T.Elise reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
None
4 stars
4.5
Very enjoyable, minus a few points for some eye-roll clichés
400 pages
English language
Published July 10, 2022 by Transworld Publishers Limited.
Bonnie Garmus, Bonnie Garmus: Lessons in Chemistry (2022, Transworld Publishers Limited)
- ISBN:
- 978-0-85752-813-1
- Goodreads:
- 58556597
Copied ISBN!
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes 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. True chemistry results.
But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but 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 …
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes 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. True chemistry results.
But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but 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.
Naomi reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Lessons in Chemistry
3 stars
I hear and agree with the criticism about this book (Elizabeth feels too modern, the convoluted and rushed ending) but I still enjoyed it. It was heartwarming, very funny, and I loved the characters.
bwbeach reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
A great read, all the way through
5 stars
Lessons in Chemistry is one of the few books that kept me captivated all the way through.
It's an odd blend of horrific misogyny, a sweet love story, a hero's journey, an anti-establishment quest, and a mystery at the end. Overall, I loved the way they were woven together.
Lessons in Chemistry is one of the few books that kept me captivated all the way through.
It's an odd blend of horrific misogyny, a sweet love story, a hero's journey, an anti-establishment quest, and a mystery at the end. Overall, I loved the way they were woven together.
loar reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
None
1 star
DNF. Pokud to je parodie, tak jsem to nepochopila. Pokud je to myšlený vážně, tak uá.
Autistická feministická aktivistka typ rok 2024 se octne v 60. letech, na potkání každýmu dává přednášky, platit za byt by si nemohla dovolit, ale když jí umře přítel a vyhodí ji z práce, tak tam v pohodě zůstane a zařizuje si v kuchyni vlastní laboratoř. Jo a její pes nejspíš umí číst. Prousta.
kotoko reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Review of 'Lessons in Chemistry' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
Me ha gustado mucho la historia, la personalidad de Elizabeth Zott me ha sorprendido y más, teniendo en cuenta en la época en la que está ambientada el libro.
Me ha gustado mucho la historia, la personalidad de Elizabeth Zott me ha sorprendido y más, teniendo en cuenta en la época en la que está ambientada el libro.
Marie Knapp reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
None
4 stars
I was drawn to the many layers of this story. I loved all of them. Certainly the dog and his point of view was at the top of the list.
allanderek reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
A fun if flawed book
3 stars
I suspect others will like this a lot more than I did. I thought there were three books in one. The first was a very rom-comesque opening, down to the two eventual lovers hating each other to begin with. I had almost no time for this and almost stopped reading. After that there is the second part of the book which details the single mother's struggles to achieve what she wants, with those struggles mostly being misogyny. I liked that some of the misogyny was perpetrated by other women which makes it all the more realistic. The final part is a kind of mystery, which is enjoyable but not quite gripping.
I can understand why this book is more popular with female readers than male ones. However accurate it may be, it's just not that enjoyable to read 200 pages about how terrible your own gender is.
I suspect others will like this a lot more than I did. I thought there were three books in one. The first was a very rom-comesque opening, down to the two eventual lovers hating each other to begin with. I had almost no time for this and almost stopped reading. After that there is the second part of the book which details the single mother's struggles to achieve what she wants, with those struggles mostly being misogyny. I liked that some of the misogyny was perpetrated by other women which makes it all the more realistic. The final part is a kind of mystery, which is enjoyable but not quite gripping.
I can understand why this book is more popular with female readers than male ones. However accurate it may be, it's just not that enjoyable to read 200 pages about how terrible your own gender is.
Wild Woila reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Hilarious, infuriating and deeply serious
5 stars
A neurodiverse female scientist skewers the unprepared patriachy of the 1950s with her forthright progressive values. Hilarious, infuriating and deeply serious.
Reading time 2 days, 193 pages/day
codewitch reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
An amusing if somewhat inaccurate portrait of a women scientist in the 50's and 60's.
4 stars
As someone who worked as a biochemist in the 80's and 90's I quite enjoyed this book. There were inaccuracies in the science; as others have pointed out, no DNA sequencing in the 50's and 60's, but I felt the misogyny and treatment of women were quite realistic.
It does seem like a novel informed by today's values that would not have been written a few years ago. There seem to be a lot of books like this being written. It's particularly jarring for historical novels. It's encouraging that we can now recognize the harms that were done in the past, but it makes such novels seem a bit like fantasies.
As someone who worked as a biochemist in the 80's and 90's I quite enjoyed this book. There were inaccuracies in the science; as others have pointed out, no DNA sequencing in the 50's and 60's, but I felt the misogyny and treatment of women were quite realistic.
It does seem like a novel informed by today's values that would not have been written a few years ago. There seem to be a lot of books like this being written. It's particularly jarring for historical novels. It's encouraging that we can now recognize the harms that were done in the past, but it makes such novels seem a bit like fantasies.
Phil in SF reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Neatly tied together, a little too neat
3 stars
Content warning minor spoilers
What if you took a very modern female chemist who expects everyone to treat her based on her brains, skills, and accomplishments and dropped her in a misogynist chemistry lab in the late 1950s/early 1960s. Rather than go along to get along she is blunt, direct, and uncompromising. Things go about as well as you would expect for an unmarried mother who challenges the powers that be and the status quo.
I'm guessing a lot of people will love this book because Elizabeth Zott is uncompromising and fights the good fight. It wasn't enough for me, and I bounced off the first half of the book because it is really slow, setting up the character and situation with a litany of sexism.
But I think the part that got me the most was that the setup felt too constructed. For example, a secretary from Zott's employment becomes the typist for a minister who just so happened to have been a pen pal of Zott's former love. Everything was just too neatly tied together.
aastha reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Please don't read this.
1 star
Bonnie Garmus, we get it, your protagonist is not like other girls. Now can we please cancel this belief that you have to be different from ALL other women around you in order to be a rEaL feminist? I read another review that said that it feels like the protagonist is a woman from 2022 who time-travelled to the 1950s and I fully agree. There is nothing 1950/60s about this book. But even if you're willing to overlook that, the portrayal of feminism and a 'strong, independent woman' in the book is so misplaced and annoying. Elizabeth Zott is qUirKy and dIfFereNt because she refers to salt as sodium chloride and vinegar as acetic acid. She's not basic like other women because she doesn't want to get married or have kids. She's brilliant and not only manages to learn a sport by studying physics, she also BUILDS a chemistry lab …
Bonnie Garmus, we get it, your protagonist is not like other girls. Now can we please cancel this belief that you have to be different from ALL other women around you in order to be a rEaL feminist? I read another review that said that it feels like the protagonist is a woman from 2022 who time-travelled to the 1950s and I fully agree. There is nothing 1950/60s about this book. But even if you're willing to overlook that, the portrayal of feminism and a 'strong, independent woman' in the book is so misplaced and annoying. Elizabeth Zott is qUirKy and dIfFereNt because she refers to salt as sodium chloride and vinegar as acetic acid. She's not basic like other women because she doesn't want to get married or have kids. She's brilliant and not only manages to learn a sport by studying physics, she also BUILDS a chemistry lab in her house while pregnant without ever having done anything of this sort before. She can also cook really well simply because she is a chemist. Oh and did i mention that she has calluses and no friends? SO independent. Every woman in the book except Elizabeth is portrayed as being stupid or resentful of their lives because they had to get married and have kids. And the so-called plot twist in the end? Cliché and predictable.
amyiw reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
None
5 stars
Favorite of the year so far. I loved it. I loved the main character, the dog, Mad(eline), Harriet, and even all the other players. Will try to come make a better review later.
Favorite of the year so far. I loved it. I loved the main character, the dog, Mad(eline), Harriet, and even all the other players. Will try to come make a better review later.
Eli reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
None
5 stars
Aw, this book! Absolutely loved the main character Elizabeth who thinks and manages the chaos in life by absolute principles for herself and assumptions that the world would also follow them. From a difficult upbringing to realising her dream of becoming and working in a chemistry lab, to finding her equal in life and sharing their lives until one comes to an abrupt end and she needs to manage everything, with a child, by herself, carving an unexpected career in teaching chemistry at a cookery show and helping others realise their potential. Old grudges and patriarchal society of the 60s are obstacles to finding out about what really went down in history, with all coming together in the end.
Rainer reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
"Fun Summer Read" meets dramatic and poignant feminist tale
4 stars
This book was fun and also inspirational. I didn't really have many expectations when I started it, but I liked the characters. Don't really have too much to say about it other than it had some great things to say about gender equality and also a really awesome canine character.
Also, readers should be aware that there is at least one and a half scenes in this book that depict sexual violence.
This book was fun and also inspirational. I didn't really have many expectations when I started it, but I liked the characters. Don't really have too much to say about it other than it had some great things to say about gender equality and also a really awesome canine character.
Also, readers should be aware that there is at least one and a half scenes in this book that depict sexual violence.
Annette C. Boehm reviewed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Review of 'Lessons in Chemistry' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I loved this book. It's charming and intelligent and funny and sweet.
I loved this book. It's charming and intelligent and funny and sweet.
Subjects
- Fiction, historical, general
- Fiction, feminist
- Single women, fiction
- Women scientists, fiction
- Fiction, women