Lessons in Chemistry

by Bonnie Garmus

She’d faced tough things before. She would weather what came. But weathering is called weathering for a reason: it erodes.

Rowing a pair with Elizabeth. How glorious! “No.” “But why?” “Because. Women don’t row.” But as soon as she’d said it, she regretted it. “Elizabeth Zott,” he said, surprised. “Are you actually saying women can’t row?” That sealed it.

She as in banshee, Six-Thirty explained.

Between the hours of one thirty-one and four forty-four p.m., productive life as we know it ceases to exist. It’s a virtual death zone.”