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lindseybarnett's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Death, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Death of parent, Cursing, Child death, Car accident, and Murder
kelly_e's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Author: Bonnie Garmus
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: March 31, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Unexpected • Vibrant • Empowering
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
Like science, though, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Eizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother but also 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 how to cook. She's daring them to change the status quo.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was instantly drawn to the cover of Lesson in Chemistry, yet without reading the synopsis the cover lead me to believe it would be something a lot lighter than it actually is. What this book is is an ode to women in STEM, an ode to single mothers, an ode to women in general, an invitation to challenge the status quo.
Elizabeth Zott is one of those characters that leapt off the page and really came to life. She is witty, independent, intelligent, and not afraid of ruffling a few feathers. I would love to be able to tune into her daily cooking show. From the start, I was drawn into her world and Bonnie Garmus' witty dialogue kept me going. Additionally, the cast of supporting characters was fantastic. Calvin Evans (the love interest), Mad (her daughter), and Six Thirty (her dog) are all fully flushed out and add so much to the story.
The plot is certainly dense, tackling a lot of important topics and at times it seemed a tad on the slow side, yet my interest never wavered. It just could have been 25-40 pages shorter. With that said, I loved how Elizabeth took control of her life, trailblazing her own path to success and love. It is a truly empowering story.
While I enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry, I definitely think the hype affected my overall reading experience. I was anticipating something great, and what it delivered was simply good. It gave me The Maid vibes, which I really liked. I also enjoyed the themes and gaining insight into what life was like for women in STEM in the past. Given this was a debut, I will be eagerly watching news of what Bonnie Garmus is writing next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of The Maid
• women in STEM
• book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Imagine if all men took women seriously. Education would change. The workforce would revolutionize,. Marriage counselors would go out of business."
"'That's why I want to use Supper at Six to teach chemistry. Because when women understand chemistry, they begin to understand how things work.'
Roth looked confused.
'I'm referring to atoms and molecules, Roth.' she explained. 'The real rules that govern the physical world. When women understand these basic concepts, they can begin to see the false limits that have been created for them.'
'You mean by men.'
'I mean by artificial cultural and religious policies that put men in the highly unnatural role of single-sex leadership. Even a basic understand of chemistry reveals the danger of such a lopsided approach.'
'Well,' he said, realizing he'd never seen it that way before. 'I agree that society leave much to be desired, but when it come to religion, I tend to think it humbles us - teaches us our place in the world.'
'Really?' she said, surprised. 'I think it lets us off the hook. I think it teaches us that nothing is really our fault; that something or someone else is pulling the strings; that ultimately, we're not to blame for the way things are; that to improve things, we should pray. But the truth is, we are very much responsible for the badness in the world. And we have the power to fix it.'"
"Actually, a humanist. But I have to admit, some days the human race makes me sick."
Graphic: Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Car accident, Homophobia, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Vomit, Death of parent, and Fatphobia
Minor: Pedophilia, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Violence, Abortion, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Mental illness
sibling deathvargo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Grief, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Sexual violence, and Suicide
amykenney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Grief, and Misogyny
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Death, and Bullying
Minor: Pedophilia, Vomit, Abandonment, Abortion, Blood, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Cursing, and Pregnancy
jillkaarlela's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
And if that wasn’t enough, the dog has its own consciousness and storyline, and we (as readers) hear the dog’s thoughts.
Age rating: 14+ (I would be wary of the fact that there are adult scenes, as it gets into detail about the harsh reality of being a woman in a male dominated field in the 50s/60s, so it includes brief descriptions of SA)
Minor: Sexual assault, Cursing, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
laheath's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Grief, Cursing, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
cwallace1005's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual assault
Moderate: Cursing, Suicide attempt, and Death
marlee621's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexism
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Death, and Bullying
micaelamariem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Rape, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Body shaming, Bullying, Gaslighting, Classism, and Vomit
Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Alcohol, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Suicide
ems_rxlibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
Moderate: Pregnancy, Infidelity, Suicide, Grief, and Death
Minor: Cursing