A review by mindsplinters
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
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