A review by zzfinch
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

challenging funny informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A curious plot- I did not know what turn the book was going to take or what the main focus would be ; this as well as the omniscient perspectives interchanging constantly kept me on my toes. Elizabeth is inspiring, stubborn, smart, and multidimensional as all women are and need to be reminded. I would advise a trigger warning in the very beginning for graphic SA. Bonnie Garmus details the complex pain of womanhood in society that unfortunately still exist, but Elizabeth prevails and inspires many others to, too. The last hour of the book lost my interest a little bit and is the only reason this isn’t getting a perfect rating, but I understand the necessity of tying up loose ends. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death and Religious bigotry

Minor: Suicide

I think the last hour tying up loose ends about Calvin was obviously necessary but I wish it had been squeezed somewhere else, because the ending of Elizabeth saying “class dismissed” felt much more like a conclusion and could’ve been the very end.

“I think [religion] lets us off the hook. I think it teaches us that nothing is really our fault; that something or someone else is pulling the strings; the ultimately, we're not to blame for the way things are; that to improve things, we should pray.” -Elizabeth Zott on religion and dismantling systems made to control us