nat_01'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicide, Death, Rape, and Car accident
Moderate: Sexism, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
tariana's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
It was fun to read, there was a moment that I was so devastated about something that happens that I didn’t want to continue. However I felt like something was missing and after much thought I realized that even though the book brings a lot of discussions regarding feminism, it lacks depth, I say that having in mind that the story happens on the 1960s and some resolutions to the conflict were easily solved which I don’t think it would be the same if that had really happened in the 60s, for example, Elizabeth starring for a long time on TV preaching about feminism without men revolting against it and taking measures to restrain her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Car accident, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Cannibalism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
tinybluepixel's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Death, Grief, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Rape, Gaslighting, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, and Suicide
llams's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, and Sexism
Moderate: Grief, Suicide, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Pedophilia and Homophobia
ambernagel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide
freul's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Car accident, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Bullying, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Medical content, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Body shaming, Cursing, and Religious bigotry
anooshka's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
passionatereader78's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a challenging read. Bonnie explores the life of working women in the 50s and 60s. She brings the injustices that women faced during a time when women were expected to get married, have children, and run the home. Elizabeth Zott is a chemist. She loves everything about Chemistry. She is one of the brightest Chemist in her field. Unfortunately, she's in a man's world which sees her as a pretty face that should cater to the men around her. When she meets the love of her life who is also a coworker she is accused of "riding his coattails". This book will make you angry and sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy, and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Car accident, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Domestic abuse, Body shaming, and Emotional abuse
floatinthevoid's review against another edition
DNF-ED at 75%.
Warning! Rant review incoming.
Warning! Rant review incoming.
"Wait. is that rare?" Madeline piped up. "Is not believing in God one of those rare things?"
The subtlety... is that of an actual elephant in the room. This is why I avoid hyped books like a plague btw. I've heard so many positive reviews from people I usually shared a taste in books with. But man, like okay, I get it Elizabeth Zott is Woman In Science. She calls out misogynistic bullshit all the time. She dared to fight injustices. I get it she's smart and quirky and very attractive to everyone except herself. And of course her child is a Genius too. Reading Nabokov and Norman Mailer at four. Understand politics and human rights at six. Oh, they also have a dog that can understand 200 words or something. Nothing is too impossible for the Zotts, apparently. Okayyy I get it, really. So then, the story?
The actual plot minus all the quirkiness and force-fed morality messages from the author? so dragging and borderline boring. The comedy? Okay. You can make fun out of something very serious. I believe that. But you also need to execute it well. Meanwhile in this book, the author to me feels like she doesn't know how to go about it. And I imagine she said "Fuck it, we ball!" then she balled and not giving it another glance. There's some heavy topics discussed and described in the early chapters, so I got the impression that this is the kind of "serious book" layered with dark humor. Well I was promised "sparks joy with every page" but I got none. With all the exaggeration integrated in a lot of aspects in this book: the characters, plots, dialogues, etc this would do so well as a satire. Make it over the top since the start, so over the top people can't miss it's a satire. But alas this book is not a satire.
Instead of exploring nuances about women in science's struggle or women's struggle in general during the 1950s, the author instead took the girlboss archetype marketed by corporates and mainstream media path. Why is it that Elizabeth so two dimensional anyway? there's a potential to shape her into Woman In Science character with depth, if the author allows her to have vulnerabilities. There are some moments where distressing situations can cause her emotional or moral dilemma, which will be very interesting by the way. But no, nuh-uh. Only logical thinking is allowed. She seemed to always got it handled perfectly in the end.
The other characters were also put as some kind of measurement to show how much better Elizabeth is regarding to social issues, as if she's a social person herself. I only loved the part where Elizabeth and Calvin met, knowing each other then get together. Just two snobs being a couple.
The dog... doesn't necessarily give me any kind of joy. It's just not something I usually wanted to read willingly. So I don't have much to say about it.
The other men characters on the other hand, have no redeeming qualities. Either they're straight up a SA perpetrator or they're an active complicit that ends up not getting their views challenged/confronted at all.
You know, if anything I'm more interested in whatever's going on between Calvin and Wakely...
Point is, this is so disappointing and annoying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Domestic abuse, Grief, and Child abuse
janwe's review against another edition
Triggerwarning+spoiler
-10 ⭐... WTF... Apart from being absolutely ridiculous and flat... It really annoyed the hell out of me. "Had to" read it for a book club.. But I just can't... Dnfd it at the 2. sexual assault scene... That is supposed to be feminist satire set in the 50s and 60s? Yeah.. RIGHT... I think sexual assault is really funny - LOL... Wtf...
Spoiler:
the female protagonist gets sexual assoulted for the 2nd time (first time brutally raped!!) and, when this Harvey Weinstein-kind-of-type-TV-Producer pulls down his pants... Her reaction to it is this?:
"she shook her head in wonder. She had no idea why men believed women found male genitalia impressive or scary"
... Wtf!? NO just NO!!! I regret sooo much that this author! got any money from me, because I unfortunately PAID MONEY FOR THIS PIECE OF SHIT!!!
-10 ⭐... WTF... Apart from being absolutely ridiculous and flat... It really annoyed the hell out of me. "Had to" read it for a book club.. But I just can't... Dnfd it at the 2. sexual assault scene... That is supposed to be feminist satire set in the 50s and 60s? Yeah.. RIGHT... I think sexual assault is really funny - LOL... Wtf...
Spoiler:
the female protagonist gets sexual assoulted for the 2nd time (first time brutally raped!!) and, when this Harvey Weinstein-kind-of-type-TV-Producer pulls down his pants... Her reaction to it is this?:
"she shook her head in wonder. She had no idea why men believed women found male genitalia impressive or scary"
... Wtf!? NO just NO!!! I regret sooo much that this author! got any money from me, because I unfortunately PAID MONEY FOR THIS PIECE OF SHIT!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Sexual harassment