Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel

My review: This book can fix lives. That said, there’s some other stuff I want to talk about. When I picked up this book, a few people I know who’ve read it insisted that it wasn’t funny or relatable. They said the main character felt unrealistic and that she sounded like someone who time-traveled from the 2020s to the 1960s. They thought it was totally absurd for a housewife with four kids to just decide to go to medical school and become a doctor because of a TV show, calling it the worst kind of feminism. Those were the main criticisms, but there were others too. I wanted to share my take on all this. Have I met someone exactly like Elizabeth in real life? Not really. Maybe she exists, maybe she doesn’t, but I’ve seen pieces of her in my grandma, my mom, myself, and lots of other women I know. Have I felt or acted like her in similar situations? Absolutely, in so many ways. Characters are just that—characters—and they are sometimes exaggerated. This story is not solely about just one woman, it is about a broader experience. If we can connect with even a part of what the character felt or went through, then it’s real for that moment. I don’t think there are many women, or even men, who can say there’s not a single experience in those nearly 400 pages that we haven't gone through or heard about. There are plenty of examples of women who have chased their passions, like becoming doctors later in life. So, is it really that ridiculous, or are we limiting our views on women like people did back in the 1960s? Plus, as younger women, we sometimes forget that our discussions about feminism and our voices today aren’t entirely our own; there were women before us who battled tougher struggles and made their voices heard so we could shine now. To dismiss the character’s voice as contemporary rather than reflective of the 1960s undermines the courage and contributions of the women who paved the way for us. It’s important to recognize that many women weren’t really heard in the 1960s or even before social media took off. Our understanding of them comes from popular media and selected pieces of literature, which means we might not get the whole picture of who they truly were. While the details might not always be totally accurate, the issues raised in the book are still very relevant and relatable for us today!

I really liked this book! I just recently read The Nightingale so I don’t think I can give any other book 5 starts unless it moves me like The Nightingale. Still, I think this is a good book and a good read! EZ is a strong woman. She’s smart, tough, and compassionate. I loved the way it was narrated. I loved the dog bits! I also really enjoyed the chemistry aspect of it and the overall message: women can do anything they set their minds to. Is this a book I would read again? Probably not. Would I recommend to other people to read? Absolutely!

Interesting, a little sad.

Interesting book

Loved this book. Strong female character, ahead of her time, challenging gender norms . . . right up my alley.