Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Lessons in Chemistry

The blurb and reviews on the cover dont really accurately explain what the book was about. I got the impression that its a funny book about a quirky scientist turned TV host in the 50/60s. It is hard to describe (it is literary fiction after all). I'd say somewhere between a dysfunctional found family story and a fictional idiosyncratic feminist biography.

It is written in a witty way, but I wouldn't say funny. The cooking show doesn't form much content of the book: it doesn't become a thing until halfway through and even then isn't much of the content. Be aware that the book from the beginning dives into dark themes: ca page 20 is a rape scene and not much later is a conversation hitting on themes of suicide, child rape, abandonment, death of parents etc. I understand why Garmus did this (as it occurred at the beginning of Zott's career) but it was too jarring, especially considering what I was expecting the book to be about.

Overall, I liked how it was written, though some scenes were a bit strange. Like the cafeteria scene was a bit strange to hear from the perspectives of people not otherwise on the book (and happening early on, nearly put me off the book) or the chapters from the dog's perspective too. I think if these chapters were cut, the book would have flowed a lot better. Sometimes they felt like Garmus was just trying to be quirky instead of give new perspectives.

This book has given me lots of food for thought.

Just so others are aware, this book focuses on the white straight woman experience only. I commend Garmus for not doing too many themes in the book, but just for readers to be aware, as it is a recent feminist book, but isn't reflective of third wave intersectional feminism.

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feelingpeachygreen's review against another edition

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funny inspiring sad medium-paced

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

I loved this so much that I read it in 24 hours. I wolfed the whole thing down. Greedily.

I absolutely adored Zott. I adored Harriet. I adored Mad. I loved them all.

<Spoiler>
There's tragedy and triumph and normally I don't like the Deus ex machina of a rich family member/spouse coming in and saving the day.

But this was just incredibly wholesome - and there's a fantasy element of this book that makes the unrealistic ending. Like the dogs communication tactics.

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brittbroadwood's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

This book felt like a similar vibe to hidden figures. There were points in the story I found myself getting a little bored, but overall very inspiring and honest depiction of women’s experiences (surprisingly similar to now)

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jaduhluhdabooks's review

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Truly exceptional. I felt so empowered and seen reading this book. As an academic, as a Black woman, and as someone who is reaching for some high aspirations in the world, I felt heard and understood. Elizabeth Zott is a chemist, an iconic, well rounded, and powerful chemist. This was a book about pursuit and tenacity and inevitability of resiliency that comes with the life of minority. It was profound in structuring the sexist and patriarchal systems of the 1900s. It was revealing of the quiet and brooding strength of the house wife and mother. It was striking of the pain and the weariness of the unlived reality that many men take for granted of the woman. It was a sobering reminder of just how far we have come and yet so much father we still have yet to go.

I am grateful for this book and for this story telling. I am proud of who I am and what I desire and believe it. This text grapples with questions I’ve consistently presented myself, especially as a person who believes in God. It’s real. It’s raw. It’s grasping. And I loved every second of it.

I think I would’ve appreciated a tie in of the racism talk angle with an actual person of color experiencing the depth that their intersectionality brings into the academic world and the societal. Other than that, this is a read I would 100% recommend.

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scmiller's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

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kjboldon's review against another edition

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fast-paced

3.0

Lots of trigger warnings. A fast read, often funny, weirdly shifting in tone, that felt rather packaged to me, like it had been forced into a similar narrative to Where'd You Go Bernadette? Excellent dog character and dog POV though.

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