Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Title: Lessons in Chemistry

Author: Bonnie Garmus

Release Date: March 31, 2022

Length: 400 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

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***My Review***

A talented scientist in the 1960s is the subject of the book Lessons in Chemistry. The only issue is that the woman’s body houses the intellect. Not just any lady, but an unusual one who doesn’t care about getting married or taking on the other standard household responsibilities. In the early 1960s, when Elizabeth Zott became a chemist, women were scarce in the profession. She is independent-minded and unyielding, refusing to follow expectations.

Calvin Evans, a brilliant Noble Prize contender who also works at Hastings, has his enormous lab where he is free to accomplish anything he wants and garner even more recognition. Both Elizabeth and Calvin don’t give a damn about how people feel about them; all they want to do is be left alone to perform their jobs. Nevertheless, they are not treated equally.

When they first meet, sentiments begin to develop. It isn’t love at first sight, but it’s fairly close. Do they have a chance for a happy ending?

She eventually finds herself with a kid who lives in the suburbs, though, as one thing leads to another. Her interest and skills in chemistry are wasted because of the gender norms prevalent at the time, and eventually, she gets a nightly television program where she teaches other women how to cook. Will she ever be able to use her talent in chemistry again?

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus was quite intriguing. Because even though the narrative appeared to be very simple and there wasn’t much occurring, I had a strong impression that I was putting together a jigsaw as I read this book. I was glued to the pages as the puzzle’s gradual completion revealed a larger image.

This look into the life of a female scientist in the 1960s was fascinating and disturbing at the same time. From this vantage point, everything seemed so unjust. Elizabeth was clever, hardworking, and brilliant. She was nonetheless ignored, denigrated, and treated poorly just because of her gender. She experienced sexual harassment and misogyny, and I cannot even begin to understand how difficult it must have been for her. Given that some of the issues still exist today, it was an excellent glimpse into the past.

However it must be mentioned that Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus doesn’t have a purely feminist stance. Its goal is to emphasize the fact that, given the chance, people of all genders are capable of doing anything. The system has always had holes in it. More often than not, though, less. Perhaps the person must truly come up with something from scratch. despite all odds.

Furthermore, sexism wasn’t the only terrible problem that women had to deal with in the 1960s. This book also sheds light on the Catholic Church’s corruption and its manipulation of women.

Lessons in Chemistry features a ton of well-developed and fascinating characters, starting with Elizabeth Zott. She is a chemist, which was uncommon in the 1960s, and she has had to struggle at every turn. She continues to receive lower pay, and her male coworkers abuse her horribly. Something that, particularly in many developing nations, we still deal with today.

Other peculiar characters in this narrative include the neighbor Harriet, whose character is genuinely astonishing, the precocious Mad, the daughter of Elizabeth, and the dog Six-Thirty.

If you are looking for an unconventional story with a genuinely unique protagonist, you should meet Elizabeth Zott, a 1960s lady who enjoys being a chemist at a time when women were expected to be housewives and obedient.

There is a lot of humor in Lessons in Chemistry’s narrative, loads of thought-provoking conversation, and lots of endearing characters. That is more than enough to maintain your attention throughout.