From the Bookshelf of The Perks Of Being A Book Addict…

Lessons in Chemistry

Bonnie Garmus

Start date: April 1, 2023

Finish date: April 30, 2023

Discussion: Group Books of the Month (BotM)

Why we're reading this: Chosen by group members as our BotM for April 2023.
[close] Chosen by group members as our BotM for April 2023.

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What Members Thought

Apr 23, 2022 Esther rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: usa, strong-women, e-book, author-female, 20th-century, __net-galley, zz-2022, rav-bookclub-2023

I received this book from Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.

The story revolves around a woman, Elizabeth who encounters sexual discrimination in her work as a scientist but finds unexpected success as the presenter of a cooking show.

Although I suspected this book was a little out of my comfort zone, a bit too much of a ‘feel good’ story, it received so many glowing reviews I had to try it.

The most compelling sections of the story for me were those describing the patronising attitudes, ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

Mar 09, 2023 Jessica rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, listened-to, feminism-women

Elizabeth Zott is a female chemist and feminist in the 1950s. It's not easy because the world isn't ready to accept females in science. Despite her best intentions, she falls in love and becomes a mother, and then through a series of mishaps/happy accidents finds herself hosting a television cooking show aptly named "Supper at Six." Zott refuses to compromise her values, even for TV, and her show gains a huge following precisely due to Zott's unconventional for the time ideas. Garmus gave us a w ...more

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Apr 24, 2024 Sandy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2024-reading-challenge

I enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry so much!
I was born in the late 60's so I remember a bit of the time in which the book is set -- it's still hard to believe that women "couldn't be scientists" or "only boys can join the audio/visual club because it's too complicated for girls to understand" or "women can't be heart surgeons" mentality was so rampant. That women who had babies "out of wedlock" were considered "bad" girls and atheists were immoral -- it was such a different world!
But this is the time ...more

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Mar 11, 2023 Bruin Mccon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ucla-mention, library-ebook, death-of-a-parent, feminism, set-in-los-angeles, pub-2022

”People will always yearn for a simple solution to their complicated problems. It’s a lot easier to have faith in something you can’t see, can’t touch, can’t explain, and can’t change, rather than to have faith in something you actually can.”

Lessons in Chemistry’s protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, struggles to fulfill her talent as a chemist in post-war Los Angeles.

Big tw: sexual assault. This has to be the worst UCLA mention I’ve come across, where the rape of a student is covered up by administrato ”People will always yearn for a simple solution to their complicated problems. It’s a lot easier to have faith in something you can’t see, can’t touch, can’t explain, and can’t change, rather than to have faith in something you actually can.”

Lessons in Chemistry’s protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, struggles to fulfill her talent as a chemist in post-war Los Angeles.

Big tw: sexual assault. This has to be the worst UCLA mention I’ve come across, where the rape of a student is covered up by administrators who want to keep their big name researcher. Come on, fictionalized UCLA!

“According to Harriet, men were a world apart from women. They required coddling, they had fragile egos, they couldn’t allow a woman intelligence or skill if it exceeded their own.”

Things have improved (the civil rights movement is mentioned in this novel) in the years after this book was set. Yet, (white) women are sometimes still assumed to be unintelligent with skills suited solely for being a homemaker. A female chemist who doesn’t want to marry or bear children is not just an outlier but a threat. And this doesn’t take into account the greater America outside of this book, where the fight for civil rights continues.

“Exciting news. Today we’re going to study three different types of chemical bonds: ionic, covalent, and hydrogen. Why learn about bonds? Because when you do you will grasp the very foundation of life. Plus, your cakes will rise.”

There is a major dose of pain and sorrow in this novel, but it was for me unexpectedly hilarious throughout. The above quote comes when Elizabeth begins giving cooking lessons that are really, as the title suggests, lessons in chemistry. I would prefer this kind of info when reading the customary War and Peace-length recipe online.

“A pencil instead of a pen? Because unlike ink, graphite is erasable. People make mistakes, Mr. Roth. A pencil allows one to clear the mistake and move on. Scientists expect mistakes, and because of it, we embrace failure.”

Elizabeth’s dog, Six-Thirty, is a major character in the novel and any reader will adore his commitment to his family.

This is meant to be a feel-good novel in theory. IMHO, it is really about connection, found family, and what we each uniquely bring to the world.

ETA: Just listened to the One More Chapter podcast about this book and do agree with their take that the civil rights mention felt like checking a box after the book was written, not considering the actual Los Angeles during the time period. ...more

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