Cover Image: Lessons in Chemistry

Lessons in Chemistry

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Very seldom am I at a loss for words on how to review a book but Lessons in Chemistry caught me off guard. One review I read called it quirky and funny. Not quite, I thought. I will say Lessons have two of the most unique characters, Elizabeth and Calvin, These two emotionally battered souls find a way to succeed in love and career in spite of their unique personalities. Set before the Women's Liberation Movement, Lessons reveals a world so misogynistic and suffocating for women in and out of the home. For those of us who grew up in the 50s, 60s, and 70s lived through some of Elizabeth's reality.

Although strikingly beautiful, the main character Elizabeth struggles in a world that refuses to recognize her intelligence and determination. Her dogged refusal to cave to societal expectations creates a hostile world for her. till she meets Calvin, her intellectual equal and the love of her life. These two damaged souls create their own bubble of happiness and success until tragedy shatters their world. Elizabeth is left to struggle with the remains of her life and try to adjust to a society that doesn't understand her. She defies societal norms and challenges the gendered stereotypes of the times, trying to survive after losing everything.

Lessons in Chemistry have some of the most unique characters I have encountered in fiction. Both Elizabeth and Calvin are shaped by their tragic early lives and find unusual coping mechanisms to make their lives worthwhile including adopting their dog SixThirty who Elizabeth is determined to teach him to read. Their daughter Mad grows up in a home full of beakers and test tubes and books. She's allowed to be a free range child not out of neglect but because Elizabeth has faith that her daughter will succeed in making her own path. Luckily for Mad, their very traditional house wife neighbor Harriet becomes the surrogate mom she needs. While the story is steeped in pain, the characters create a world of warmth, humor, and love.

And why the title "Lessons in Chemistry?" Without giving away the plot, this is Elizabeth's way of teaching women to cook. Her lessons throw out the traditional recipe books and magazine articles of the 50s and chanllenge women to think in a new way. Her insolence at her boss and refusal to stick to preconceived ideals of womanhood drive everyone mad. Yet Elizabeth becomes a liberating hero to her female fans Lessons also exposes the dark ugly side for women not so long ago. Sexual harrassment, poverty, rape, domestic violence, discrimination, misogyny and sexism were so ingrained into women's lives, it was the norm. These are the realities of women's lives and Elizabeth fights so hard and often alone to challenge all the handicaps in a woman's world.

So much of the story rang true for me as I was an engineering student in the late 70s at a university that made it clear that women weren't wanted in their program. I remember the sexual harassment, the inappropriate advances, the veiled and unveiled threats not only in school but at work. I felt Elizabeth's frustration and pain and championed her fight. So many of the issues presented in Lessons were the norm not the exception at the time. For young women today, they might not realize how difficult it was to be a smart woman who bucked gendered norms at the time. Even the story of Calvin and his life in the orphange was a reality when I was a kid. Orphanages still existed and the kids in them lived on society's fringes and without the love of family. Illegitimacy carried its own badge of dishonor and disgrace. It's hard to remember that at one time having an illegitimate child was considered a great shame and women/girls were shamed and "went away."

My daughter-in-law recommeded this book to me and then I realized it was on My Net Galley Shelf. I had started it long ago and set it aside in the first few pages. Having lost my father when I was 9 makes me sensitive to stories that start with parental loss. I put it down after the first couple of chapters due to the death of Calvin's parents. The opening of Lessons sets a dreary tone but an important one. Gamus establishes the parameters of the emotional quagmire of her two main characters from their shattered childhoods. She created a unique world where pain and suffering as a child truly shapes who we become as adults. Elizabeth and Calvin carry their painful inner child with them always yet find a way to succeed in spite of it. Lessons in Chemisty provide lessons in life and how to cope in a world that tries to stiffle the inner child in all of us.

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Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist, but unfortunately she is also a woman in the 1950s whose worth in the work place is under valued and dismissed by misogynistic and abusive males. She meets her soul mate, Calvin, who is another brilliant chemist and still stands firm with her convictions that a woman should not have to ride on a male's coattails to find success. After tragedy rocks Elizabeth's world, she stumbles into a TV cooking show where she applies her knowledge of chemistry and beliefs of female capabilities to audiences across the country - much to the chagrin and horror of all the males who are "in charge" of her.

There is so much to love about this book: 1). brilliant female protagonist, 2). strong female character who isn't afraid to stand her ground, 3). beautiful love story, 4) precocious child, 5). humor, and 6) a just "right" ending that brings a casts of characters all connected to Calvin together to form the new family each of them needed.

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Based on the cover I really thought this book was going to be a romcom, but this was much more than that. This was part historical fiction, part women-in-STEM, and part romance. I really loved Elizabeth's character; her strength was unmatched. I think this was a very well written debut and I'm not surprised to see it on so many top lists.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

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I know this book is beloved, but I could not get through it. I didn’t like any of the characters and found it really jarring when there was a rape that was not treated as traumatic in any sense of the word.

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5 stars. Very well written and extremely entertaining, loved the characters.

Thank you to the publisher and author for a copy of this book. My options are my own

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I’ve been a sucker for historical fiction/romance since outlander, so when LIC dropped into my inbox I couldn’t wait to get into this one. Gramus is amazing, and will be needing more from her in the future

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I’m a chemical engineer, and I was initially drawn to this book because of the title. Chemistry lessons? 1950s setting? A cooking show? A female researcher? It sounded like an interesting read. I was also impressed with both the rating and number of reviews, which I found a little surprising as I feel like this 2022 release had very little press/marketing (I’m a US consumer).

Our main female lead, Elizabeth Zott, is a chemist at a fictitious Southern California research institute, and has to deal with ALL the sexism one could imagine. We follow her romantic relationship, her personal losses, friendships, motherhood, and experiences as a famous TV host for a science-based cooking show. Zott’s character is the heart of this story. And unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of her.

Firstly, I felt like she had the beliefs of a 21st century feminist right from the start. Do I agree with all the things she stands for? Yeah. But for a character living ~75 years ago, I think it would have been more interesting to see her beliefs (so contrary from her society’s norms) develop and solidify throughout the plot, rather than be such strongly held convictions from the start.

Secondly, why does she have to be so emotionless? The stereotype of a cold, distant female scientist is already prevalent. Garmus did nothing to turn subvert this.

Lastly, I wasn’t a fan of 630 and his POV chapters. They just felt silly.

All this being said, <I>Lessons in Chemistry</I> was compulsively readable. I enjoyed all the cooking show scenes, and the producer was one of my favorite side characters. I think the TV adaptation could be really good, and I’ll definitely check it out.

I voluntarily obtained a digital version of this book free from Netgalley and Doubleday Books in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Honestly, the cover threw off my interest and I put off reading for far too long. I am so glad I finally picked it up because this book is one that truly can’t be judged by its cover!

Such a brilliant idea to literally create a novel composed of lessons in chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed the quirky characters and became highly interested in their challenges.

4.5 out of 5 stars and my deepest respect to the author.

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In 1960s California, Elizabeth Zott, a scientist whose career takes a detour when she becomes the star of a beloved TV cooking show, teaches women the chemistry involved in cooking and encourages them to step outside their comfort zone. Opinionated, quirky, and smart it is so good.

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There is little new left to be said about this wonderful book. Bonnie Garmus captures better than most authors writing on the same topic what is really was like to be an intelligent woman in the 1950 and 1960s. Most of us who battled through those years did not have the courage of Elizabeth Zott, but enough woman - in particular women in science - had enough courage to pave the way for the many who continue to follow behind them. Not all paths are clear and to this day woman continue to fight against stereotypes and expectations that can tamp down their ability to realize their deepest dreams. This is a book for people of all ages to read and ponder. The novel is both entertaining and thought-provoking, and what reader could ask for more?

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Such an enjoyable reading experience (even though I’m usually a mystery and suspense reader and this was women’s fiction)! Of course, the concept of an independent-thinking woman scientist striving to be accepted in the boys’ club climate of the late 1950’s/early 60’s is irresistible. In her debut novel, Bonnie Garmus has created a protagonist to cheer for, engaging supporting characters (even those with slightly unbelievable characteristics or backstories), a multi-faceted plot, and a happy ending. I’d say that’s a success!

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I really loved this book, it came recommended by a friend and I will recommend it to many more friends (…not that it needs any help)

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This book did a good job balancing a recent historical setting with a modern tone. It was well written and brought up timely social issues.

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I should start by saying that the cartoon cover does this book a disservice. Even when reading tags about the book—women in STEM, historical timeframe—I still think some part of me was expecting something along the lines of The Love Hypothesis, a la Ali Hazelwood.

That being said, I don't think my lowered expectations are causing any artificial inflation in my review. The conversations in this book were so nuanced, the writing was so clean and impactful, and I truly have not stopped thinking about it since I finished reading it earlier this year. I've also recommended this book to so many of the women in my life—women who grew up in that era, in fields adjacent to Elizabeth's—and their praise has been equally as loud.

It's clear that her research was done thoroughly, and I so appreciate Bonnie Garmus bringing the story to the table.

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This book is epic - a female chemist who gives no fucks about societal norms. The back story of the characters unfolds in a way to keep the pages turning & it will give you ALL the feels. This is one of those rare books that made me laugh and ugly cry and feel enraged, but ultimately I enjoyed it immensely. I highly recommend for anyone looking for an excellent well rounded book set in a time where female chemists and breaking societies norms were not common- Elizabeth Zott is an inspiration.

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What a great story. It was nothing like I expected the story to be. A very good story of women and how unfair things were and sometimes they still are unfair. A great read.

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Fun at first but the story felt more and more preposterous and unbelievable. The pacing was also odd, the first third of the book seemed very rushed. I loved the dog though.

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What a fun unique ready. I loved this book and thought she was such a new voice in books. Thank you!

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Glad to see this title is getting so much buzz. It's smart and sharp, but I wasn't crazy about the anthropomorphic commentary from the dog.

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I loved this book!! It is a great story of feminism and independence. It is a love story and there are two objects of affection – chemistry and Calvin Evans. I found myself so mad at the male chauvinism in the 1960s (and now) but it just made me love the story more. Must read!!

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