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What’s it about?
Elizabeth Zott is a chemist- but unfortunately in 1952 this is no easy role for a woman. While we follow Elizabeth from graduate school, to work, to motherhood we begin to see what a hard road it was for women back in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
What did it make me think about?
I see why this seems to be the “IT” book of the summer.
Should I read it?
I love a novel with a sense of humor and this book never takes itself too seriously. Even though it touches on very serious subject matter. Elizabeth Zott is quite a literary character. I so enjoyed seeing the world from her perspective. What an easy way to introduce a whole new generation to women’s roles in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is hard now to believe that women ever had to live and work in this environment. I would guess this will be the book club pick for 2022-2023. It is a fun, easy book, that allows for some good discussions.
Quote-
“She’d recently read about some country where both parents worked and took part in raising the children. Where was that, again? Sweden? She couldn’t remember. But the upshot was, it functioned very well. Productivity was higher; families were stronger. She saw herself living in such a society. A place that didn’t always automatically mistake her for a secretary, a place where, when she presented her findings in a meeting, she didn’t have to brace herself for the men who would invariably talk over her, or worse, take credit for her work. Elizabeth shook her head. When came to equality, 1952 was a real disappointment.”
What’s it about?
Elizabeth Zott is a chemist- but unfortunately in 1952 this is no easy role for a woman. While we follow Elizabeth from graduate school, to work, to motherhood we begin to see what a hard road it was for women back in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
What did it make me think about?
I see why this seems to be the “IT” book of the summer.
Should I read it?
I love a novel with a sense of humor and this book never takes itself too seriously. Even though it touches on very serious subject matter. Elizabeth Zott is quite a literary character. I so enjoyed seeing the world from her perspective. What an easy way to introduce a whole new generation to women’s roles in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is hard now to believe that women ever had to live and work in this environment. I would guess this will be the book club pick for 2022-2023. It is a fun, easy book, that allows for some good discussions.
Quote-
“She’d recently read about some country where both parents worked and took part in raising the children. Where was that, again? Sweden? She couldn’t remember. But the upshot was, it functioned very well. Productivity was higher; families were stronger. She saw herself living in such a society. A place that didn’t always automatically mistake her for a secretary, a place where, when she presented her findings in a meeting, she didn’t have to brace herself for the men who would invariably talk over her, or worse, take credit for her work. Elizabeth shook her head. When came to equality, 1952 was a real disappointment.”
I really enjoyed this book. The characters, the female perspective, and the overall pacing of the book had me hooked!
Group enjoyed the read and good discussion on sexism and struggle as a women to be heard in work place .
After reading several thoughtful negative reviews I had decided Lessons in Chemistry was probably not for me. Then my book club chose it as our October pick so I decided to go ahead and read it for myself. I have to say as a Christian it saddens me that this book is so popular with it’s clear message that atheists are the smart ones and anyone who believes in God is at best naive and at worst corrupt or just plain stupid. The ever present atheist themes aside I found the novel overall mildly amusing and enjoyed Elizabeth and Calvin’s sweet romance. The story itself demonstrated well how women in science were not taken seriously in that time period. I did think Elizabeth’s constant feminist lectures a bit unnecessary.
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