kimmy0__0's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book and loved the character Elizabeth Zott. This is a great representation of what women during that time frame and continue to struggle with in the world (certainty not to the same extent). There are great characters who steal your heart and you can't help but root for as they struggle through the ups and downs of life. I ADORED the chapters/insights from 6:30's perspective ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Grief, and Rape
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Cursing
helen's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the feminist message and the reminder of how far we’ve come in a short space of time, and how far we still have to go. However, I found the tone really jarring.
It has a breezy, fairytale tone, that clashed with some of the more serious subject matter, e.g.. Meanwhile there’s sections of dog POV and a cartoon-like producer at the TV station who is straight out of a 1950s sitcom.
I can see why this approach would work for some people - it both distances you from the more miserable elements of the story, and also enables the more furious aspects of her message to be delivered in a funny way - but I’m afraid it annoyed me.
Content notes:
It has a breezy, fairytale tone, that clashed with some of the more serious subject matter, e.g.
Spoiler
the protagonist is violently raped by her PhD supervisor very early on in the book, and it's revealed (quite flippantly imo) that her brother killed himself because he was gayI can see why this approach would work for some people - it both distances you from the more miserable elements of the story, and also enables the more furious aspects of her message to be delivered in a funny way - but I’m afraid it annoyed me.
Content notes:
Spoiler
rape, violence, sexism, misogynistic slur, sexual harassment, death of main character and partner of protagonist, grief, depression, vomit, death of parents (in the past), death of gay brother by suicide (in the past), mention of paedophilia in church-run orphanages, mention of domestic violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, and Sexism
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Misogyny
Minor: Vomit, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Suicide, and Domestic abuse
scmiller's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Hate crime, Cursing, Classism, Car accident, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Blood, Vomit, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Car accident, Child death, and Cannibalism
sineadherself's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Writing: The writing and structure can be a bit choppy at times though ultimately it is a solid offering.
Much like the food Elizabeth makes, you will find nothing fancy here, but it gets the job done.
For those who like a bit more nuance in their writing they may find this story laid down with too blunt of an edge.
Character: The main character, Elizabeth Zott, remains consistent throughout and she will remain a fixture in your mind for a time after you've finished the last page.
However, some core supporting characters seemingly undergo personality transformations half way through and then, a little later, revert back to their original selves. No explanation is given for this and so it is quite jarring.
Plot: A woman in the 1950s & 1960s trying to exist in a world that doesn't understand her all while she continues to strive to be taken seriously.
Reading Experience: Ultimately, a pleasant read that leaves a lasting impression.
Overall: A decent book not without some problems but one that will ultimately entertain and possibly intrigue the reader.
Stars: 3.5 ⭐
Much like the food Elizabeth makes, you will find nothing fancy here, but it gets the job done.
For those who like a bit more nuance in their writing they may find this story laid down with too blunt of an edge.
Character: The main character, Elizabeth Zott, remains consistent throughout and she will remain a fixture in your mind for a time after you've finished the last page.
However, some core supporting characters seemingly undergo personality transformations half way through and then, a little later, revert back to their original selves. No explanation is given for this and so it is quite jarring.
Plot: A woman in the 1950s & 1960s trying to exist in a world that doesn't understand her all while she continues to strive to be taken seriously.
Reading Experience: Ultimately, a pleasant read that leaves a lasting impression.
Overall: A decent book not without some problems but one that will ultimately entertain and possibly intrigue the reader.
Stars: 3.5 ⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Ableism, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: Pedophilia, Suicide, and Child abuse
It's never mentioned in the book but if you know what you are looking at, Elizabeth, Calvin, & Madeline all read very much as autistic. The way Elizabeth talks about chemistry and illustrates how it is the prism through which she understands life is honestly beautiful. However, the way those around Elizabeth (and Madeline) treat them may be difficult to read for some autistic people. It reminded me of nothing more than the assessment for autism diagnosis. That is to say, a litany of all the ways being autistic has annoyed, angered, and otherwise bothered OTHER people. If you aren't in a place to read that kind of content, I'd skip this.mindsplinters's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
More a 2.5, though, but I can't quite bring myself to round it up because I am So Confused as to why so many reviewers were "this is LOL-worthy" and "the funniest book EVER" because, between you and me, it was only sporadically funny. It had some good points and some very quoteable lines and, okay, I did laugh at the Mushroom Episode because that kind of thing is inarguably funny. Some characters were interesting. Calvin and Elizabeth were a wonderful Geek Love Story and, knowing many geeks and being one, it ran with a lot of awkward, sweet truth. There is something so magic in finding someone who speaks your language and understands your soul and mind. The author caught that and showed it to us with Calvin and Elizabeth. I appreciate that.
Except I can't deny that the best (and most human) character was Six Thirty... The dog. He was delightfully charming and relateable and empathetic and thoughtful. Neighbor Harriet was my second favorite character - again because she actually felt real. Therein lies one of my biggest issues with this book. Many of the characters felt like sketches, conglomerations of ideas or tropes or platforms rather than living, breathing, 3D people. Elizabeth herself suffered worse from this (though I'm relieved to say that she showed more depth in the latter third of the book in conflicted feelings, inner monologues, etc). Even if you seriously took onboard the idea that she was probably neurodivergant, possibly on the spectrum (never claimed but I'm not sure if that is because of the time period of the book or the author not deliberately writing Elizabeth as such), she still reads as flat and more a series of events that happen and viewpoints. She is all Talking Points and Concepts and rings more than a little anachronistic. Which is not necessarily a bad thing because there have always been people ahead of their time, who realize that social justice is vital to a healthy community. I think it comes across more preachy here because virtually Every Other Person who is not "with" Elizabeth are written as the most horrific stereotypes of misogyny and racism and aggressive bullshit EVER. Look, I know that time period was rough and sexism was rife and a lot of awful things were ignored or papered over. Things still happen and are very wrong. However, JFC, to have Elizabeth never meet a decent man until Calvin is stretching things the other way.
Speaking of, there REALLY should have been a trigger warning about sexual abuse and rape on this book. (Another reason why I was baffled by all of the hilarious reviews because, for real, the rape happens in, like, chapter three and it took me forever to shake it off).
On the plus side, Six Thirty lives. :)
Except I can't deny that the best (and most human) character was Six Thirty... The dog. He was delightfully charming and relateable and empathetic and thoughtful. Neighbor Harriet was my second favorite character - again because she actually felt real. Therein lies one of my biggest issues with this book. Many of the characters felt like sketches, conglomerations of ideas or tropes or platforms rather than living, breathing, 3D people. Elizabeth herself suffered worse from this (though I'm relieved to say that she showed more depth in the latter third of the book in conflicted feelings, inner monologues, etc). Even if you seriously took onboard the idea that she was probably neurodivergant, possibly on the spectrum (never claimed but I'm not sure if that is because of the time period of the book or the author not deliberately writing Elizabeth as such), she still reads as flat and more a series of events that happen and viewpoints. She is all Talking Points and Concepts and rings more than a little anachronistic. Which is not necessarily a bad thing because there have always been people ahead of their time, who realize that social justice is vital to a healthy community. I think it comes across more preachy here because virtually Every Other Person who is not "with" Elizabeth are written as the most horrific stereotypes of misogyny and racism and aggressive bullshit EVER. Look, I know that time period was rough and sexism was rife and a lot of awful things were ignored or papered over. Things still happen and are very wrong. However, JFC, to have Elizabeth never meet a decent man until Calvin is stretching things the other way.
Speaking of, there REALLY should have been a trigger warning about sexual abuse and rape on this book. (Another reason why I was baffled by all of the hilarious reviews because, for real, the rape happens in, like, chapter three and it took me forever to shake it off).
On the plus side, Six Thirty lives. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Pedophilia
thenageler's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Death and Sexual assault
Minor: Pedophilia, Death of parent, Car accident, Grief, Suicide, and Pregnancy
hallowini's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Misogyny, Sexism, and Death
Moderate: Pedophilia, Deadnaming, and Homophobia
katcass's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.0
I enjoyed this but
Spoiler
I’m sad it was sold to me as a story about a remarkable woman when it was actually a story about her remarkable dead husbandSpoiler
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Death, Grief, Pedophilia, and Sexism
kjboldon's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
Lots of trigger warnings. A fast read, often funny, weirdly shifting in tone, that felt rather packaged to me, like it had been forced into a similar narrative to Where'd You Go Bernadette? Excellent dog character and dog POV though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Bullying, and Rape
Minor: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Vomit, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Misogyny, and Abandonment
sakisreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? No
4.0
Content warnings included below, as there were a few that needed to be addressed 😫
I was looking for a relatively easy, light read and my friend recommended this. Although, as mentioned earlier, there are some content warnings that need to be included, this for the most part was sweet and terrific! Putting Elizabeth Zott, our protagonist, in 1960’s America made for a clearly misogynistic setting. However, she (mostly) thrives throughout and I appreciated all the loose strings getting pulled together for the end of the story ✨
If you’re looking for a book in which women strive in science and where systemic issues are mentioned, this one is for you 😊 4 out of 5 stars for me ✨
I was looking for a relatively easy, light read and my friend recommended this. Although, as mentioned earlier, there are some content warnings that need to be included, this for the most part was sweet and terrific! Putting Elizabeth Zott, our protagonist, in 1960’s America made for a clearly misogynistic setting. However, she (mostly) thrives throughout and I appreciated all the loose strings getting pulled together for the end of the story ✨
Spoiler
I wasn’t expecting a link between Evans and Wakely, and I certainly did not realise Parker was going to be Evans’s mum 🥹 That was a gorgeous ending I thought!If you’re looking for a book in which women strive in science and where systemic issues are mentioned, this one is for you 😊 4 out of 5 stars for me ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Death