Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Уроки химии by Bonnie Garmus

153 reviews

tacoshark's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.75

What a strange book - it was not at all what I expected from what I’d heard or from the marketing. There’s a pull quote on the cover calling it an “utter delight” and I genuinely don’t know who would think that. This was one of the most profoundly (and yet implausibly) sad books I’ve ever read. Unrelentingly, almost, though there is a sort of happy, at least hopeful-ish, if again, implausible ending. What it reminded me of, in an unexpected and bizarre way, was A Little Life, though it’s not quite as hideously cruel as that book. 

I enjoyed reading this, despite the sadness, but I found it rather unsatisfying as well. What I liked was the propulsion of the narrative and the zingy, constantly moving POV (I especially enjoyed the dog’s POV). But because of that very mechanism, while the book is theoretically mostly about Elizabeth, I felt like she was barely developed and pretty unrelatable as a character - all of this happens to her, but you spend more time with the reactions and feelings of those around her than with her. It left me feeling that she was a bit of an automaton and even when her thoughts and feelings were described, they had very little heft. (I don’t think I’d actually want to spend more time in her head, but it’s a strange choice for your main character.) I liked Calvin better, but it also felt a bit strange that this book that’s theoretically a feminist story about this compelling woman was really so much about a man instead. 

I’m not sure if I’ll recommend this but I think I’d check out what this author does next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child abuse

amsswim's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-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

4.5

Liked this one a lot. Not much more I have to say about it other than I think it will translate well into a TV show.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Rape, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Homophobia, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Bullying, Suicide, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Medical content

Minor: Police brutality, Animal death, and Miscarriage

gvstyris's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Abandonment, and Suicide

katyhosbein's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.25

I read this because I’m a chemist and other chemist bookish friends were torn between loving or hating it. I don’t get triggered by much and I think it’s because I’m extremely lucky to have not gone through a lot of singular traumatic events in my life. Even with that I was extremely annoyed with the trauma porn in the first third of the book. The story could have been equally impactful without some of the descriptions in the book.

especially then graphic description of Calvin’s death. That was seriously unnecessary.

I was bored with the second third of the book, probably because I was so frustrated with the first third. The last third I actually really enjoyed. It had taken me months to get to the last third and then I flew through it in a week. 

I think one thing that really bothered me that made it hard to push through is that they portrayed Elizabeth as a stereotypical chemist. Socially awkward and only focused on her work. I assume she’s on the spectrum but maybe not written this way intentionally. 

The last part of the book is empowering. Like it’s nice to see the character pushing through boundaries and other parts of the story coming together but I was still a BIT bothered by the end because

the justice that gets her back into science is incredible privilege

but nevertheless it was satisfying to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident

Moderate: Suicide, Abandonment, and Car accident

Minor: Sexual harassment and Rape

baileewyatt's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective 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

5.0

 ⭐️: 5/5
This book came so highly recommended that I thought it’d be overrated and I’d be unimpressed. This couldn’t have been further from the truth. Even after everything I’d heard, I was still surprised by the story that I was reading. The characters were so lovable (or hatable when applicable). I think that it’s so impressive when an author can make us truly love a character in spite of their flaws. However, it’s equally as impressive when they can make us hate a character to the core.

My favorite character, by far, was Mad. Her precociousness and sense of confidence even in times of questioning was admirable and adorable all at once. I’ve always enjoyed historical fiction and I felt like this one was so well done. You understood all the signs of the times but could be just as immersed as if it was present day. It was easy to follow and visualize. Overall, a great read. It’s a little long and normally at the end of a longer book I’m ready to be done. When this was over I was craving more content. This is a must read…will it be my favorite of 2023? We’ll find out soon…
 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Death, Rape, Grief, Misogyny, and Abandonment

beb0p's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Abandonment, Grief, Vomit, Suicide, Car accident, Death, and Sexism

reads2cope's review against another edition

4.0

"’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.’"

Much funnier and darker than I was expecting.  Required a lot of suspension of disbelief, but the writing was engaging and easy to read. For example, very weird that Elizabeth spouted such strong political convictions on her TV show but had no qualms about working for a military contractor. At the same time, I wanted her to shove it in the face of her old bosses. Loved the time jumps and how the other story lines wove together. Picked it up because most of my aunts have read it this year, so looking forward to hearing their opinions when I’m home over the holidays.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, Sexism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Bullying, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Car accident, Death, Forced institutionalization, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape

khowez's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

Thoroughly enjoyed this feel-good book, with lovable characters and a satisfying ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Rape, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, Misogyny, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Abandonment, and Homophobia

Minor: Pedophilia, Mental illness, Self harm, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Sexual harassment, and Child death

bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

i have to admit this book surprised me. i was not expecting to enjoy myself as much as i did. the story was both very funny at turns and also very serious. i enjoyed how much fun the author must have had writing some of the dialogue and setting up some of the scenarios in the story. the more fantastical elements of the story only enhanced the very real and dramatic parts of the story. it highlighted the absurdity of sexism in stem and other fields that serves to unfairly tilt the playing field and hinder societal progress on the whole. a great read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence

Minor: Gore, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Alcohol, Cursing, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse

saskiahill's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Death, Grief, and Sexism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Car accident, Blood, Body shaming, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Abortion and Alcoholism