Fiction

Lessons in Chemistry

Lessons in Chemistry

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-04-16 08:21:47
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Bonnie Garmus
  • ISBN：B098PW8NP8
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Summary

A delight for readers of Where’d You Go， Bernadette and The Marvelous Mrs。 Maisel， this blockbuster debut set in 1960s California features the singular voice of Elizabeth Zott， a scientist whose career takes a detour when she becomes the star of a beloved TV cooking show。

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。

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Reviews

Patricia Maher ，

I couldn't put this down。 A creative story with rich character development。 Loved it！ I couldn't put this down。 A creative story with rich character development。 Loved it！ 。。。more

Libriar ，

This book about a female scientist in the 1960's who ends up hosting a TV cooking show was such an entertaining historical fiction book。 The main character， Elizabeth Zott， is amongst my favorite book characters ever。 Elizabeth won't change for anyone and the world is a better place because of it。 The whole time I was reading this book I kept thinking that this needs to be made into a TV series and I'm happy to see that is in the works。 I can't wait to see this book come to life！ This book about a female scientist in the 1960's who ends up hosting a TV cooking show was such an entertaining historical fiction book。 The main character， Elizabeth Zott， is amongst my favorite book characters ever。 Elizabeth won't change for anyone and the world is a better place because of it。 The whole time I was reading this book I kept thinking that this needs to be made into a TV series and I'm happy to see that is in the works。 I can't wait to see this book come to life！ 。。。more

MaryBeth's Bookshelf ，

Where do I even begin。。。。thank you Doubleday for sending me an early copy of Lessons in Chemistry。 Even though it's only April， I already know this book will be a favorite of 2022。Elizabeth Zott is a woman ahead of her time， in every way possible。 It's the 1960's and Elizabeth works as a chemist。 In a field dominated by men， she is subjected to sexism， verbal abuse， and even assault。 Despite the hostile work environment， Elizabeth presses forward。 While looking for some materials that she needs Where do I even begin。。。。thank you Doubleday for sending me an early copy of Lessons in Chemistry。 Even though it's only April， I already know this book will be a favorite of 2022。Elizabeth Zott is a woman ahead of her time， in every way possible。 It's the 1960's and Elizabeth works as a chemist。 In a field dominated by men， she is subjected to sexism， verbal abuse， and even assault。 Despite the hostile work environment， Elizabeth presses forward。 While looking for some materials that she needs for her latest project， she meets Calvin Evans。。。。and let's just say there is a lot of chemistry （pun intended）。 But， Elizabeth is not one to lead a conventional life， and later finds herself hosting a cooking show on public television to support herself and her child。 This is quite a shift from her early days as a chemist， but Elizabeth manages to make it work and inspire others to want more for themselves as well。I honestly don't think I can do this book justice with a review， but please get yourself a copy and read it。 I don't know the last time I loved a book this much。 I laughed， I cried， I held my breathe。。。I loved this book， I loved Elizabeth and her strength， and I loved the family and support system that she built for herself; all the while never compromising herself， her values， or what she believed was right。 I feel like this book spoke to me on so many different levels。 I really can't believe this is a debut novel！ And， as if it couldn't get any better， it's been optioned for a movie adaptation。 Do yourself a favor and read this one - you will be glad that you did。 。。。more

Rachel Winter ，

Once in a while a book comes along that you can’t put down， that you ignore your family to read all day on the couch even though it’s a beautiful day outside。 I loved this book so much I’m sad it’s over

Carol ，

Unpopular opinion coming up！ It's like Molly the Maid all over again！It's the late 1950s and Elizabeth Zott is a research chemist at Hastings Research Institute in southern California although her male co-workers refuse to take her seriously。 All except Calvin Evans with whom she eventually begins a relationship。 A few years later Elizabeth is surprised to find herself the mother of a young child and the host of a cooking show on tv。Unfortunately I didn't love the book like a lot of reviewers di Unpopular opinion coming up！ It's like Molly the Maid all over again！It's the late 1950s and Elizabeth Zott is a research chemist at Hastings Research Institute in southern California although her male co-workers refuse to take her seriously。 All except Calvin Evans with whom she eventually begins a relationship。 A few years later Elizabeth is surprised to find herself the mother of a young child and the host of a cooking show on tv。Unfortunately I didn't love the book like a lot of reviewers did。 I liked Elizabeth in the beginning and felt badly about how she was treated in her male-dominated world but by the time we got to her cooking show she was starting to wear on me。 No matter how intelligent she was， I couldn't believe how oblivious she seemed as far as social niceties and appropriate behaviour were concerned。 And young Mad was just too precocious for me。 Six-thirty， the dog， I loved。 You know how you wonder what your dog or cat is thinking？ Well， Six-thirty is here to let you in on his thoughts。 There was a lot of man-bashing and faith-bashing which didn't bother me personally but might offend others。 The ending wrapped everything up in gift wrap with a bow on it; people got their just rewards and they all lived happily ever after。 Probably anyway。 I have to admit there were a couple of scenes near the end that got me a little choked up and I think the majority of people will enjoy the book so you should read it and decide for yourself。I think one of the things that affected my enthusiasm is that when I clicked 'Read Now' on Netgalley I didn't realize there wasn't an option to send it to my Kindle。 After attempting various devices I ended up reading it on my phone which was not fun。 It was actually easier than the previous time I had to do that because the formatting this time was great 。。。 it's just that the font is too small for these old eyes so I could only read a little at a time。 I can't believe the shelf app is Netgalley's recommended way to read。 Does anybody actually do that as a rule？ I'll be paying closer attention before hitting the button from now on believe me。My thanks to Doubleday Canada via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel。 All opinions expressed are my own。 。。。more

Natalie F。 ，

Fantastic！！

Lindy ，

There was so much I could relate to in this book， even though it was set in 1950s and 60s。 There were also some great characters， Elizabeth （MC）， Six-Thirty， Frask， Dr。 Mason etc。 I found it funny but also poignant。

Tracey M ，

DNF at 27%。 This seems to be a really popular book so maybe you’ll like it but it really wasn’t for me。 One-dimensional villains are one of my pet peeves and there were a few of them here。 Ultimately， there’s sooo much I want to read that I’m trying not to continue with books I’m not enjoying

Lauren ，

This was extremely charming。 If you enjoyed the writing， the dogs POV， the precocious child。 The vibe of the book， then I would recommend Maddie Dawsons last few books。

Jacky Schmeichel ，

Lovely compulsive read about the power of women

Laura ，

One of the blurbs on my copy of the book says "A novel that sparks joy with every page。" I wouldn't say that - it's largely sad and sometimes depressing。 But the writing style is what redeems it， and because of this， the 1950s-60s setting， and the main character being a chemist - it was very readable。 I didn't agree with everything in it - almost every person in this book is horrible to the main character， and every nice person is an atheist。 The book is anti-religion overall。 However， in spite One of the blurbs on my copy of the book says "A novel that sparks joy with every page。" I wouldn't say that - it's largely sad and sometimes depressing。 But the writing style is what redeems it， and because of this， the 1950s-60s setting， and the main character being a chemist - it was very readable。 I didn't agree with everything in it - almost every person in this book is horrible to the main character， and every nice person is an atheist。 The book is anti-religion overall。 However， in spite of this， I still liked the book very much and it was inspiring in a lot of ways。 I love odd main characters who don't care what anyone else thinks， and this book definitely has one。 。。。more

Megan ，

I enjoyed this book， but there are things that really bothered me about it。 First off， the main character， Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist， but is outspoken that she is an atheist and there is no place in science for someone who believes in God。 Second， all men are jerks。 Now， I enjoyed her writing and could look past it because I’m firm in my beliefs， but I still didn’t care for the condescending view of people of faith and of men。This book takes place in the late 1950’s early 1960s when I enjoyed this book， but there are things that really bothered me about it。 First off， the main character， Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist， but is outspoken that she is an atheist and there is no place in science for someone who believes in God。 Second， all men are jerks。 Now， I enjoyed her writing and could look past it because I’m firm in my beliefs， but I still didn’t care for the condescending view of people of faith and of men。This book takes place in the late 1950’s early 1960s when women were just to serve a man and look pretty but not contribute intellectually。 There were horrible things that happened to her—raped by her professor and then told to apologize by the police。 There are other really unfair things that happened but I liked that she was strong， even when things still didn’t work out。This book has the C word a couple of times。 I can’t remember any other language。 There is a rape and an attempted sexual assault。 There is mention of a suicide due to homophobia。 。。。more

adventuresinabookshop Jo R ，

Review to come

Cori ，

3。5-4 Stars。 I am so torn with this book。 It was hyped so much so I thought I would love it， but it just didn't impress me like I had hoped。 I did like Elizabeth Zott's character and she was ahead of her time advocating for women， but it wasn't as focused on the cooking show like I had hoped。 There were parts I loved and parts that lagged for me。 I listened and read and the audiobook narrator was fantastic！ 3。5-4 Stars。 I am so torn with this book。 It was hyped so much so I thought I would love it， but it just didn't impress me like I had hoped。 I did like Elizabeth Zott's character and she was ahead of her time advocating for women， but it wasn't as focused on the cooking show like I had hoped。 There were parts I loved and parts that lagged for me。 I listened and read and the audiobook narrator was fantastic！ 。。。more

Anita ，

I listened to the audio of this book and loved every minute。 Elizabeth Zott is so unique to women in the 1950s and early 60s。 She is smart and proud to be educated and independent。 When she falls in love it’s practical rather than swept up in romance。 I’m a series of sad events she finds herself single mom and working on TV as a host of a cooking show。 The people that come into Elizabeth Zott’s life are such inspiration， from a neighbor， a tv producer， a minister and also her dog， Six Thirty。 I I listened to the audio of this book and loved every minute。 Elizabeth Zott is so unique to women in the 1950s and early 60s。 She is smart and proud to be educated and independent。 When she falls in love it’s practical rather than swept up in romance。 I’m a series of sad events she finds herself single mom and working on TV as a host of a cooking show。 The people that come into Elizabeth Zott’s life are such inspiration， from a neighbor， a tv producer， a minister and also her dog， Six Thirty。 I love this book and the inspiration I felt。 “Children set the table。 Your mother needs a moment to herself。” 。。。more

Jana ，

Garmus wrote a book with such wit， humour， and humanity that it’s hard to put down。 Think a beach read， but with meaning， that pulls at one’s heart strings。 Anyone who is searching for a book for the summer with depth that is compelling and characters utterly engaging: here it is。

Nancy Mckenzie ，

Couldn't put it down。。。。Even though I don't feel good about Elizabeth being an atheist， I thoroughly enjoyed this book。 It is very well written and very entertaining。 Couldn't put it down。。。。Even though I don't feel good about Elizabeth being an atheist， I thoroughly enjoyed this book。 It is very well written and very entertaining。 。。。more

Diane Vallere ，

Loved！

Lisa ，

I loved this book！ It was so cute。。 honestly my favorite character was probably the dog - Six-Thirty！

Elizabeth ，

I loved this book and found it worthy of the hype - listened to as an audiobook in one day。 But I actually wished I read instead so I could have lived with the characters longer。 Set is 60’s so expect blatant sexism， also there is a strong through line of Religion vs Science so Gibbs may not like it。

Mikaela （Booklover1974） ，

For once I didn't put down a book I couldn't get into right away。 I thought about all the rave reviews I've read and hoped it would be better。 It certainly improved and at the end I loved it。 It's laugh-out-loud funny， surprisingly dark but also filled with love。 How can you not love a character like Elizabeth？ She doesn't cave for anybody or anything， she do what she believes in and that's admirable， especially during the 1950's。 Harriet， one of the characters， is a gem and reading about the in For once I didn't put down a book I couldn't get into right away。 I thought about all the rave reviews I've read and hoped it would be better。 It certainly improved and at the end I loved it。 It's laugh-out-loud funny， surprisingly dark but also filled with love。 How can you not love a character like Elizabeth？ She doesn't cave for anybody or anything， she do what she believes in and that's admirable， especially during the 1950's。 Harriet， one of the characters， is a gem and reading about the interaction between her and Elizabeth are five-star reading :） 。。。more

Barbara ，

Rounding up to 3。 I loved the first third of the book。 Then it took a turn and it became repetitive and boring。 Amazing dog character。

caitlin e。 ，

Review copy courtesy of Doubleday via EdelweissThis cartoon-y cover looks like it would have a contemporary romance inside， which may lead to misleading readers， so just a warning: this book is not a romance and has a very bummer death in the middle of the book。 However， it is a great fiction take perfect for “Mad Men” fans， as Elizabeth Zott， a chemist whose education and career is continually shut down by evil men， starts a feminist revolution with a cooking show。 The book is funny， witty， and Review copy courtesy of Doubleday via EdelweissThis cartoon-y cover looks like it would have a contemporary romance inside， which may lead to misleading readers， so just a warning: this book is not a romance and has a very bummer death in the middle of the book。 However， it is a great fiction take perfect for “Mad Men” fans， as Elizabeth Zott， a chemist whose education and career is continually shut down by evil men， starts a feminist revolution with a cooking show。 The book is funny， witty， and thought-provoking， just not what the cover looks like。 。。。more

Brian ，

In this very very charming novel， we meet Elizabeth Zott， a female scientist who is way way ahead of her time。 Elizabeth is a delightful main character who is unconventional for a woman living in the 50's and 60's。 The story has other fun side characters， such as the dog named Six Thirty， as well as her very very smart daughter。 This book was a joy to read from cover to cover。 It was engaging and had a lot of great characterization from nearly every character we meet。 In this very very charming novel， we meet Elizabeth Zott， a female scientist who is way way ahead of her time。 Elizabeth is a delightful main character who is unconventional for a woman living in the 50's and 60's。 The story has other fun side characters， such as the dog named Six Thirty， as well as her very very smart daughter。 This book was a joy to read from cover to cover。 It was engaging and had a lot of great characterization from nearly every character we meet。 。。。more

Michiganrachel ，

4。5 Loved this book！ Fun， interesting， and in the end empowering book。 I laughed， I cringed， and I cried。 The main character was fantastic - a little rigid， but smart， uncompromising and not afraid to try to do things her way。 Parts of the story may seem unrealistic， but at the same time those parts really enhance both the story and the character。 I listened to this book and the audio was fantastic。

Lies。l ，

Ein tolles Buch。 Mitreißend， lustig， emotional。 Eine tolle persönliche Reise mit einer unglaublich schrulligen， aber zutiefst ehrlichen und sympathischen Wissenschaftlerin und ihr Kampf um Anerkennung。

Barbara ，

Don’t mess with a woman who dons leaded pencils in her hair。 There’s a reason she has easy access。 Also， pistachio nuts…。。you will find an interesting alternative use of these yummy nuts that doesn’t involve ingesting。 Oh， and ergging…。now I know what that is！ Those， however， are not the reasons for you to read/listen to this story。 No， the reason is that debut author Bonnie Garmus has penned an intelligent story of a woman scientist’s quest for validity in the 1960’s。Elizabeth Zott was cheated Don’t mess with a woman who dons leaded pencils in her hair。 There’s a reason she has easy access。 Also， pistachio nuts…。。you will find an interesting alternative use of these yummy nuts that doesn’t involve ingesting。 Oh， and ergging…。now I know what that is！ Those， however， are not the reasons for you to read/listen to this story。 No， the reason is that debut author Bonnie Garmus has penned an intelligent story of a woman scientist’s quest for validity in the 1960’s。Elizabeth Zott was cheated out of her advanced degree and her scientific breakthroughs by men who could do so。 Only one man saw her capabilities and became her champion， Calvin Evans。 They met at a lab， and he valued her brilliant mind。 They became close; he was the first person she could relate to。 Sadly， she lost him in an accident， leaving her bereft and without financial income。 After he died， she had no champion and the powers-that-be （men） stole her work。After some brutal years as a lab tech doing the work of the lead scientists， she decides to seek alternative employment so that she could financially raise her daughter， Mad。 She takes on a TV cooking show and decides to make it about chemistry。 After all， cooking is all chemical reactions。 Well， I learned that my marriage is an ionic bond， and I got some helpful mushroom cooking pointers。 This is the year 2022， and I learned more stuff from her cooking show than I did in my college chemistry courses…or maybe she just made it far more interesting and thus retainable。 Elizabeth’s goal was to empower women with knowledge and confidence。 She encouraged woman to further their education and garner more self-respect。 Her shows are chuckle worthy。 Much of Elizabeth’s and Mad’s observations are entertaining。 Elizabeth and Mad aren’t the only compelling characters。 Harriet， a neighbor in a bad marriage， becomes a crucial part of the Zott’s household。 Walter Pine， her TV boss who is a good guy working in a sexist TV environment lends kindness when it is needed。 The family pet， a wonderful rescue dog named Six-Thirty will leave you cheering。 Sexism wasn’t the only horrendous issue facing women in the ‘60’s。 This book also illuminates the corruption of the Catholic Church and how it controlled women。 The Church wasn’t just corrupt with women， orphanages were a magnet to abusive clergy。 Author Garmus writes of the Catholic Church that I grew up with。 The sexism in this novel is something that my mother and her peers endured。 This is my favorite 2022 novel。 I will remember Elizabeth and Mad Zott for a very long time。 I laughed out loud。 I cried sad tears。 I rooted for Elizabeth， Mad， and Harriet。 I adored Six-Thirty。 I worried with Walter。 This is one of the best novels about gender equality that is written in a light-hearted and in equal measure serious way。 。。。more

Kate Reasoner ，

This book was great！ Easy to follow intertwined story。 Loved it！

Alli ，

there aren’t enough positive things i could say to describe how phenomenal this book is！！elizabeth sott is a chemist。 the only female chemist at her lab ， Hastings， to be exact。 navigating through the 1950’s and 60’s， elizabeth’s backstory is revealed up to where the story starts， elizabeth with the last two jobs she expected: a mother and the star of a cooking show。flipping between the perspectives of every character in the book， my jaw dropped multiple times while reading！elizabeth is a strong there aren’t enough positive things i could say to describe how phenomenal this book is！！elizabeth sott is a chemist。 the only female chemist at her lab ， Hastings， to be exact。 navigating through the 1950’s and 60’s， elizabeth’s backstory is revealed up to where the story starts， elizabeth with the last two jobs she expected: a mother and the star of a cooking show。flipping between the perspectives of every character in the book， my jaw dropped multiple times while reading！elizabeth is a strong， female lead and this book is so well written i absolutely loved it。 i had no clue what to expect before reading it and i think that almost made me love it more。 for fans of the marvelous mrs。 maisel and the seven husbands of evelyn hugo， pick up lessons in chemistry as your next read！ 。。。more

Joe ，

Maybe the best book I've ever read， definitely top 3， loved it。 Maybe the best book I've ever read， definitely top 3， loved it。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Lessons in Chemistry

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Lessons in Chemistry&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Lessons in Chemistry&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0