Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel

I loved this book so much. It's clever, it's funny, the characters are great. There's even a dog who's very special. I do want to give a trigger warning, however, as I wish I'd been warned. There's a SA early on and quite out-of-the-blue, and it upset me dreadfully. There's only the one, however, even though there is an incredible lot of discrimination against women, but that part is rather the point of the book, so in that sense it's fine. It was one of my favorite books of last year, when I read a copy borrowed from the Library, which is why I then went and bought my own copy.

Lessons in Chemistry is a brilliant blend of wit, heart, and thought-provoking commentary on gender roles in the workplace during the 1960s. I loved the overall story—especially how it highlighted the challenges women faced in science during that era, while showing how their perseverance helped pave the way for future generations. The humor throughout the book was sharp and clever, balancing perfectly with the serious themes. The scientific elements were seamlessly woven in, making the story both educational and engaging. And the love story? It added warmth and depth without overshadowing the central narrative of resilience, self-discovery, and progress. A smart, funny, and inspiring read that lingers long after the last page. Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) – Empowering, witty, and wonderfully original.

OMG!! GO READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW! “Chemistry is inseparable from life-by its very definition, chemistry is life.” I literally just finished reading Lessons in Chemistry, the debut novel by Bonnie Garmus, and I was hooked from page one. Set in the late 1950’s, Elizabeth Zott is a scientist that isn’t receiving the credit or recognition she deserves because she is a female. When she meets Calvin Evans – a genius chemist – at Hastings Research Institute, well, let’s just say they had real chemistry. With her no-nonsense approach to life, Elizabeth ends up on a TV cooking show – Supper at Six – which quickly captivates the housewives of America. I am totally a foodie – and having a book mixing chemistry and food was interesting! “We [all] know food is the catalyst that unlocks our brains, minds our families, and determines our futures.” The research that @bonnie_garmus_author must have done for her fun facts throughout this novel really shows. What a powerhouse read about females in the workplace, having your own voice, sticking true to yourself, women-empowerment, and change. “Because when women understand chemistry, they begin to understand how things work.” I think my favorite “character” was Six-Thirty – the dog. I absolutely loved him & Garmus’s creativity for giving a dog such a unique, smart approach! All of the characters blended so well and were perfectly detailed and described. The only thing I find may be a turn off to people while reading is the constant battle between God and Chemistry; how our world was created/evolved. I think most people can read over it without an issue – but if you do not like atheists or want your beliefs possibly challenged, then this isn’t the book for you. I give this 5 AMAZING stars! It was quirky, fun, and you will learn something while reading. I almost wish I paid more attention to chemistry in school! I will read anything #garmus writes! Best book I’ve read in 2022 by far – go read it! A Nina’s Notables for sure! “Chemistry is Change. . . . Courage is the root of change-and change is what we’re chemically designed to do.”

It has been a long time since a book kept me reading into the early hours of the morning without my realizing it, but this was a tough book to put down! I have to commend the author- she managed to write Elizabeth (and Calvin) in a way that we could see how their characters are difficult to connect with while thoroughly making us feel connected to them. She also took us through some really awful situations of (trigger warnings) discrimination, abuse, neglect, suicide, sexual harassment and assaults, death, and just really terrible people, yet somehow made this an overall empowering and uplifting story, balanced with love and humor. The full range of emotions came in through this book. The time period of the story was the 1950’s and 1960’s, when discrimination against women (and a general belief that women were not as capable or deserving as men) was rampant, especially in Science. That alone was frustrating throughout the story. Yet somehow Elizabeth stayed true to herself and her beliefs, inspiring others and changing minds along the way. Family and what truly makes a family is another theme throughout. People came into the story in some unexpected ways, and you can really see the positive effects of simply treating others with respect, kindness, and an open mind can benefit everyone. And the dog… brilliant. I found myself reading aloud to others some of the parts told through the dog’s perspective because they were so astute and entertaining. I love that this book shows the power of women who set their minds to something and believe in their potential… While we thankfully aren’t in 1950s and 1960s anymore and have come a long way, this book is a great reminder to challenge stereotypes, be who you are, and support each other. There is still a long way to go. One word of caution to the highly religious- Some of the themes are not Catholic-friendly… Some of the “villains” in this book were church representatives. But, it is meant to represent practices that were, sadly, known or likely to have happened, especially at that time. The reason I only gave four stars was because the way it was presented seemed to make the case that not only is it impossible to believe in both Science and God, which is kind of narrow-minded, IMHO, but that religion, in general, is detrimental. I get that the main character was an atheist and that is a part of the central story, but the theme popped up in other parts almost as a tangent. It felt almost like an unnecessary agenda that didn’t really add to the story in places. Just my thoughts, and others may feel differently.

I was very late to the party on picking up this book. It wasn't until I saw a couple of snippets of the miniseries that I decided I should pick up the book and read it. I tore through this book in less than a day because I was captivated by the well-rounded characters and the situations in which their author put them. I was moved By Elizabeth's story and fully invested in the future of every character in this book. It had it surprises, it's moments where it made you angry, but it also was incredibly inspiring and uplifting. I highly recommend this book if you are into period pieces, love mid-century mod, perhaps you are a huge fan of The marvelous Mrs maisel or maybe you are a big fan of one Mrs Julia child. Absolutely adored this book and immediately went to see what other people recommended I read once I finished the last page. On a side note, I thought the book was so wonderfully done that I had a very hard time watching the miniseries because I did not like the choices made in the television version versus what was written in the book. I felt so loyal to the choices the author made in this book that it was hard to watch something diverge from that.

I join a long list of reviewers who give this book 5 enthusiastic stars. Like these reviewers, I, too, was drawn deeply into this quirky and charming book. I also immediately contacted one of my reader friends to exhort them- “you gotta read this book!” This is truly a special story. I will say though, that the cover mislead me and I can’t imagine that the main character, Elizabeth Zott, would have approved of it. Yes, it’s attractive, but the cover made me think this was a rom-com. Elizabeth would never read, yet alone appear, in a romantic comedy. Character driven, with a bit of magical realism, this book is about Elizabeth, chemist, mother, tv star. As fascinating as Elizabeth is, it’s the dog in the story who steals the show and who truly keeps his human family going. Another unforgettable character is Elizabeth’s young daughter, “Mad”. She seems like a genius, but according to Elizabeth, she is not- she’s just well-taught (by Elizabeth). Most reviewers mention these three characters only, but let’s not forget several other endearing characters: Elizabeth’s interfering but stalwart neighbor, Elizabeth’s TV boss, and Wakely the minister. OK, I’ll also give a shout-out to Elizabeth’s obstetrician and all the rowers. And then there’s Evan. With humor, wit, heart, and earnest naivety, Elizabeth takes on the world of the 1950’s-60 in California. She is a chemist, who knocks out her kitchen to make a lab, and who brews coffee in a twenty-step process using a Bunsen burner. Not surprisingly, her world is not ready for an independent, scientific, slightly off-kilter woman. As you read, you may get caught up in the wit and humor, and Elizabeth’s whirl as a TV cooking show host is fabulous. But there are serious themes in this book. Many reviewers mention the discrimination of women, but hardly any mention the criticism of God and religion. I also agree that this book deserves to be a top book of 2022. Highly recommended! Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.

What do you do when you’re a female scientist in the 1960s, and every deck is stacked against you? You row. You cook. You fight. Elizabeth Zott is a chemist, a TV show personality, and a single mom. The social norms of the day mean that so many people - especially men - look at her a certain way. The only thing for Elizabeth to do is use her chemist’s brain to claim her life for herself. This book is a complete delight. It reads like a Wes Anderson movie - smart, funny, charming, and quirky. Elizabeth Zott is my new hero! I love that she is nothing if not true to herself and her beliefs and never kowtows to a man for anything. The supporting characters in this book - even the nasty ones - are entertaining and well-written. My favorite character besides Elizabeth is her dog Six-Thirty who must know well over 1,000 words by now. Elizabeth takes all her strengths and uses them to survive - to soar - in a man’s world. Her story is sometimes brutal, sometimes poignant, and sometimes bold. She’s a role model for the ages, and I applaud her. Bonnie Garmus has written a masterpiece. Her writing is powerful, witty, and emotional in the right places. I highly recommend Lessons in Chemistry. Let me know when you’ve read it - I’d love to discuss!

Great book!

Es una maravilla. Simplemente maravilloso. La protagonista te cautivará de principio a fin y el humor y los detalles de cada personaje te atraparán. Una lectura deliciosa. Nada forzada ni “elegante”. Fluida y sumamente entretenida. Me encantó!!!!

Lo ame mucho!!! Facil de leer, senti cerca a las personajes; me hizo reír y llorar 🥲

El libro tiene una buena Pasta dura, sus hojas vienen muy bien. Bien empaquetado, muy buen precio (lo agarré en descuento) me encantó

A grandes rasgos llegó en buen estado, la sobrecubierta tiene algunas manchas oscuras que no pude quitarle así como detallitos y la cubierta está algo raspada, el interior parece estar en buen estado

Excellent story, probably my favourite read this year. This one if for a gift and hardbacked. The book was in very good condition as it was described. A dirty sticky label nark was easily removed with a bit of nail varnish remover, without a trace. Very slight marks along thr outer paper cover if you have a good look at it, so you can see its not brand new, but I am happy enough to gift it as Iplanned. The recipient will be happy to recieve a good quality used book.