A review by helen
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
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