itsanniebaker's review
dark
hopeful
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
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexism
eabh's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book was not at all what I expected. If you’re expecting a light cartoon novel cover about love and cooking, this is not it. But it is a fiction novel that details the life of offbeat and brilliant chemist, Elizabeth Zott, as she learns to live in a world that wasn’t set up for her. While blunt and offend dense, Elizabeth spoke how many women would if they didn’t say what they thought they *should* say because of how they were socialized. It begged the question, who or what women would we be if we hadn’t been told who we could be?
This quirky and unique story telling style was very well written between all the side characters, constantly changing 3rd person perspectives, cheeky dialogue, and a fast passes narrative. The tone and approach of the book was light while tackling feminism, sexism, death, isolation, etc. The lessons the book wanted you to learn never felt heavy handed. Don’t let that fool you though, this book has a semi detailed account of SA that I was not expecting. Garmus doesn’t shy away from the challenges of women in the 50s and 60s trying to make a life for themselves.
This book was simultaneously heart warming and heart breaking, infuriating and endearing, off beat and representative.
Plus, I learned more about chemistry in this book than I ever did in 10th grade!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Vomit and Suicide
akane_shio's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Grief, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
booksinherhead's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? Yes
4.5
Absolutely incredible. Garmus has a way of writing characters that just pulls you into her book. For anyone debating picking this one up, you absolutely will adore Elizabeth and her journey as a chemistry researcher and a television chef. There is just so much heart in this book, I honestly can't put it into words. Just trust me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Death
Moderate: Body shaming and Vomit
Minor: Sexual content
tammitammo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book lit a fire under me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia
gracew23's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
jcstokes95's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
[light spoilers ahead]
My main thought is that this book’s marketing is absolutely catastrophically bad. What I went in expecting and what I left with is like…a gap the size of the Grand Canyon. If someone told you this book was light-hearted, or funny, or inspirational, they are off their fucking rocker. Here is a list of thinks that happens in this book: a rape, untimely death of a partner, another attempted rape, being called a cunt in the workplace, child abuse. So…maybe the marketing team should take another run at this one.
I had a hard time in the first half of this book because it was an enraging bummer. You spend most of your reading experience furious with he men that Elizabeth Zott works with. I believe that the author does this in service of making it easier to sympathize with her. But, somehow, she never becomes a character that I liked. Which is maybe fine, women are allowed to be unlikable characters. But I feel like the story wants us to like her spunk and alternative worldviews. We’re supposed to be rooting for her, and we are, but I also found myself very glad I didn’t have to ever work with her. She seems self-involved and straight up rude. Now, there will be a contingent of people who, in response to this, will say that she is clearly coded as neurodivergent. (me too bro) I would say, that does not make up for her being kind of a prick.
The good news is, everyone else in the book is a prick too. So, I guess by comparison this is fine. Now, it’s happening again, I’m writing a negative sounding review but you can see I am rating this a 3.5, which is not a bad number. So, I have to say, despite everything, this still does a lot of things right.
Mainly, it is a fucking page turner. I always wanted to know how things for these people would turn out, which is a miracle because I would also argue way too much was going on. Because I was very much rooting for the bad folks to be cleaved in half by the hand of God. And we do get some of that emotional payoff. And that does feel spectacular. This is a book of good and evil for sure. There is very little room for nuance. I don’t have a problem with that, black and white thinking can bring maximum catharsis in a book. I will say, man, what a convoluted and rushed ending, but no matter.
I guess what I am saying is, I am not sure how I feel about this book. I read it two month ago, and thought I’d have more coherent thoughts by now, but I don’t. But I also feel like I could talk about it for hours. And there is value in that. I am interested in making my mom who worked in a lab in the 80s read it and tell me if it feel true to life. I can appreciate it’s representation of women in STEM fields and the small ways women are pandered to like they are morons in media. I don’t know. I will say, I am going to have a fun time reading other reviews of this. Bonnie Garmus gave us a lot to talk about, so much respect to her for that.
My main thought is that this book’s marketing is absolutely catastrophically bad. What I went in expecting and what I left with is like…a gap the size of the Grand Canyon. If someone told you this book was light-hearted, or funny, or inspirational, they are off their fucking rocker. Here is a list of thinks that happens in this book: a rape, untimely death of a partner, another attempted rape, being called a cunt in the workplace, child abuse. So…maybe the marketing team should take another run at this one.
I had a hard time in the first half of this book because it was an enraging bummer. You spend most of your reading experience furious with he men that Elizabeth Zott works with. I believe that the author does this in service of making it easier to sympathize with her. But, somehow, she never becomes a character that I liked. Which is maybe fine, women are allowed to be unlikable characters. But I feel like the story wants us to like her spunk and alternative worldviews. We’re supposed to be rooting for her, and we are, but I also found myself very glad I didn’t have to ever work with her. She seems self-involved and straight up rude. Now, there will be a contingent of people who, in response to this, will say that she is clearly coded as neurodivergent. (me too bro) I would say, that does not make up for her being kind of a prick.
The good news is, everyone else in the book is a prick too. So, I guess by comparison this is fine. Now, it’s happening again, I’m writing a negative sounding review but you can see I am rating this a 3.5, which is not a bad number. So, I have to say, despite everything, this still does a lot of things right.
Mainly, it is a fucking page turner. I always wanted to know how things for these people would turn out, which is a miracle because I would also argue way too much was going on. Because I was very much rooting for the bad folks to be cleaved in half by the hand of God. And we do get some of that emotional payoff. And that does feel spectacular. This is a book of good and evil for sure. There is very little room for nuance. I don’t have a problem with that, black and white thinking can bring maximum catharsis in a book. I will say, man, what a convoluted and rushed ending, but no matter.
I guess what I am saying is, I am not sure how I feel about this book. I read it two month ago, and thought I’d have more coherent thoughts by now, but I don’t. But I also feel like I could talk about it for hours. And there is value in that. I am interested in making my mom who worked in a lab in the 80s read it and tell me if it feel true to life. I can appreciate it’s representation of women in STEM fields and the small ways women are pandered to like they are morons in media. I don’t know. I will say, I am going to have a fun time reading other reviews of this. Bonnie Garmus gave us a lot to talk about, so much respect to her for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Sexual assault
hazelgirl21's review
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Suicide
stephykay's review
medium-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? It's complicated
1.0
I am a woman in chemistry, so I assume that’s why this book was recommended to me. Although I finished the book, I found it deeply unsatisfying - it not enjoyable and I don’t think it was well written. I read parts and listened to parts. It didn’t help. Whoever the author consulted with is not a chemist working in the life sciences - guess what, there are many subdisciplines within the field of chemistry! The audiobook narrator should have worked with a scientist to learn how to properly pronounce scientific terminology.
The idea of the plot is fine, but the novel would benefit from additional polishing. I also want to add that simply throwing in a mention of Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights movement felt like a cheap ploy to pretend to introduce the issue of race.
The idea of the plot is fine, but the novel would benefit from additional polishing. I also want to add that simply throwing in a mention of Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights movement felt like a cheap ploy to pretend to introduce the issue of race.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Sexism, Car accident, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
Minor: Fatphobia, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Grief, Infidelity, Homophobia, Death, and Domestic abuse