over simplified the issue. They felt like cardboard cut outs meant to look like obstacles. 

Especially once Zotts rich mother in law comes in to neatly solve all her problems

But sometimes it feels good to watch Ben Shapiro get owned, this scratches a similar itch.
For me the most affecting moments were the moments of pathos.

Reading about Zott falling in love, Zotts speeches for the women watching her program imploring them to dream bigger.

You'll get no new insights on feminism that you wouldn't get from "anything you can do I can do better". 
For me it was a beach read with a bit more wot and a sode of political awareness.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence

greenan26's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts

teeps82's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

eunchoi's review against another edition

hopeful 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? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicide, and Cannibalism