Reviews

Lezioni di chimica by Bonnie Garmus

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aczafir's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

brookefradd's review against another edition

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3.0

While I enjoyed the story, the main character felt a bit preachy. It seemed rather than showing the her as a strong woman ahead of her time, she felt she really had to drive home the point by mini-lectures. The book was just okay. While I had it open, the pages turned easily and I flew through. But nothing about the book compelled me to pick it up.

knightkittyreads's review against another edition

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4.0

I resisted this book for many reasons - it had a crazy amount of hype, the cover was corny, I heard it was about a cooking show, I heard the dog narrates part of it, it’s about a woman in the 1950s/60s. Don’t make my mistake and deprive yourself of this book because of any preconceived ideas you may have.

Brief Synopsis - Elizabeth Zott is a gifted chemist and free thinker in a time when the world doesn’t expect, or frequently even want, women to have roles outside of societal expectations. She is attractive, intelligent, and ambitious but her passion is science at a time when it is expected to be babies and homemaking. Through a series of events and struggles, Elizabeth becomes the host of a cooking show. In her hands, the show teaches the audience lessons more valuable and far reaching than cooking

This is a book about chemistry, women struggling to find their place, and fighting for their rights to exist in those places. It’s about found family, aspirations, love, rowing, soul mates, and personal autonomy. There is even a thread of mystery. The characters are wonderful, quirky, despicable, sad, and relatable. Yes, one of those characters is a sentient dog.

Elizabeth is a person who wants the world to always be follow consistent rules, be logical, and make sense. Sometimes her refusal, or inability, to see shades of gray, or tone down her willfulness could be annoying, but mostly I was cheering “good for you!” I cringed when her employer called her Luscious Lizzy, felt sorrow when her heart was broken, raged at the constant unfair workplace treatment of the female characters, and celebrated the victories.

Six-thirty, the dog narrator, did not at all bother me like I feared and, in fact, his periodic observations and insights were charming and heart warming. He does not speak, we are simply privy to his thoughts on occasion.

The important themes of this book are not diminished because of the humor and the quirky characters, rather I felt that the themes were emphasized because of this contrast.

Do not mistake this book for something light and fluffy. There are many laugh out loud moments for sure, but there are also heart wrenching moments, and moments that made me both appreciate how much times have changed since the 50s and 60s and also lament how far there still is to go.

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