Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Book Review
LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY BY BONNIE GARMUS
✨BOOK FEATURE✨
Genre: Historical Fiction
Length: 400 pages
Publisher: DoubleDay
Publication Date: April 4, 2022
I read Lessons in Chemistry back in April and haven’t stopped thinking about it since! This is definitely one of the best new books I’ve read thus far in 2022.
Quick Synopsis: Set in the late 1960s, Elizabeth Zott is a no-nonsense chemist and single mother who is ahead of her time. After losing her lab job due to sexual harassment, she reluctantly becomes the star of a TV cooking show, called Supper at Six. The show becomes a huge hit and Elizabeth becomes something of a feminist icon as she teaches housewives how to use chemistry to improve both their cooking and their lives.
There were so many things I loved about this book. The dry humor along with Elizabeth’s witty one-liners (and general eccentricity) made this a fun and engaging read. I also LOVED Six Thirty - Elizabeth’s rescue dog - and particularly enjoyed the parts of the story that were told from the dog’s point of view. Not only is he incredibly insightful and intelligent, but many of his musings - and the way in which he interprets the human world - are quite hilarious.
While I would certainly classify this as a feminist book, a number of reviewers have pointed out that it fails to include or address intersectional feminism and instead focuses purely on white cis middle-class women. They certainly have a point, however, I viewed this focus more as a sign of the times rather than a purposeful exclusion. I also think we, as readers, can’t expect every book to check every single box. Which is partly why I think it’s so important to read a diverse collection of authors, stories and genres.
I highly recommend picking this one up! You'll definitely see this one on my end-of-the-year list of Top Ten Favorite Books of 2022. ;)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
TW: death of a loved one, sexual assault, misogyny, sexual harassment, sexism
Lessons in Chemistry is available now wherever books are sold. To purchase the book on Amazon, click HERE. Disclosure: Bookmarkparty receives a small (very small) commission on purchases made through affiliate Amazon links.
ALSO exciting news… the book is currently being adapted into a series for Apple+ starring Academy Award winner Brie Larson as Elizabeth Zott 🤩. Not only is Brie Larson starring in the show, but she is one of the producers as well (we love to see it!). Lewis Pullman - who you may know from Top Gun Maverick - plays Elizabeth's love interest, Calvin. The series has already begun filming (in Los Angeles) and Apple+ just recently released a few official photos (all photo rights belong to Apple)...
Brie Larson as Elizabeth Zott and Lewis Pullman as Calvin in the lab:
Elizabeth and Calvin with their beloved dog Six Thirty (my favorite character):
If you want more info on the specifics of the series, check out this recent article by Apple+ Press. I for one cannot WAIT for the show's premiere, which is scheduled for sometime in 2023.
