So many people claimed that Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus ranked as an exceptional novel. Yes, the book provides questions and answers concerning females in the workforce, but the abundance of chemistry terms in the book repelled me. The story centers on Elizabeth Zott and her quest to promote her skills in chemistry, but her male co-workers and boss all take credit for Elizabeth accomplishments. Then, a glimmer of hope at the end of the rainbow, as Elizabeth becomes a renown television cooking hostess utilizing her chemistry skills. Supporting characters, such as Harriet Sloane, Six-Thirty, Wakely, and Calvin Evans ease the story in support of quirky Elizabeth. And last, but not least, shines the highly intelligent Madeline, the daughter of Elizabeth. A story filled with hope, but, again, too much chemistry. ( )

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS -PRINT: © April 5, 2022; 978-0385547345; Doubleday; First Edition; 400 pages; Unabridged (Information for Hardback from Amazon)
-DIGITAL: © April 5, 2022; 038554734X; Doubleday; 394 pages; Unabridged (Kindle information from Amazon)
- *Audio: © 5 April 2022 Random House Audio / Books on Tape; 12 hours (approx..); unabridged (Audiobook information from the version on the Libby App.)
-FILM: Available on Apple TV, starring Brie Larson; Lewis Pullman; Stephanie Koenig; Patrick Walker

CHARACTERS: (not comprehensive- spellings could be wrong since I'm hearing the names, not reading them. Brief description from character’s first entry into story.)
Elizabeth Zott – Protagonist – Chemist at Hastings
Calvin Evans – Chemist at Hastings
Madeline (Mad) Zott – Daughter of Elizabeth
Harriet Sloan – Neighbor of Elizabeth
Six-Thirty – Dog that follows Elizabeth home
Fran Frask – Hasting’s employee
Mr. Wakely – Calvan’s pen-pal
Walter Pine – TV Producer
Mr. Wilson – All Saint’s Orphanage donator
Doctor Mason – Obstetrician, rowing mate
Avery Parker – All Saint’s Orphanage Donator
Mr. Denadie (sp?) – Elizabeth and Evan’s Supervisor at Hastings

SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
-SELECTED: This popped up in a Libby advertisement as having been produced for film by Apple TV. I’d seen the book at various used book sales, and decided maybe it would be good, even though neither chemistry nor cooking, nor homemaking themes much interest me.
-ABOUT: A young independent woman, Elizabeth, in the 1950’s and 60’s, when independence was still not welcome as a feminine trait. Her efforts to be a chemist are continually thwarted, to the point where she ends up taking the offer she’s received through connections involving her daughter, to host a cooking show, with an emphasis on chemistry. The producers prefer to emphasize her sex-appeal, so while the offer suggested she could employ her knowledge of chemistry, there were strong objections to her methods, so there’s conflict. But the real story goes much deeper. It involves a unique man, a unique dog, and so much more.
-OVERALL IMPRESSION: Very touching Very engaging = Loved it! Plus, although the author, Bonnie, tells an interviewer, Pandora, at the end that she knew little about chemistry upon starting this book, the story inspires an interest in chemistry.

AUTHOR: Bonnie Garmus. From Amazon:
“Bonnie Jean Garmus (born April 18, 1957 in Riverside, California) is an American author and former copywriter.

Garmus is from Seattle.[1] She has worked as a copywriter and creative director in the US, and has lived in Switzerland and Colombia.[1]

In April 2022, her debut novel, Lessons in Chemistry, was published.[2] The Guardian noted its "polished, funny, thought-provoking story ... it's hard to believe it's a debut".[2] The New York Times commented on its "entertaining subplots and witty dialogue".[3] Olimpia Mamula Steiner, a professor of chemistry, praised the book profusely:

Once you start it will be difficult to put down, as soon as you finish a chapter you immediately want to read the next one, it's almost addictive.[4]

As of January 2022, Lessons in Chemistry had been sold into 35 territories and has a television adaptation in production at Apple TV starring Brie Larson.[5] Éditions Robert Laffont published in May 2022 a French translation under the title La Brillante destinée d'Elizabeth Zott.[6] The book was shortlisted for the 2023 RSL Christopher Bland Prize.[7]

Garmus is married, with two daughters, and lives in London.[1] She enjoys open water swimming and has rowed competitively.[1]”

--Oh look! In Wikipedia, there’s a picture of her with a greyhound dog! Now I like her even more. ( )

I am slightly conflicted over Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. There were some aspects of the book that I loved, while there were others that I definitely didn’t. This debut novel tells the story of Elizabeth Zott, who becomes a celebrated cooking show host in 1960s Southern California. Although she considers herself to be a scientist who specializes in chemistry, the world at that time liked to place women in the role of housewives and mothers.

I had some difficulty warming to Elizabeth as I found her to be too obtuse and stubborn in how she presented herself and perhaps too exceptional to be relatable. In her constant bid to use the power of science to bring about changes she had the tendency to plow over everyone. The story became quite repetitive and I was constantly hoping to see the discrimination and sexual abuse addressed a little more seriously than it was.

On the other hand, Lessons in Chemistry is very witty and intelligent. It paints an interesting picture of the early days of affirmative action when societal norms desperately needed an overhaul. The author also wisely supplies some very endearing secondary characters like Calvin, Harriet, Madeline and especially the lovable dog, Six-Thirty. So mixed reaction but overall an absorbing and interesting read. ( )

Lessons in Chemistry is a timely lesson in dealing with the indignation of injustice. Through Elizabeth’s eccentric story—where half the time you’re incensed on her behalf as a female scientist in the 1950s and ‘60s and the other half you’re laughing at the dark, deadpan humor—we learn how to deal with broken systems without becoming broken victims. It’s really a beautiful, zany story about life: challenge and change and courage and chemistry.

This book is everything. Reading it felt like an amalgamation of watching a Wes Anderson film and reading Fredrik Backman’s “Anxious People,” while also being completely original and organic. I laughed; I cried; I felt a gamut of emotions: caustic ire, sorrow, protectiveness, joy, hope. It’s all here—all the properties needed for the best kind of chemical reaction: a perfect read.

Here’s just a sampling of what I loved:
( )

Read on audio. A very popular book that was getting all the buzz in the last year, as well as a series on Apple. Set in the late 50's, Elizabeth Zott is a highly intelligent woman, who has to deal with the misogyny of the times. She's expelled from a doctoral program because she was a victim of assault by her advisor, she gets a lab tech job, but when her famous chemist boyfriend passes away, she's fired as being because she's going to be an unwed mother. Through circumstances she becomes a famous host of a cooking show, despite all the push backs of her male superiors. And in the end, because it makes perfect sense 😁, she leaves her cooking show to go back triumphantly to her life as a research chemist and all is figuratively right with the world. A very good read. ( )