Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel

Loved, loved, loved this book. Great characters, great story, lots of twists and turns. I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to get lost in an entertaining read! I usually finish a book this size In a weekend but kept stopping along the way to make this last longer.

A novel about a super bright female chemist dealing with gender discrimination in both the workplace and in her personal life in the early 60’s. To call the protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, feisty might be an understatement. I worried briefly early on about whether this was going to become a tiresome ongoing feminist rant. However, author Bonnie Garmus presents Zott’s story with an excellent balance of uncompromising fierceness, laugh out loud humor and quietly developing warmth. Additionally, she reveals her characters with both honesty and respect….well, maybe not Dr. Donatti. But, honestly, in the course of our lives, how many of us have not encountered at least one “Dr. Donatti” type of character? In summary, the book is insightful, as well as delightfully entertaining. I will probably read it again. Enjoy!

Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant Chemist in the late 50’s/early 60’s when a woman’s “place” was in the kitchen. Her innovative ideas and contributions are continually dismissed by the pompous men in her field. She eventually agrees to host a cooking show in order to financially support her daughter and herself. After all, cooking is chemistry. Elizabeth is ferociously strong and resilient. Her independence and determination make her a wonderful role model for young women. Garmus paints a humorous, colorful story of the oppression women dealt with and how tenacity and perseverance can overcome most challenges. I was invested in Elizabeth’s character from the beginning, but when she rescued Six Thirty, I was done for. Her conversations with this amazing canine are some of the best moments in the story. I love the interactions between Elizabeth, Six Thirty and her daughter, Mads. I rated this 4.5, simply because it felt rushed at the end. However, it was an excellent read that I can highly recommend.

Goodreads and other social media have been recommending this book to me for a while, but I looked at the cover and decided I didn't want to read another nerdy rom-com. I enjoy that genre generally, but not enough to grab this one. Then I saw the trailer for the upcoming Apple TV show. Puzzled, I read the blurb and a few reviews. This is where the old saying about "assumptions" showed me I was making a colossal mistake in judging a book by its cover. Anyway, long story short, I haven't enjoyed a book like this in a very long time. It's more historical fiction about the fifties and sixties as well as women's fiction. Elizabeth is a chemist in the Fifties, though very few think a woman has the mind and ability to be a scientist. The one exception is Calvin Evans, a noted chemist in his own right and the man who becomes Elizabeth's soulmate. This is brilliant writing, wry and poignant in turn. Elizabeth is alone except for Calvin because she's beautiful and intelligent, a deadly combination to men's egos that makes her an unwitting rival to other women who think their only job is to marry and produce children in this era. The supporting cast is lovely. Mad is perfect in her own unique manner, a genius of a child who sees things more clearly than many adults. Six-Thirty, the dog, has some of the best 'lines' in the book. Harriet, the Catholic neighbor stuck in a dead marriage, becomes Elizabeth and Mad's support line. Every character, good and bad, feels like people I've met in my real life, and it is delightful to see them collected here, contributing to this wonderful story. I'm old enough to remember the Fifties and Sixties. Ms. Garmus had captured every nuance of the period and sprinkled them like fairy dust over the stories about rowing and early live TV. If this all sounds like an odd combination, believe me, the author makes it all work. Bonnie Garmus has produced a terrific book, and I can't wait for more from her.

This book was recommended to me by a friend. Her recommendations are always golden. In the past, she has recommended The Humans by Matt Haig & A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Lessons in Chemistry is delightfully creative & whimsical. It is also infuriating, heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and profound. There are deeply serious moments, and others where I laughed out loud. The writing is tight, the pacing excellent, the twists/turns/reveals surprising & satisfying. A tip of the hat to the author, Bonnie Darmus, for doing something many authors try to do, but often fail to accomplish. She created a plot that ducks, weaves, and folds back on itself, contains the voices of numerous characters, yet doesn’t lose the reader. Lessons in Chemistry contains a lot of the themes found in the movie 9 to 5, except the character Russell Tinsworthy is now a far more savvy & competent woman. It also reminds me of the quote that appeared in a 1982 comic strip Frank & Ernest by Bob Thaves, often misattributed to the dancer Ginger Rogers. “Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, except backwards, and in high heels.”

Dear Ms. Garmus, Although you probably do not read.reviews such as this. I feel obliged to address this to you in part to say thank you for penning such an interesting and enjoyable book. In fact, it is such a great read that I have read it three times. My first encounter with Lessons in Chemistry was when my wife received it as a present shortly after it was published, and seeing her enjoyment while reading it, I picked it up. Most recently, I re-read it because I was watching the Apple TV version of the book and thought "this doesn't look anything like the book!" So I read it again, and I encourage people to just read the book since it is so much better than the show. (God, do I hate screenwriters!) I mentioned my wife, who is a scientist herself, and being a wizard in the kitchen is just one of the many ways that she has created great chemistry in our relationship for the past thirty years. Loretta, like Elizabeth Zott , is a true inspiration. As to why I liked the book so much? First the premise of a woman not being taken seriously I saw this first hand with my mother during my adolescence in the 1960s. Among other things, she basically oversaw the Urban Redevelopment Office in my hometown but was begrudgingly only given the title of Deputy Director, although everyone knew she was the true tour de force in the office. She, with my father, also raised five children, and lost two sons - I Another reason your book resonated with me. Your message about how home makers are under appreciated rang true as well - then and today. Second, I loved your characters. Although Elizabeth is the star, Mad might be my favorite character. She is refreshingly precocious and the kind of child who I loved to have in my classroom when I was teaching. She also also reminds me of our daughter. Thirdly,, the message and encouragement to be a change agent is just what we need to hear in today's world and hopefully it resonates with the women -and men - who read your great book. Finally, I read your bio and saw that you rowed at Green Lake in Seattle. We have family who live near there, one of whom owns Phinney Books nearby, and we have run around the lake many times. Great memories. Best wishes and I look forward to your next book. Ken Ebert, Ph.D.

A Lesson in Chemistry is a thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of a male-dominated world through the lens of a resilient and inspiring female protagonist. The book offers readers a glimpse into the life of this strong woman, leaving a lasting impression that makes you yearn to meet her in real life. What sets this book apart is its ability to present a realistic view of a male-dominated world, allowing readers to empathize with the struggles faced by the protagonist. The author vividly captures the challenges she encounters, creating an engaging narrative that showcases the strength and determination required to navigate such an environment. The plot of "A Lesson in Chemistry" is inherently captivating, capturing the attention of readers from the beginning and maintaining their interest throughout. The book strikes a perfect balance between internal and external conflicts, skillfully weaving together the protagonist's personal growth with her desire to succeed in a field predominantly occupied by men. However, one area that could be improved upon is the resolution. Towards the end, the story seems to come to an abrupt halt, leaving the reader yearning for more closure and a sense of completion. A more conclusive ending would have added a greater sense of satisfaction and provided a better sense of resolution to the overall story. Additionally, while the novel touches upon the protagonist's metacognition, there is a desire for further exploration and revelation in this aspect. A deeper understanding of her inner thoughts and reflections would have added an extra layer of depth to the character's development, enhancing the overall reading experience. Despite these minor shortcomings, "A Lesson in Chemistry" succeeds in captivating readers with its strong and relatable female protagonist, providing a realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by women in male-dominated fields. This book serves as a testament to the resilience of individuals and highlights the importance of pursuing one's dreams, regardless of societal expectations. A Lesson in Chemistry is an engaging and thought-provoking read that manages to strike a delicate balance between internal struggles and external obstacles. With a relatable protagonist and an intriguing plot, this book offers valuable insights into the human spirit and the pursuit of one's passions.

I picked this book up and set it down at least a dozen times. I thought it just started too slow and the main character wasn't likeable at all. But everyone was adamant it was worth it, so I finally picked it up and stuck it out. This has only happened one other time with "Where the Crawdad Sings" that I picked up a book I thought I would DNF, and ended up LOVING it. As I stated, it starts off slow and dull. The main character, Elizabeth, comes across as sort of 'Autistic' or at least on the spectrum, but not in any interesting ways other than she's super smart. As a matter of fact, she is loaded with double doses of all of the frustrating parts of being on the spectrum (from a modern standpoint). Disclaimer: dealing with an Autistic or on-the-spectrum person in real life is much easier than dealing with a fictional character on the spectrum, so this is in no way a judgment of those on the spectrum, considering I'm neurospicy (ADHD) myself. Since this is set in the 1960's, the possibility that she is on the spectrum is not even mentioned, so we don't know for sure (but we'll come back to this). I can tell you she is virtually humorless, doesn't grasp social mores of the time, and other people have to explain things to her in painstaking detail to the point I ended up just wanting to strangle her. I went through the entire book practically yelling at her! Then, it happened. I finally realized Elizabeth isn't on the spectrum. Instead, she is so resolute in her convictions and such a staunch advocate for her own personhood, opinions, and VOICE, especially in 1960, that even today, one could think that it's some neurological flaw/difference and isn't that a sad commentary on where I am as a woman. I was humbled. In fact, it hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks, and I had to take a minute to collect myself. Sure, it's a cool story, and it gets much better as you stick with it, but the book challenged how I view myself and place in the world and there haven't been many that could do that. Five full stars. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Loved the way the author took you on an emotional and informative journey about life and lessons and heartache and happiness. What a great storyteller Bonnie Garmus is.

The book arrived in perfect condition but had a bit of dust and dirt on the back. I was able to remove most of it with some wet wipes As for the book itself, I didn’t read it yet

This book has had a huge amount of marketing and appears to have sold a lot of copies which is always great for the writer (and the industry in general). I've also had a few friends read it too and have heard nothing but good. The book is 386 pages split into 46 chapters which makes reading it very easy. I had a look on Amazon before I started and was amused to se that this is the number one book in the "Feminist Criticism" category (there was me thinking it was a novel!). The story starts with Elizabeth as a mother, scientist and TV presenter, juggling her commitments in a way that was unusual for the 1960s. We then go back ten years and begin to understand how she got where she is now. Whilst appearing to be light on the surface, the book quickly moves to much darker territory, showing the sexism and abuse that was accepted as normal. That sums up the beauty of this book - it has an unforgiving hardness at its centre but is wrapped but a thin layer of social predictability making it accessible to read. There is a balance of comedy and serious issues that also makes the book fun. Elizabeth as a character is hard to believe and I thought the author could have softened her more but, let yourself go with the depiction, and she is a great focus for the novel. The story has a big build up before we actually get Elizabeth on TV (which is marketed as the core of the novel) - this feels like a long time but is necessary as it sets the scene. Everyone in the book is a remarkable person for all sorts of reasons - even Six Thirty (the dog) who is taught to recognise hundreds of specific words. Getting further into the book I became more and more aware of how deep the topic is. There is a lot of thought around the equality messages and you can't help but make comparisons to today's society - some problems have been reduced by legislation and gradual society change but many issues are worse than ever. Women appearing on TV today would say that their looks are analysed more than ever before, with the possibilities of feedback not limited to phone calls and letters. Endings of novels are hard to get right but this one is perfectly achieved. There is a lovely amount of emotion mixed in with a good balance of well structured plot.

There is long time that I’ve read something so impactful, interesting and profound. A book that took my attention since the first chapter and make me feel inspired by stories full of encrypted messages and important debates.

Utterly brilliant. One of the best I've ever read. Imaginative, clever, totally original and beautifully crafted characters.