From the Bookshelf of 2025 Reading Challenge…

Lessons in Chemistry

Bonnie Garmus

Start date: May 1, 2023

Finish date: May 31, 2023

Discussion: September 2025 Group Read

Why we're reading this: Group Read for May 2023
[close] Group Read for May 2023

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September 2025 Group Read

The House in the Cerulean Sea: Pre-Reading Discussion
By Winter , Group Reads · 7 posts · 33 views

last updated Sep 17, 2025 05:32AM

The House in the Cerulean Sea: Reviews by 2025 Reading Challengers
By Winter , Group Reads · 4 posts · 29 views

last updated Sep 14, 2025 10:27AM

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What Members Thought

Jun 20, 2022 Tanya rated it really liked it

Shelves: format-audiobook, 2022

“Whenever you feel afraid, just remember. Courage is the root of change - and change is what we're chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others' opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into useless categories of sex, race, economic status, and religion. Do not allow your talents to lie dormant, ladies. Design your own future. When you go home today, ask yo “Whenever you feel afraid, just remember. Courage is the root of change - and change is what we're chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others' opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into useless categories of sex, race, economic status, and religion. Do not allow your talents to lie dormant, ladies. Design your own future. When you go home today, ask yourself what YOU will change. And then get started.”

This book was one I want both of my daughters to read and I am so excited it it going to become a TV series (starring Bree Larsen). The main character was the best, along with her dog, 6:30. I felt a little thrown off how the book started off in the present, then went into the past at length. But it has so many wonderful ideas and the protagonist challenges how the patriarchal society is in all aspects of life. I think it’s ironic how her celebrity came in a traditional role, but one she gave much flare by treating it as lessons for other women. It actually was very effective. There was a bit of a mystery in the past too and I like how disparate threads came together. I really like to ponder the question, “who are we, as women, capable of becoming?

Now…for the many other quotes that give me pause for thought and I hope inspire others too:

(On religion) "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; the 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.”

“Some things needed to stay in the past because the past was the only place they made sense.”

“And as humans, we’re by-products of our upbringings, victims of our lackluster educational systems, and choosers of our behaviors. In short, the reduction of women to something less than men, and the elevation of men to something more than women, is not biological: it’s cultural. And it starts with two words: pink and blue. Everything skyrockets out of control from there.”

“what I find interesting about rowing …is they it’s always done backwards. It’s almost as if the sport itself is teaching us not to get ahead of ourselves…actually, when you think about it, rowing is almost exactly like raising kids. Both require patience; endurance, strength, and commitment. And neither allow us to see where we’re going, only where we’ve been, I find that very reassuring, don’t you?”

“Imagine if all men took women seriously. Education would change, the work force would revolutionize, marriage counselors would go out of business.”

“When women understand these basic concepts [of chemistry and the real rules that govern the physical world], they can begin to see the false limits that have been created for them, artificial cultural and religious policies that put men in the highly unnatural role of single sex leadership [a lip-sided approach].

“Chemistry is change and change is the core of your belief system, which is good because that’s what we need more of-people who refuse to accept the status quo, who aren’t afraid to take on the unacceptable.”

...more

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Aug 30, 2022 Chai rated it it was amazing

What an interesting book! I loved the weaving of science, cooking, rowing, feminism. It was comforting to see how Zott created a family from thin air. I appreciated the character’s tenacity, courage, and conviction. Mad made me smile and Six Thirty added to my dog craving. I’ll be sending this book to family members.

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Mar 24, 2023 Mary Pat Lambert rated it liked it

Shelves: 2023-read

I know I'm in the minority on this, but I wasn't a fan of this book. I didn't care for the author's writing style and the storyline seemed somewhat forced. I considered not finishing it, but I kept thinking it would catch my interest. Unfortunately, it didn't. ...more

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Jun 11, 2023 Beckey rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2023

I don't know who described this book as "laugh out loud funny". It is not. Not once did I laugh out loud, or even chuckle to myself. What it is, is heartbreaking, frustrating, engaging, and wonderful. ...more

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