Lessons in Chemistry 3.5 up to 4.0

[Susan]

Once I realized this was quirky, “light entertainment,” I mostly enjoyed it. In spite of the unrealistic, fantastical aspects (e.g., teaching the dog hundreds of words, a little girl reading The Sound and the Fury, a knowledge of chemistry unlikely in an auto-didact), I found myself getting angry over the misogyny and workplace sexism Elizabeth Zott endures. Elizabeth is a brilliant chemist but her career is hijacked by male co-workers and bosses who abuse her with the usual techniques – stealing her work, sexual harassment, and generally insulting her at every turn. Elizabeth ends up hosting a TV cooking show to make ends meet. Yes, it was too on-the-nose, but I know these injustices have happened to many women over the years. I agree with reviewers who complained at the lack of subtlety in the portrayals of the characters and issues; it’s almost a parody and some people do not like to see serious issues treated any way but seriously. I wished some of the details had been researched a bit more carefully -- pretty sure that, in 1961, no one except fictional Elizabeth knew that all humans share 99.9% of their DNA! This is not a serious story about women in STEM, in the 1960s or after, and anyone who expects that may be disappointed. But, in spite of these criticisms, I didn’t want to quit reading. The book kept my interest and aroused genuine emotions in me. I gave it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because it’s a debut novel.