itsanniebaker's review
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexism
amy_park's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Not what I expected but a really good read. Going in, there was alot of hype, knowing many people read it during the summer. The cover implies that it would be a light read but don't be fooled! This book has a few dark themes!
I really enjoyed the emotional relationship between Elizabeth and Calvin, their story is beautiful and heartfelt. The writing on friendship and connection was my favourite part of the story, but the overall message of feminism was fabulous and quite refreshing for the time period. The novel is very visual and I can see why it would be great to adapt to screen. Maybe this novel would have been better as a screenplay? However this didn't deter my enjoyment. I would definitely recommend this book and will keep an eye out for future novels by the author.
I really enjoyed the emotional relationship between Elizabeth and Calvin, their story is beautiful and heartfelt. The writing on friendship and connection was my favourite part of the story, but the overall message of feminism was fabulous and quite refreshing for the time period. The novel is very visual and I can see why it would be great to adapt to screen. Maybe this novel would have been better as a screenplay? However this didn't deter my enjoyment. I would definitely recommend this book and will keep an eye out for future novels by the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Rape
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, and Death
akane_shio's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Grief, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
booksinherhead's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Absolutely incredible. Garmus has a way of writing characters that just pulls you into her book. For anyone debating picking this one up, you absolutely will adore Elizabeth and her journey as a chemistry researcher and a television chef. There is just so much heart in this book, I honestly can't put it into words. Just trust me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Death
Moderate: Body shaming and Vomit
Minor: Sexual content
tammitammo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book lit a fire under me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia
gracew23's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
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
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
alica2's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Overall a quick, enjoyable read! My mom left me this book after she was done with it, with her own glowing reviews as both a mother and a woman in science. I honestly wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did since literary fiction isn't typically my genre, but the punchy writing and breakneck pace really hooked me in. I was impressed with how deep the author made the character relationships feel despite the fast pacing, and also thought that the third person omniscient POV was fairly well done. The POV did take a little bit of getting used to though, and in some places I got confused and had to reread a few paragraphs.
I liked the characters, although one of my main qualms is that the main character, Elizabeth, didn't have any character growth over the story. She was always right about everything, and more often than not she felt like a mouthpiece for the views of the author moreso than a character that makes mistakes, reflects, and changes over the narrative (although I will admit she was at least a funny mouthpiece). One of the major themes of the book is feminism, but in the end all the book really has to say about it is that women shouldn't be treated any worse than men, which is an extremely surface-level takeaway. There was a complete lack of intersectionality as well, with a grand total of zero characters of color, which made the few moments the characters said something about supporting civil rights feel like a cheap performance of their superior morals. Personally, I'm also a little tired of how stories that attempt feminist themes often depict men in heavy-handed ways. Maybe that's just because I don't like reading about sexual assault and lewd comments though.
I had some other issues with the feminist themes of the book, including how few women friends and allies Elizabeth actually has and how Elizabeth seems to view herself as the only woman who dares challenge the status quo. Both of these were disappointing narratives to see go unchallenged in a book that is ostensibly about feminism, because I feel like they perpetuate the idea of being "not like other girls". The book ended with when in reality that's not how social change happens. I guess it's a nice fantasy, but again I would have preferred for Elizabeth to have dived deeper into her own internalized misogyny (which was barely touched on) and limited feminist perspective as a white woman (not discussed at all). Maybe she could have made friends with some women who were secretaries and wanted to stay secretaries but were also working for greater pay and better working conditions (and non-segregated workplaces!!) to show a little more intersectionality and the fact that social change is better accomplished together.
As it was, while I generally enjoyed the story and strong character voices, I would definitely take its framing as a feminist narrative with a huge grain of salt.
I liked the characters, although one of my main qualms is that the main character, Elizabeth, didn't have any character growth over the story. She was always right about everything, and more often than not she felt like a mouthpiece for the views of the author moreso than a character that makes mistakes, reflects, and changes over the narrative (although I will admit she was at least a funny mouthpiece). One of the major themes of the book is feminism, but in the end all the book really has to say about it is that women shouldn't be treated any worse than men, which is an extremely surface-level takeaway. There was a complete lack of intersectionality as well, with a grand total of zero characters of color, which made the few moments the characters said something about supporting civil rights feel like a cheap performance of their superior morals. Personally, I'm also a little tired of how stories that attempt feminist themes often depict men in heavy-handed ways. Maybe that's just because I don't like reading about sexual assault and lewd comments though.
I had some other issues with the feminist themes of the book, including how few women friends and allies Elizabeth actually has
Spoiler
(one woman around her age, Frask, is an antagonist until the latter quarter of the book when she shifts perspective, and the other woman, Harriet, is an older lady who helps take care of Elizabeth's daughter Mad)Spoiler
Elizabeth being treated as though her platform as a cooking show host gave women across the U.S. confidence to stand up against the patriarchy and pursue their dreams,As it was, while I generally enjoyed the story and strong character voices, I would definitely take its framing as a feminist narrative with a huge grain of salt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexism