A review by jordyjor2013
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

3.0

I wanted to give this book two stars but what saved it was the scene where Elizabeth encouraged that woman to go to med school on her cooking show. That is what I came in expecting this entire book was going to be about but it wasn’t. First, was there a r*pe scene in the first few 20 pages of the book? I found it to be completely unnecessary, literally a jump scare. That slavery comment, comparing women’s subjugation to slavery was appalling. After reading that I knew there was not going to be any black ppl in this book. Literally where were they??? It’s the 60s they gotta be somewhere. This book lack intersectionality when it really would have benefitted from it. Here we see a woman, an scientist, facing the never ending odds of the patriarchy, in the science field, in the 60s! I felt that this book was nothing but white feminism and the author could have done wayyyy more to being diversity in the picture. The digs at religion where in my opinion sometimes a bit condescending, yes, we can be critical about religion, but some of the dialogue made it seem like the author wanted us to look down on ppl who believe in God. I did not connect with the characters as I do when I read books, for some reading I could not connect with Elizabeth. Was it because of her personality, or did it feel like she was transported from the 21st century idk. However, I did like Six-Thirty and I thought I was cute to get his POV. Again i wanted to give this book two stars but I have it three because of the few scenes that made me get this book. Women thriving in the face of adversity. Did I get that? Eh. Overall, this book was meh.