A review by alishav
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.25

We can learn more, we can go further, but to accomplish this, we must throw open the doors. Too many brilliant minds are kept from scientific research thanks to ignorant biases like gender and race. It infuriates me and it should infuriate you. Science has big problems to solve: famine, disease, extinction. And those who purposefully close the door to others using self-serving, outdated cultural notions are not only dishonest, they're knowingly lazy.

There was so much that I loved about this book - especially being a woman in STEM myself. I loved that a common theme in this book was women succeeding because they had support of other women (and vice versa - when women competed with one another in ugly ways, they both suffered). I loved that Elizabeth felt relatable. I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED Six-Thirty. My only qualm is that I often forgot (or perhaps couldn’t believe) that this book took place in the 1960s. Much of it felt like it was taking place much later, perhaps even present day. Regardless, loved it.
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