VIDEO 'Mad Men' didn't turn scientists into unlikely TV stars. But if they did ...The blockbuster of 2022, set in 1960s California, introducing the unique and unforgettable Elizabeth Zott.
Wonderful, rage-inducing but ultimately uplifting What an absolute joy Lessons in Chemistry was to read! I'm confidently expecting that it will become the feel-good hit of the season.
That said, it's not a book full of sunshine and kittens by any means - terrible and unfair things happen to the central character and her nearest and dearest on a frequent basis. But Elizabeth Zott is such an effervescent and inspiring character that one can't help but get caught up in her story and cheer her on.
While there's a delightful sense of wonder as we follow Elizabeth, her hilariously precocious daughter Mad and their remarkably perceptive pet dog, Six-Thirty, in their very untraditional - for the 1960s - lives, there is a deeper current to the story. Author Bonnie Garmus explores issues including sexism, gender roles, social mores around marriage and parenthood, the impact of childhood and family trauma, the importance of community and the courage necessary to stand up and change things for the better.
Any reader who believes in gender equality will feel rightly agitated throughout the course of the book, but it's ultimately an uplifting and heart-warming story, featuring a central cast of wonderful characters, doing their best when faced with some genuinely horrible villains.
I'd highly recommend Lessons in Chemistry to any reader, female or male, who enjoys mid-century historical fiction, luminous characters and the us-against-the-world trope. It's a fabulous read, to which I fear I really cannot do justice in this review. Sarah ,
Untitled a book that deals with very relatable situations as women growing up within a patriarchal society although set decades in the past. It’s witty, heartfelt, relatable, and interesting. I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it, although Elizabeth Zott does remind me of Esther Greenwood from The Bell Jar for both being unapologetically themselves. Garmus writes very real, well rounded characters although with their faults and humour it has a very authentic feel to the story, even if one of those characters is a dog. Although the main character deals with the traumas of life like judgement, grief, and misogyny she always finds strength within herself and comfort from the people she loves, it’s a book to read immediately especially with an ending that satisfying. - Jessica (QBD) Guest ,
