Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

31 reviews

sydneynorman's review

reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Rape, and Suicide

Minor: Vomit

mpeach's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Bullying, Car accident, Deadnaming, Death, Grief, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Suicide

yumiko's review

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring fast-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Pregnancy

vixenreader's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-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? No

4.25

Although a few things tie together in a nice bow, the strength of the cast of characters, especially our protagonist, and the themes of truth, change, and perseverance make this novel a crowd-pleaser. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Medical content, Mental illness, Police brutality, Abandonment, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Homophobia, and Cursing

Minor: Classism, Vomit, Infidelity, and Abortion

Be aware that there is discussions of marriage outside of wedlock, doubt in religion, bomb threats, and abuse of power in science, education, religious institutions, and television.

mariahgayleschultz's review

adventurous challenging emotional 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide

Minor: Death

vj_thompson's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

This book 🥹 I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would and wish more people would read it, or at least give it a chance!! 

There is a reason this is a five star read. This writing is beautiful, intentional, and meaningful. Each word was written with purpose. Everything in this story; backstory, inner monologue, character, had reason. I LOVED how everything was wrapped up in the end. Of course I cried 😭 Ugh, please read!! 

Last thought, Six-thirty is my favorite character. I highlighted so many of his parts. He is a wise dog. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Misogyny, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Vomit, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Suicide

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, and Child death

arrow3002's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

 Lessons in Chemistry is a tale of a bad ass woman working against a very prejudice world, and I am absolutely here for it. It was such a fun read, and I really enjoyed the way Bonnie was able to tell Elizabeth's story through all the different chapters of her life. Throughout the book it will occasionally switch to a different character's perspective, and I found myself quite enjoying the change in pace. It added a lot more to the narrative instead of confusing the reader in the guise of character development. The women empowerment, that is the main driving force behind this book, was beautifully done. There were many points where I felt that gender discrimination was handled in a very elegant yet profound way that I don't see often. There is so much in this book that makes it a genuinely great read. I devoured the book in a couple of hours and was left feeling very satisfied with how everything played out in the end. Also, Elizabeth and Calvin’s relationship had my heart absolutely melting, and let’s not forget the absolute legend that is Six Thirty. I fell in love with all the characters and felt such a strong connection with each and every one of them, which is a very hard to accomplish. Despite all the good, there were a couple of personal issues I had with the book that kept it from being a 5 star. I will start of by saying I am bias when it comes to the topic I will be bringing up, and I understand that everyone will have a different opinion, and that is more than totally okay and welcomed. But I felt that there was a strong anti-religion message continued throughout the whole entirety of the story, specifically anti-Catholic. There were a lot of times that I felt like I was being ridiculed for my beliefs and a lot of the stereo types often circulated about the catholic church were very much present in the book. I will not deny that the things that occur in the book definitely do happen and are not right in ANY way. But if you are a person of faith, there is a lot said in the book that you will probably find very hurtful due to the point of view the author is coming from. I am a huge believer in the power behind science and how important it is to the betterment of everyone, but I also hold my religious beliefs at the same importance. I totally believe that you can rely on science AND God at the same time. Again, I understand where the author and the main character is coming from, and in no way invalidating their beliefs or experience. It just took away from the enjoyment I was having with the book so much so that I felt a need to comment on it. If you do not like the book then stop reading it and move on, but it is a point I want to acknowledge for those who are religious and want to read the book. Again, other than my problem with how the church is portrayed, the story is an empowering and inspiring tale of a women in STEM and had me feeling empowered by the end of it. I will definitely suggest this book to anyone who comes to me asking for a fun and witty read that will keep them from wanting to put it down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Sexism, Classism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Blood, and Child abuse

Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Confinement, and Gun violence

miciahsreads's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

characters - 5/1
worldbuilding - 5/1
writing - 5/1
enjoyment - 5/1
plot - 5/1

narration - 1/1

literally phenomenal novel. flawless. i’m obsessed, i’m in love, i’m floored. if i could give this more than five stars i would. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Bullying, Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

aisha_reads's review against another edition

funny 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? No

3.0

It was an easy read, with points to make about feminism and women in STEM. It felt both overlong and also rushed in some parts. Love the love story- the central relationship was the strongest part of the book. The tone shifts so that some major events come quite out of the blue- please check content warnings as I was a bit blindsided by them. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Blood, and Child abuse

jacs63's review

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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? No

4.0

Really enjoyed this book. I was a bit late to it, as it had been recommended to me in so many different ways. I finally got the message. 
An easy read and a page turner. Great story and wonderful characters. 
In some ways it was interesting to read about how bad things were for women in the 1950's and 1960's, but really it just reinforced for me that things are still really bad. Things have gotten so bad  for women, especially in the US recently. It's just feels like a never ending fight. It's a bit tiring. I even learned a bit of chemistry.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Abandonment, Car accident, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Rape