Book title: Lessons in Chemistry
Author: Bonnie Garmus
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First impressions: I LOVED this book! I picked it up on a whim and was instantly hooked by the premise.
The back of the book says: Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, she would be the first to point out that there is no such thing.
But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute take a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans, the lonely, brilliant, Nobel-Prize-nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with – of all things – her mind.
Like science, life is unpredictable. Forced to leave her job at the institute, Elizabeth Zott soon finds herself the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show, Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (‘Combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride’) proves revolutionary.
But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook.
She’s daring them to change the status quo. One molecule at a time.
My thoughts: We follow the incredible Elizabeth Zott throughout her life and career as a chemist in the 1960s. As a woman in a male-dominated field, Elizabeth has to deal with constant setbacks, pressures and obstacles – a reality facing women of the time.
While I don’t want to give away any spoilers, I thought this book handled some quite heavy, hard-hitting topics while still being relatable, touching and at times very, very funny. Elizabeth was a wonderful character, I rooted for her from the very beginning -she’s completely unapologetic for who she is and it makes her such a unique and compelling character.
What I liked…
Characters: All the female characters in this book were ahead of their time and incredible role models for women and girls everywhere.
Themes: The book explores misogyny and women’s rights in the 1960s in a relatable, but powerful way.
Tone: The book is great at balancing these heavy-hitting themes with genuine warmth and humour.
What I didn’t like…
There was no fault I could give the book itself, some of the dubious male characters, however…
I think you’d like this book if…
You enjoy historical fiction, love a character-driven story and you’re looking for strong female characters.
Book themes: Historical fiction, humour, women’s rights, misogyny, strong female characters.
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