A review by katyhosbein
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.25

I read this because I’m a chemist and other chemist bookish friends were torn between loving or hating it. I don’t get triggered by much and I think it’s because I’m extremely lucky to have not gone through a lot of singular traumatic events in my life. Even with that I was extremely annoyed with the trauma porn in the first third of the book. The story could have been equally impactful without some of the descriptions in the book.
especially then graphic description of Calvin’s death. That was seriously unnecessary.
I was bored with the second third of the book, probably because I was so frustrated with the first third. The last third I actually really enjoyed. It had taken me months to get to the last third and then I flew through it in a week. 

I think one thing that really bothered me that made it hard to push through is that they portrayed Elizabeth as a stereotypical chemist. Socially awkward and only focused on her work. I assume she’s on the spectrum but maybe not written this way intentionally. 

The last part of the book is empowering. Like it’s nice to see the character pushing through boundaries and other parts of the story coming together but I was still a BIT bothered by the end because
the justice that gets her back into science is incredible privilege
but nevertheless it was satisfying to read.
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