2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Jill Elizabeth has read 1 book toward her goal of 285 books.
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2023 Reading Challenge

2023 Reading Challenge
Jill Elizabeth has read 5 books toward her goal of 265 books.
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Book Review: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

I may literally be the only person who didn’t like this book. And it pains me to say that, because there was a lot about it that I really liked. But 20% in i felt like I’d read the same general plot points six or seven times already – and could not imagine forcing myself to do so for the next 3/4 of the book….

There is some magical language here, as well as some fabulous snarky dialogue and snappy comebacks (both out loud and in internal monologues). And I love what I think the book is trying to highlight, as far as the ridiculous and horrifying way women in this time period were treated, but something about it never quite worked for me. I couldn’t find the thread here, despite repeated attempts.

I felt like it needed a heavy-handed edit to become truly magical – but apparently 99% off the reading world disagrees. Where Did You Go, Bernadette didn’t work for me either, so maybe that’s the link between others’ love and my lukewarm response, although I’m a big Mrs. Maisel fan but that didn’t save it for me, so who knows.

And I really don’t see why everyone loved the dog SO MUCH. I found those bits odd and distracting and not fitting with the tone of the rest of the book at all. Then again, I’m a cat person so there’s that…

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

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