Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2022)
Fiction | Historical
Blurb:
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.
But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.
Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist.
Goodreads | Amazon
pooled ink Review:
Rage against the machine, Zott. Rage on and others will rage with you.
Chemistry (a favorite subject) + Cooking (nom) + Feminism (always)? A fantastic trio, but…to be honest I almost DNF’d this book. Why? I struggled to get into it at first. Why? Difficult to put a finger on why (also please stop asking why). The circumstances of the story/time were wildly frustrating and with a terrible headache I wanted to read anything but frustrating.
Secondly, Elizabeth Zott really wasn’t all that likable at first (To me at least. And, well, to a lot of characters in the book actually but they’re *ssholes and I really don’t prefer being lumped in with them). Or maybe in general throughout. But you get used to her, grow fond of her, and end up wildly cheering her on. And even when I wasn’t yet won over by her personality per se, I did always agree that she had a point and kept hoping beyond hope that somehow she’d succeed and rub their faces in it.
Thirdly, the writing is written in a voice firm with a grudge and honestly that was a bit annoying/wearying too no matter how deserved a grudge it was (and this story really has a very severely deserved grudge that builds and builds within just the first third of the book) and led me to skim through things rather than absorb every printed word… perhaps because I don’t usually read books to feel frustrated and this story included a lot of frustrations and it’s wearying to be trapped in that mind space for the eternity of a book no matter how understandable or historical or relevant today. A grudge against men, against society, against religion, against other women, against parents, against teachers, against every institution and system in America, against every this that and the other… It’s like Zott only ever came into contact with the worst the world has to offer. I’ve just never been good with people ranting and grudge-holding whether I agree with them or not. I tend to tune them out at some point. (My cup of negativity be always overflowing lol so I really don’t have room for someone else’s).
So back to why I almost ditched the book? Mostly it was probably the whole frustrating sexist circumstances + terrible headache combo. Neither of which were Miss Zott’s fault.
Anyway, I kept going because despite annoyances there was just something about the story that kept me reading. Plus it was the only book I’d brought with me to pass the time. I think for me it was when she starts the cooking show (sorry, Elizabeth, but it’s true) when I suddenly realized I was hooked. The way she used chemistry in the kitchen and didn’t dumb things down was always fun and science-y cooking shows like Good Eats have been the only ones I’ve ever found interesting. Well, those and The Great British Baking Show lol. Anyway, I stayed up late devouring the rest of the story without even realizing just how late it was or how much time had passed. And the ending? Promising and just satisfying enough to close it and feel a smile twitching my lips. Gosh this would seriously make a great movie.
If you even somewhat enjoyed the shows Mad Men or The Marvoulous Mrs. Maisel, then you’ll probably have a good time with this story as well. Although, the blurb says it’s “laugh-out-loud funny” and I think I only laughed once when she pulled out a knife and gave a man a heart attack. I think the humor in the story would probably translate better as a movie which, again, it should become one.
Cheers.
Random Footnote: Religion and Science can actually get on fascinatingly well (particularly within the field of physics though my high school chemistry teacher would argue for his field) and for once I’d like to see a story that actually includes that. It’s always Anti-Science or Anti-God. *rolls eyes* Come on, just dip your toe into the fascinating grey middle of the Venn diagram, people! ‘Tis vast and largely ignored! No takers? Fine, be predictably inflexible.
(Also it is frustrating when religion of any kind is introduced into a story just to be put down after repeatedly being incorrectly expressed and explained. It happens to all of them and I’m sure it’s just as irritating to the other religious communities as it is my own and it doesn’t help that men for millennia love manipulating religious texts into oppressive excuses. Religion and Science aren’t a battle, they’re a fascinating harmony. But sure, stay grumpy and afraid of each other. SMH.)
Meet Bonnie Garmus!
Bonnie Garmus is a copywriter and creative director who’s worked widely in the fields of technology, medicine, and education. She’s an open-water swimmer, a rower, and mother to two pretty amazing daughters. Born in California and most recently from Seattle, she currently lives in London with her husband and her dog, 99.
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