Title: Lessons in Chemistry
Author: Bonnie Garmus
Genre: Historical Fiction
Plot: Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist in the 60’s. She’s never been one to take no for an answer. She knows what she wants out of life. Her main issue is that none of her male colleagues take her or her work seriously. No one except Calvin Evans. They hit it off right away. Then the accident happens and Elizabeth is left alone with a dog and unexpected child. Now she must learn to survive and make a name for herself in the field of chemistry while raising a child. Her first break is a tv cooking show, Supper at Six. But she wants to do it her own way, cook with chemistry. Will it work? Or will she be pushed out of another field? Can she make it in a man’s world?
Rating: 4.0 – a different side of history and science
Opinion: This was a great book. It was written in a very matter of fact style, much like Elizabeth. It took me a little to get used to the small breaks in the main story to read a short backstory or side story about Elizabeth or one of the other characters. It was a bit jarring because it happened right after a bit of information was dropped, then the story stopped so you could get a backstory about what just happened or was said. I enjoyed learning about science and cooking, and the science of cooking. There were moments that made me sad, some that made me made, others that made me laugh, and some heartwarming moments. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction and a woman who won’t back down.
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