Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

206 reviews

lil_saddie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Holding two truths at the same time: I enjoyed many aspects of this book and think the story telling was quite good with so many threads being woven together expertly and always taking Zott as deadly serious as she took herself. I enjoyed how fluidly the story could change POV and narration to give so many perspectives. 
Some spoilers further:
However, I wish I had checked for content warnings before reading because there are considerable themes of SA. I’m struggling with how necessary these multiple scenes and  references were as a plot point since this wasn’t based on a true story. I know it was incredibly common in the workplace without consequence in a way  that we have improved somewhat as a society today. But for a modern audience when 1 in 6 women have faced SA personally, who is the audience this narrative is trying to convince the severity of the situation to? We know the realities, and Zott being mistreated in the workplace without SA as part of the story feels like it should have been impactful enough. Not to mention how glossed over instances of pedophilia was for male characters. I guess in sum o feel those very triggering topics could have been handled bett

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Sexual assault, Vomit, Sexism, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Suicide

Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Car accident, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Child death, Animal cruelty, and Toxic relationship

redheadorganist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Suicide, Blood, Death, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Vomit, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Car accident, and Homophobia

Minor: Pedophilia, Child death, and Abortion

abicaro17's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.25

Ok this was cute. I was kinda skeptical because it's so popular but I enjoyed it! Elizabeth Zott is a chemist who by a series of mishaps becomes the star of a cooking show rooted in chemistry. The cast of characters and all their backgrounds were easy to follow and intriguing. The main themes of embracing change and perseverance despite what anyone says you can or can't do are both incredibly relevant but make sense in the story. I think my problem stems from the formatting/plot progression. I don't think this book really had a third act climax. What I would identify as the attempt wasn't even that climatic. I just think the book reads very flat and slow at times. I haven't seen the show so it might be different but the book would benefit from following traditional plot form. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Car accident, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Classism, Cursing, Misogyny, Bullying, Stalking, Grief, Sexism, Suicide, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Homophobia

afternoondreamer's review

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a wild ride for me. I finished the book soo quickly and couldn't get myself to put it down. Its such an emotional story: funny, sad and anger-inducing at the same time. You really find yourself rooting for the main character and her loved ones. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Body shaming, Religious bigotry, and Car accident

ceilisbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death, Grief, and Misogyny

Minor: Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts

lizgriffinwords's review against another edition

challenging sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Bullying, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Vomit, Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Body shaming

haleylooloo's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

Wow, very rarely do a finish a book and immediately want to turn back to the first page and start again. What a fun, important book. The idea of recommitting to every stroke is going to stick with me for a long time to come. I loved the way the narrative jumped between characters, such fun writing. I laughed, I cried, I felt seen. Just as Elizabeth’s watchers liked her show, this story made me feel capable and heard. Will be one I reread for sure

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

gsmith923's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Body shaming

Minor: Abortion, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry

jamballdonut's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Vomit, and Death of parent

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pregnancy, Rape, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Body shaming

timmi_prvt's review

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

This book was amazing. Witty and funny but also sad and emotional when it needed to be. It was as entertaining as it was profound. I fell in love with the characters and the style of Bonnie Garmus.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, and Rape

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts