Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

87 reviews

lil_saddie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Holding two truths at the same time: I enjoyed many aspects of this book and think the story telling was quite good with so many threads being woven together expertly and always taking Zott as deadly serious as she took herself. I enjoyed how fluidly the story could change POV and narration to give so many perspectives. 
Some spoilers further:
However, I wish I had checked for content warnings before reading because there are considerable themes of SA. I’m struggling with how necessary these multiple scenes and  references were as a plot point since this wasn’t based on a true story. I know it was incredibly common in the workplace without consequence in a way  that we have improved somewhat as a society today. But for a modern audience when 1 in 6 women have faced SA personally, who is the audience this narrative is trying to convince the severity of the situation to? We know the realities, and Zott being mistreated in the workplace without SA as part of the story feels like it should have been impactful enough. Not to mention how glossed over instances of pedophilia was for male characters. I guess in sum I feel those very triggering topics could have been handled better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Cursing, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Car accident, 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

redheadorganist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Pedophilia, and Abortion

sjexley's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Quite possibly the last person on earth to read this, but I've been saving it for book club♥️  It's the 1960s, and Elizabeth is a chemist who keeps getting dicked over by male co-workers/men in power bc she's a female.  She meets the love of her life (my fave storyline in the book), she takes up rowing, she becomes pregnant. She gets fired for said pregnancy and becomes the host of an afternoon TV cooking show (cooking is chemistry!) I loved Elizabeth. I loved the dog. I loved Mad. The sexism was hard, and I think the book missed an opportunity to include conversations about race, but I enjoyed the story!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

livbeveridge's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad tense 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? Yes

4.25

As a debut novel this book is excellent! I feel like Garmus has created a story with elements plucked straight from the lives of women in the 50s, particularly those trying to work in a STEM field or any field at all really. 
I’ve seen a lot of praise for the character of Elizabeth Zott but I have to admit there were times that I was so frustrated by her… and I’m so glad for it. Those little moments of ugh just make it easy for yourself made me reflect, why should she take the easy traditional way, why should any of us? 
Overall an excellent novel that speaks of great things still to come from Bonnie Garmus and certainly speaks on her own love of rowing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child death

popsan27's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

anarchy7's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment

bbmaan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Homophobia

rainynook's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-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

So good! No wonder this book is so popular. A page-turner. There are some serious themes, but overall the book is quirky, fun and clever.  The characters are each unique and carefully-crafted. Well done!  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment

Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Please please please! Check the content warnings and know that all of them are prevalent in this book, but you think you can handle them PLEASE read this book. 

Elizabeth Zott is an amazing character, and a survivor. She is the embodiment of female power and a force to be reckoned with. 

The things Zott experiences in the work place are appalling and no one would call her personal life easy. In real life, a woman in Zott’s shoes wouldn’t be faulted for breaking down or giving up. But Zott doesn’t let anything stop her from reaching her goals. She goes on have a wonderful life in spite of the horrendous things she’s had to survive, because she is a survivor. 

Parts of this book had me in tears while others had me fill with so much pride I thought I would burst. At its core, this book is about the strength and resilience of women and I can’t recommend it enough. This will be a book I won’t stop thinking about for a very, very long time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Vomit, Abortion, and Alcohol