Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

152 reviews

francisabernathyenthusiast's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

i adore elizabeth zott and mad zott- to be so upfront and utterly yourself is a lovely quality, and inspiring for a reader who struggles with the perceptions of others. also, love is chemistry, she is right. six-thirty is a lovely name for a dog. definitely read if you want to be encouraged in your convictions - strive for what u want! fuck everyone else!
downside is blatant white feminism but still a v good book nonetheless, just not for it’s political qualities. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, and Pregnancy

pandaorb's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

I liked the first half of this book more than the second. In the beginning, I found Elizabeth charming and her story quite relatable. She shines as a beacon of reason and feminism in witty book. By the halfway point, however, I felt that Garmus was being heavy handed with her message of "men are bad and religion is bad". Although the narrative leans into hyperbole in order to illustrate its cast, I found the character mold for every single man was repeatedly either malicious or stupid, while the character mold for every single religious person was either flat out evil or too dumb to have ever thought about their beliefs. Unfortunately this misrepresentation really took away from my ability to enjoy the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Vomit and Suicide

Minor: Homophobia

17kmcollins's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Misogyny, Sexism, and Rape

Moderate: Death, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Vomit and Domestic abuse

kalisaur's review against another edition

• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

While very readable, I found certain parts of this cringey. Do you have to make sexual assault so prevalent to show the strength of patriarchy within mid-century society? No. Do chemists actually refer to water and salt by their chemical names in their daily life? I doubt it. Must a woman be stiff and socially inept simply because she is intelligent? Of course not. The story ended with a nice happy bow on it, which I never favor. Perhaps due to its popularity I expected more out of the novel but it was merely okay to me. Also I felt the rowing was shoehorned in simply because it seemed to be the only thing related to the author, who is neither a chemist nor a chef.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, and Sexism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

Minor: Vomit and Domestic abuse

bookwormess's review

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

This is a good book, I recognize that. However, it was a really hard one to get into. It took me to about 250 pages to feel compelled by the story. I feel that there are other books that I was able to get into more even though I gave them lower star ratings. I wouldn’t read this book again, but it is well-written for sure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Abortion

helfire124's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

jhbandcats's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

Absolutely charming while also being absolutely wrenching. I was infuriated most of the time I was reading. 

The main character, Elizabeth, is charismatic and driven, aware of her worth as a chemist but forced on a daily - if not hourly - basis to deal with sexist insults, sexual assaults, and belittling. She’s repeatedly thwarted in her attempts to move ahead in her profession, her research is stolen, and she’s discredited at college and at work. 

This book is funny and inspiring but so, so sad; there’s a pall of grief and loss over everything. It’s about two outcasts who find one another, and then the struggle when one is left alone with only a dog for a friend. Nothing is ever easy for Elizabeth, not even when things seem to be going well. 

Overall, I loved the book and definitely recommend it. I must be in a melancholy mood myself for it to have struck me so hard. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

wy_woman's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Suicide, Violence, and Vomit

Minor: Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Fatphobia, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, and Homophobia

wayfaring_witch's review

inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

I loved how the author was able to introduce unique and multi-layered characters quickly.  Just as some things seemed to drag the perspective would change.  Some things were maybe foreshadowed too heavily, but I eagerly awaited the reveal. I agree with some criticisms of the MC being too out of line with the era, but I think the author addressed that throughout the plot.  

“Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun,” - Marcus Aurelius

Content Warnings - There are some very heavy topics explored in this book (sometimes in surprisingly light ways).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death of parent, and Vomit

Minor: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Abortion, and Pregnancy

markedwithanm's review

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Car accident, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Vomit, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault