Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Lekcje chemii by Bonnie Garmus

685 reviews

megacleary's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

tacoshark's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.75

What a strange book - it was not at all what I expected from what I’d heard or from the marketing. There’s a pull quote on the cover calling it an “utter delight” and I genuinely don’t know who would think that. This was one of the most profoundly (and yet implausibly) sad books I’ve ever read. Unrelentingly, almost, though there is a sort of happy, at least hopeful-ish, if again, implausible ending. What it reminded me of, in an unexpected and bizarre way, was A Little Life, though it’s not quite as hideously cruel as that book. 

I enjoyed reading this, despite the sadness, but I found it rather unsatisfying as well. What I liked was the propulsion of the narrative and the zingy, constantly moving POV (I especially enjoyed the dog’s POV). But because of that very mechanism, while the book is theoretically mostly about Elizabeth, I felt like she was barely developed and pretty unrelatable as a character - all of this happens to her, but you spend more time with the reactions and feelings of those around her than with her. It left me feeling that she was a bit of an automaton and even when her thoughts and feelings were described, they had very little heft. (I don’t think I’d actually want to spend more time in her head, but it’s a strange choice for your main character.) I liked Calvin better, but it also felt a bit strange that this book that’s theoretically a feminist story about this compelling woman was really so much about a man instead. 

I’m not sure if I’ll recommend this but I think I’d check out what this author does next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child abuse

radmusikitty's review against another edition

emotional funny informative mysterious 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Grief, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Death, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, and Suicide

skylover's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-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? No

4.25

this is one of the most female empowering books i've ever read, fitting to read in the year of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and the Barbie movie. I laughed, cried, gasped, got goosebumps, and learned a lot from this book about the history of women's rights, and literal chemistry. One of my favorites I've read this year - i rooted for the female characters, i loved the different perspectives, and found this book relatable on so many levels. I'd befriend Elizabeth and Harriet in a instant if I could. I didn't mesh with the rushed ending, kinda felt like it left you hanging, and it did get slow at times when there seemed to be no hope or good people until pg 140 and then it turns around.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Misogyny

Moderate: Vomit, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Sexism

jenni_bear's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

read this book read it NOW you will be a better person for reading it ❤️ (will make u sob tho x)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

amsswim's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-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

Liked this one a lot. Not much more I have to say about it other than I think it will translate well into a TV show.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Rape, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Homophobia, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Bullying, Suicide, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Medical content

Minor: Police brutality, Animal death, and Miscarriage

agathacrispie's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Rape, Death, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, and Car accident

Minor: Child death, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Vomit

gvstyris's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Abandonment, and Suicide

chloebaboey's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Body shaming, Car accident, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicide, Child abuse, and Vomit

Minor: Alcohol, Eating disorder, and Medical content

katyhosbein's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.25

I read this because I’m a chemist and other chemist bookish friends were torn between loving or hating it. I don’t get triggered by much and I think it’s because I’m extremely lucky to have not gone through a lot of singular traumatic events in my life. Even with that I was extremely annoyed with the trauma porn in the first third of the book. The story could have been equally impactful without some of the descriptions in the book.

especially then graphic description of Calvin’s death. That was seriously unnecessary.

I was bored with the second third of the book, probably because I was so frustrated with the first third. The last third I actually really enjoyed. It had taken me months to get to the last third and then I flew through it in a week. 

I think one thing that really bothered me that made it hard to push through is that they portrayed Elizabeth as a stereotypical chemist. Socially awkward and only focused on her work. I assume she’s on the spectrum but maybe not written this way intentionally. 

The last part of the book is empowering. Like it’s nice to see the character pushing through boundaries and other parts of the story coming together but I was still a BIT bothered by the end because

the justice that gets her back into science is incredible privilege

but nevertheless it was satisfying to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident

Moderate: Suicide, Abandonment, and Car accident

Minor: Sexual harassment and Rape