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A review by penguinna
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
You think life is unfair? Then you haven't heard Elizabeth Zott’s story. This young chemist goes through hell trying to achieve her goals in science, simply because she is a woman in the unjust male society of the 1950s.
But wait for it: not only does her career hit her hard, but so does her personal life. She is a single mother (in the 50s!) who not only has to support her daughter but also constantly prove to people that she is equally worthy with or without a husband.
Dealing with struggles, Elizabeth ends up becoming a TV host of a cooking show. However, she does it in her own way: seriously and scientifically. Everyone tells her that an average Jane will not understand anything, but in fact, Elizabeth empowers a whole generation of women.
Countless reviews describe this book as "a novel that sparks joy on every page." Well, I cannot agree with it. This is a tough story of a woman breaking her way through life even when everything is pointed against her. I made the pages wet with my teardrops several times. I felt immense pride, I felt devastated, I felt powerful. There were some moments when I had a smile on my face, but I would never dare to call this book "joyful."
"Lessons in Chemistry" is absolutely worth reading! Despite being a little naïve, the book is a total page-turner that you cannot put down. This is an emotional novel about life, about death, about love, about hate, and about surprises that come to us when we least expect them.
But wait for it: not only does her career hit her hard, but so does her personal life. She is a single mother (in the 50s!) who not only has to support her daughter but also constantly prove to people that she is equally worthy with or without a husband.
Dealing with struggles, Elizabeth ends up becoming a TV host of a cooking show. However, she does it in her own way: seriously and scientifically. Everyone tells her that an average Jane will not understand anything, but in fact, Elizabeth empowers a whole generation of women.
Countless reviews describe this book as "a novel that sparks joy on every page." Well, I cannot agree with it. This is a tough story of a woman breaking her way through life even when everything is pointed against her. I made the pages wet with my teardrops several times. I felt immense pride, I felt devastated, I felt powerful. There were some moments when I had a smile on my face, but I would never dare to call this book "joyful."
"Lessons in Chemistry" is absolutely worth reading! Despite being a little naïve, the book is a total page-turner that you cannot put down. This is an emotional novel about life, about death, about love, about hate, and about surprises that come to us when we least expect them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape