Reviews with content warning for Classism - Lessons in Chemistry

Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

31 reviews

spootilious's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Read: July 17th, 2024
Title: Lessons in Chemistry
Author: Bonnie Garmus

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 2/5
Review:

I have been contemplating how to review this for a few hours now. It’s difficult because I really enjoyed reading the book. It made me smile, cringe, and cry; though I think the ‘Laugh out Loud’ reviews are a bit farfetched. In fact, this novel wasn’t just heavy, it hit like a freight train (pun intended).

I suppose my biggest conflict is that I really really like the message of the novel and the focus on social injustices.

The issue then becomes all the things I didn’t like about the novel.

The work was written well enough but Garmus switch so drastically from one injustice to another that I felt as if I were getting whiplash. She moved back and fourth so much that I don’t think any one subject got as much attention as it deserved. The one focused on the most being Women Empowerment but it felt more like anti-men than pro-women… That being said, I am the type of woman that will ALWAYS choose the bear. Still, I think it would be nice to see a feminist store that builds its own ladder rather than using the destroyed men as stepping stones to empowerment… Cuz in the end it means we still need them… even if in a negative way.

I found the dialog to often be condescending as well. Almost as if Garmus was throwing in ever intelligent sound word she could find. It felt forced. People of high intelligence can sound as brilliant as their IQ without sounding like a robot.

The unapologetic and vulgar nature of the atrocities throughout the book is both disturbing and refreshing. I’ve mentioned it in a rare review but I have to admire an author who can simply write a horrific act without defending or explaining it, it makes it hit harder.

That being said… There was a lot… and jumping from it to a ‘funny’ quip or one liner made the whole thing feel off putting…

Overall I really enjoyed the read, just not the way it was written. I would recommend this to individuals who enjoy heavy reads/sad reads, drama, historical fiction that borders on fantasy, or a strong feminist tone.

TBH I loved the show though. Very well done.

QUOTES:
“The librarian is the most important educator in school. What she doesn’t know, she can find out. This is not an opinion; it’s a fact.”

“Imagine if all men took women seriously. Education would change. The workforce would revolutionize. Marriage counsellors would go out of business.”

“Courage is the root of change—and change is what we’re chemically designed to do.”

“Sometimes I think," she said slowly, "that if a man were to spend a day being a woman in America, he wouldn't make it past noon.”

TW: Rape, Adultery, Religious bigotry, Racism, Feminism, Sexism, Animal harm, parental death, death of a child, death of a parent, pedophilia, sexual assault, sexual harassment, bombs, death threats, car accidents, suicide, domestic abuse, vomit, abandonment, mentions of abortion, alcoholism, drug use, blood, body shaming, bullying, child abuse, toxic relationships, stalking, slurs, gaslighting, grief, fatphobia, emotional abuse, classism, alcohol, animal cruelty, pregnancy, miscarriage, infidelity, emotional abuse, medical content.

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gracefulraven's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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abicaro17's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.25

Ok this was cute. I was kinda skeptical because it's so popular but I enjoyed it! Elizabeth Zott is a chemist who by a series of mishaps becomes the star of a cooking show rooted in chemistry. The cast of characters and all their backgrounds were easy to follow and intriguing. The main themes of embracing change and perseverance despite what anyone says you can or can't do are both incredibly relevant but make sense in the story. I think my problem stems from the formatting/plot progression. I don't think this book really had a third act climax. What I would identify as the attempt wasn't even that climatic. I just think the book reads very flat and slow at times. I haven't seen the show so it might be different but the book would benefit from following traditional plot form.

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nikrib's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring lighthearted 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

4.25

I picked up this book from the library after seeing an ad for its tv adaptation. I’m not sure where I thought this story was going before cracking open the book, but it definitely was a distinctive journey. With the book’s setting of 1950-60’s, all the societal, economic, and cultural issues are at play. While I did enjoy the protagonist (often rooting for her decisions, $#@! the patriarchy) I am not fond of the book’s ending.

The narrative felt as it was going down two separate yet parallel avenues and then at the end just chose one. I reread the ending twice due to the lack of fulfillment the ending gave me. Perhaps that’s just my take, wanting more justice for this character and not a predictable sappy ending.

Some reviews speak on a lack of diversity in the book; I do not wholly concur. The narrative does not speak of race, at all, but we can assume the characters are predominately Caucasian as the way that the book is written /does/ fit the time period and realm the characters move in. However, one of the characters who is a neighbor and becomes a prominent supporting character does strike me as P.O.C. Again, time period, it would by more common for this supporting character’s actions to come from a P.O.C. For example, caring for another family’s child and the type of care being “seen as atypical compared to society” and extending normalcy of simply babysitting. This supporting character moves through the narrative differently compared to the protagonist and other minor characters. Their name is also known more as belonging to a P.O.C. for that time period.

To say that this book lacks diversity is unfair. If you took a survey of a chemistry lab, a university, a studio, (all from that time period) the race ratio would indeed be significantly heavy handed on Caucasian, if not solely Caucasian. Those were unfortunate times. Now, this book is fiction, yes, so the author could have purposefully written in some diversity. Although, just as the author chose to leave race out of the narrative, readers can choose to place race in the narrative. There’s creative freedom here. A reader could absolutely make the protagonist a P.O.C. The lack of specifics on race in the narrative allow for flexibility per reader. If the book didn’t have a Caucasian woman on the cover, I don’t believe there would be reviews commenting lack of diversity.

The other 1950-60’s themes are used throughout the narrative to bring attention to issues pertaining to that time (and in this case, focusing on the battles that women faced and are still facing current day).

The chemistry themes are ever present but not annoyingly so, unless you’re a chemist and care that there are minor flaws. There is a sexual assault scene (r@pe) in the beginning of the book and again later sexual exposure, both of which are traumatic for the character but does allude to everlasting issues revolving sexism, patriarchal power in the workplace, and the fact that women are continuously assaulted. While that is a sensitive subject for a lot of people, I believe it was powerful and purposeful in the narrative to shed light on women’s issues and women’s rights.

There is a dog (don’t worry, nothing happens to him) and he’s a (fun? I’m not sure my idea of this dog aligns with the author) addition to the narrative. I’m not sure where people are getting comedy out of this book. I think I may have laughed two or three times, but more of a scoff than anything comical. All in all, good book and likable main characters. I’m eager to watch the tv adaptation. Although, I stick by my yearning for a different ending.

Content Warnings