Book Review: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Rating: ★★★★☆(4/5)

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Introduction:

Released April 2022. Read February 2025.

I was a Radio/TV and English double major. In the English department the overwhelming majority of students were females. However, when you looked at the film studies classes, the men started to overtake us. In my Radio/TV major you could be a performance major or could focus on the production side of things. I was one of only a couple females that chose the later. I didn’t want to be the glowing made up face of the morning news. I wanted to study film studies and radio production. It made me an oddball with my classmates.

I was also a lot younger than a lot of my peers too which didn’t help. The RTV section loaned itself to older classmates who were going back to school in their 30s or 40s while I was barely in my 20s. It meant I had a bunch of dudes who were over a decade older than me trying to tell me what to do in our group projects. Ironically, I was one of the few to make the majority As with a few Bs while the rest lived by the ‘Cs get degrees’ motto. Ten years removed from graduating I am an Audio/Video teacher who has also run her own production company for weddings. Most of my colleagues now work outside of the RTV sector. Turns out being a macho man can only get you so far in this field.

Enter Elizabeth Zott into the chat. A woman I so greatly relate to. She is struggling through working in a STEM field in the 1960s. It feels like somethings haven’t changed much. Women are still expected to run the household even if they are working. They are not taken as seriously as their male counterparts or have to watch their wording to not be called emotional or dramatic. This book played out like a film in my mind and I was ecstatic to see it had also been made into a limited series.

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Summary: A Brief Overview (Without Major Spoilers)

From Good Reads:

The novel addresses the challenges faced by women in the 1960s, particularly in male-dominated fields like science, through the story of Elizabeth Zott, who confronts systemic sexism and discrimination that reflect broader societal issues of class and gender inequality. Education emerges as a crucial tool for empowerment, illustrating how knowledge can defy societal norms and enhance one’s socio-economic status. The novel subtly critiques capitalist structures that restrict women’s roles and opportunities, portraying Elizabeth’s struggles against societal expectations as a challenge to the patriarchal norms of her time. Ultimately, the narrative explores personal and professional conflicts within a larger context of class struggles, highlighting the determination of women striving for equality.

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What Worked for Me:

Boss Energy: Elizabeth was a bad ass of a character. I loved her energy.

Zott prevailing even in adversity. She went through it. Over and over again she was handed the raw end of the deal. She didn’t let it keep her down.

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What Didn’t Work for Me: Trigger Warnings and Criticisms

The misogyny. It was hard to swallow. From a rape scene that tried to turn the blame around onto the victim to men constantly questioning Zott’s intelegence. It was just really hard to stomach. I had to put the book down to let my rage simmer down.

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Final Thoughts:

This is a great read. If you want a read that’s not all about romance or fantasy then this is a great break from the pack. It feels like historical fiction because this could so easily be a real story. I loved the pacing and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something other than a beach read.