delz's review
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Women in STEM were a rarity in the 1950’s/1960’s, that’s when Elizabeth Zott’s story takes place. Elizabeth Zott is a chemist when women suffered egregiously from misogyny in the backwards culture that existed in much of the world at that time(not that things have changed all that much). Elizabeth is unrelenting in her beliefs as a scientist, an atheist, more specifically as an independent woman. However she meets fellow chemist, Calvin Evans and falls in love. They share everything including rowing. There’s just one thing Elizabeth will not agree to and that is marriage. For me the beginning of this story(chapter 3) was difficult. I really feel there should have been a TW. That’s why my rating was a 4.5 and not a 5. Otherwise I loved the characters and the story. I especially loved the dog Six-Thirty and the little girl Mad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Misogyny
Minor: Vomit
kassie_rankin's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I heard mostly great things about Lessons in Chemistry. I was thrilled when I won the book in a giveaway from @blackgalsandnerdypals on Instagram.
Lessons in Chemistry follows Chemist Elizabeth Zott through her life. Starting in the early 1960s, we follow her career on an all-male team at a research institute, her relationship with her partner, parenthood, and an unpredictable career change that is daring to confront the status quo.
I really struggled with this book. Through all the promotions and recommendations, I saw it was ‘hilarious and fun.’ Which I just could not see or understand after the main character was raped within the first 50 (I think) pages.
What I enjoyed:
- The concept of the book is immaculate. We follow a woman in the 1960s and her life as a feminist, a scientist, a mother, and a television star.
- The covers. Both the US and the UK versions are glorious! I would own both cover options if I had enjoyed the book more. They both focus on the main points of the story, but it is interesting to see the different points that each focuses in on.
- Mad Zott. She was adorably cute. Reminded me of a gender-swapped Young Sheldon. Very excited to see her in the TV Show adaptation.
What I did not enjoy:
- I felt like Elizabeth was taken from 2023 and placed in the 1960s with her monologues.
- The dog’s POV. It’s a cute idea, just not what I wanted in this style of book.
I believe this book has its place on many bookshelves, just not my bookshelf…
If you have this book on your TBR, I recommend reading it to see how you feel and come to your own conclusion!
I will be watching the TV Show to see if I will enjoy it more because I love this concept!
*About the Show* When I read this book, I could only picture Brie Larson as the main character. I am very glad that she was cast.
I was not prepared for Calvin’s death. I did cry a lot. I felt heartbroken for everyone in the story.
Lessons in Chemistry follows Chemist Elizabeth Zott through her life. Starting in the early 1960s, we follow her career on an all-male team at a research institute, her relationship with her partner, parenthood, and an unpredictable career change that is daring to confront the status quo.
I really struggled with this book. Through all the promotions and recommendations, I saw it was ‘hilarious and fun.’ Which I just could not see or understand after the main character was raped within the first 50 (I think) pages.
What I enjoyed:
- The concept of the book is immaculate. We follow a woman in the 1960s and her life as a feminist, a scientist, a mother, and a television star.
- The covers. Both the US and the UK versions are glorious! I would own both cover options if I had enjoyed the book more. They both focus on the main points of the story, but it is interesting to see the different points that each focuses in on.
- Mad Zott. She was adorably cute. Reminded me of a gender-swapped Young Sheldon. Very excited to see her in the TV Show adaptation.
What I did not enjoy:
- I felt like Elizabeth was taken from 2023 and placed in the 1960s with her monologues.
- The dog’s POV. It’s a cute idea, just not what I wanted in this style of book.
I believe this book has its place on many bookshelves, just not my bookshelf…
If you have this book on your TBR, I recommend reading it to see how you feel and come to your own conclusion!
I will be watching the TV Show to see if I will enjoy it more because I love this concept!
*About the Show* When I read this book, I could only picture Brie Larson as the main character. I am very glad that she was cast.
Spoiler
I enjoyed the second half of the story more than the first half.I was not prepared for Calvin’s death. I did cry a lot. I felt heartbroken for everyone in the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Rape
lindsykay12's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, and Death
leckner_library's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Rape, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
jstarkey's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Great Book! Tells about how women were treated in the 1950’s & 1960’s. So glad we have come a long way. What a role model Elizabeth is to us all. She didn’t let societal norms dictate what she could and couldn’t do. Unfortunately, society at that time made it difficult for women to achieve their full potential. I will recommend this book to my friends.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
amco7047's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Rape
stephykay's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I am a woman in chemistry, so I assume that’s why this book was recommended to me. Although I finished the book, I found it deeply unsatisfying - it not enjoyable and I don’t think it was well written. I read parts and listened to parts. It didn’t help. Whoever the author consulted with is not a chemist working in the life sciences - guess what, there are many subdisciplines within the field of chemistry! The audiobook narrator should have worked with a scientist to learn how to properly pronounce scientific terminology.
The idea of the plot is fine, but the novel would benefit from additional polishing. I also want to add that simply throwing in a mention of Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights movement felt like a cheap ploy to pretend to introduce the issue of race.
The idea of the plot is fine, but the novel would benefit from additional polishing. I also want to add that simply throwing in a mention of Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights movement felt like a cheap ploy to pretend to introduce the issue of race.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Sexism, Car accident, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
Minor: Fatphobia, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Grief, Infidelity, Homophobia, Death, and Domestic abuse
jnterhune's review
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Really enjoyed this book, definitely some serious trigger warnings. I found some parts dark but found it really realistic and relatable. Very true life feeling story and interesting to see her journey through it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Rape
saramcaps's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The writing style is really unique. It’s a quirky sort of comedy that bounces between seemingly unrelated POVs—that is, until you get to the end and it all comes together marvelously.
I struggled a bit with the believability of certain things and the overall lack of character development. Elizabeth was introduced as someone “before her time” that the world needed to catch up to, but I would have liked to see that balanced with some lessons learned by Elizabeth herself.
It feels like the plot just sort of happened to the main character.
I struggled a bit with the believability of certain things and the overall lack of character development. Elizabeth was introduced as someone “before her time” that the world needed to catch up to, but I would have liked to see that balanced with some lessons learned by Elizabeth herself.
It feels like the plot just sort of happened to the main character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
sydneynorman's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Rape, and Suicide
Minor: Vomit