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ofi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization
booksawyer's review
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Death and Misogyny
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Suicide, and Body shaming
mjeanette_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Death, and Medical trauma
knhinz4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide
daumari's review
- 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? Yes
4.25
At times, I almost felt like I was reading satire of the era with all of the blatant sexism Elizabeth faced because it read cartoonishly over-the-top to me, though I do think that's part of fiction, to exaggerate experiences. Also maybe of-the-period but took me out a bit: this is southern California; where are the Latin@s and Asian folks?? (I know, white folks tend to hang out with their own but we do flip through povs of women watching Supper at Six- maybe some of those families were brown, who knows).
But, I do like Elizabeth's abrasiveness and insistence on things being correct and meritocratic (even if societal structure is not). She strikes me as a little neurodivergent and I'm not sure if that's intentional (Bonnie Garmus's goodreads question replies indicate she was aiming more for classical stoicism). I think part of why this book is so popular is because the message of being taken seriously resonates with a lot of women even today. We STILL see thinkpieces about the value of domestic labor (though I think there's a wider recognition that childcare and rearing are fulltime jobs- see Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change). When Elizabeth's spiraling in the newborn haze, Harriet reassures her that nothing is wrong and that also rung true.
Calvin's origins did remind me of The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade, and I felt like this aspect could've been baked a little bit longer as it abruptly was revealed in the end.
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Grief, Suicide, and Pedophilia
sharrikloves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It loses a star for the socio-political inaccuracy, shaming people for eating processed food, and generally sending the message that racism would end if we were all just more logical, a very frustrating liberal fallacy.
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Suicide
sfdogmom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Death, and Vomit
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Stalking, Suicide, Death of parent, and Bullying
rsultan's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide
louisehall's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I have one personal dislike, and I feel like this might be an unpopular opinion, but I did not love Elizabeth Zott. There were times I did, and I was always rooting for her throughout the novel - she deserved it after all she'd been through! - but there were times I found her love of science too gimmicky I suppose. Maybe its because I read this part the same day I write this, but I'm thinking of how she started talking about the Babylonians when that reporter just asked why her dog was called Six-Thirty. I understand maybe not wanting to explain the personal meaning behind it but there was also no need to be a patronising smart ass 😭 Moments like those were few and far between for me though, and as my rating shows I thoroughly enjoyed this book and LOVED the inspiring message it conveyed. I also loved the character development of Miss Frisk - we've all known a woman like her and it was refreshing to see her grow!
Overall, I'd highly recommend!!
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide and Death
Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, Car accident, and Grief
tehstorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide
Minor: Vomit