Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Eine Frage der Chemie by Bonnie Garmus

146 reviews

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

escapereader's review against another edition

This book was not for me. While there seemed to be potential in the FMC, the dull writing and lackluster "chemistry" in the romantic relationship made for a very boring read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

cmcahill's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

July 2024. Leading the discussion of this book with the UUCUC Feminist Book Group

Elizabeth Zott, a scientist working in the 50's is surrounded by people who are threatened by her beauty, intelligence, but mostly threatened by the fact that she doesn't listen to the nay-sayers. I don't want to put in any spoilers, but I can say that her life doesn't go in directions she expected. Some folks might find the story a bit didactic, but having worked in a lab for several years, Elizabeth's story sadly rang true to my experience in the 1980s. 

This was actually my second reading. Read it last year with the Reading Between the Wines book group.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

pdiaz's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Suicide, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Minor: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

derynjoy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

0.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Vomit, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Child death and Cursing

snazzy10101's review against another edition

5.0

this book deserves every award it has and more. 
i feel represented by Elizabeth Zott and also by the need to want to know someone who died more than you did when they were alive. 

i’m so emotional. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

minisaucisse's review against another edition

funny lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

VERY immersive. Almost missed my stop a couple of times because of it.

sadly, the end is a bit flat

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, and Sexism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

bites_of_books's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was a gift from one of my best friends and I breezed through it! 

Narratively there were a couple of things that seemed a bit forced, things that took me out of the story because they were presented in a way that just didn't fully work for me. That being said, I think the characters were really unique and interesting with really complex motivations. I liked the outspoken main character who sticks to her values and doesn't let romance or anything else get in the way of the things that matter most to her. 

All in all this is a story of a chemist who happens to be a woman in the 1950s and all the obstacles that she must overcome to reach her goals. On the way she finds love, family, and friends, which was quite satisfying to read about. However, it's not an easy read there are difficult topics that are pretty hard to read so do check content warnings before reading! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

sfdogmom's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, and Vomit

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Bullying, Suicide, Stalking, and Death of parent

katlinstirling_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective sad tense 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? N/A

5.0

I loved this book I’m not gonna lie. I loved the way it was written, I loved the characters and the storyline everything! Completely heartbreaking in parts and I was so angry with the sex discrimination and abuse towards women, I did actually throw the book a few times! I don’t care what anyone says this is a 5-star read to me!! ❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail