Lessons in Chemistry
Bonnie Garmus
Doubleday
Review: Karen Watkins
This captivating, thought-provoking debut novel missed my radar when it was published in 2022.
Set against the backdrop of the 1960s, it’s an easy read that blends personal resilience, feminism and science.
At its core, the story follows the journey of fictional heroine Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant scientist whose ambitions are stifled by the sexism of that time.
The naïve, beautiful Zott dreams of pursuing a career in the male-dominated field of science.
Instead her unyielding determination drives her to face numerous challenges and setbacks, including being cheated out of a doctorate, losing her job and the love of her life.
Penniless she agrees to host a television cooking show but she wants to do it her way. Zott uses the show as a platform to educate and empower women beyond traditional domestic roles. But her boss wants her to toe the line.
Once again, threatened with being fired, the show’s popularity prevents this as she builds a huge viewership.
The vividly portrayed characters are whimsical with Zott in the lead role as a fearless trailblazer challenging the status quo with her intelligence, wit and unwavering courage.
Husband, Nobel laureate and fellow employee, Calvin Evans is a kindred scientist, expert rower and the father of their daughter, Madeline. Later we meet Zott’s friend and neighbour, Harriet, who is trapped in a miserable marriage. There’s also a dog, Six-Thirty who Zott is teaching about 900+ English words.
This book covers a lot through its multiple layers. It’s entertaining, insightful, thought-provoking, hilarious and poignantly sweet, sad, clean and highly recommended. Garmus deftly captures the spirit of the era as an inspiring reminder of how far we’ve come but also how far we still have to go..
