Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel

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.

Book club pick for September, questions after review. This was a fun book to read, and although at times the social issues felt like a sledge hammer pounding relentlessly, the book really makes one think about social norms and how far women have come in such a short time frame. 1950s - a time when women cooked, cleaned, mothered and may work as a secretary or teacher - but God forbid if you want to go beyond those limited choices! Elizabeth Zott wanted more, and she became a chemist. However, due to the norms of the day it was a constant battle against discrimination and condensation. She made me think of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, where she is very intelligent but lacks social skills. The story went into her relationship with a fellow chemist, and the unexpected consequences of falling in love, moving in together, and not conforming to society. Massive life events lead to her becoming the chemist on the popular tv cooking show Supper at 6, and eventually back to her correct path. While the ending seemed to wrap up things a bit too neatly, it was a fun journey and an unlikely quirky group of friends formed. I especially loved Six Thirty - the most common sense and practical of the group. Events at the end led the reader to make the normal assumption about who was controlling events, but she had a nice twist at the end. Elizabeth's wry and practical observations had me smiling and chuckling at times for this "Barbie" fashioned read. Book Club Questions for Lessons in Chemistry What is your overall impression of Elizabeth as a protagonist? Why was chemistry the right career choice for her? She enters a male-dominated field and it’s a constant uphill battle. Have you ever worked in a field like that and/or been in a similar type situation? Could you relate to what Elizabeth went through? How did her unusual upbringing and violate relationship with her parents impact how she approached relationships as an adult? What did you think about the eventual romance between Elizabeth and Calvin? Why were they a good fit, aka, full of ‘true chemistry’? Calvin proposes but Elizabeth says no. What was behind her reasoning for turning down the proposal? Why do you suspect the author decided to include the viewpoint of their dog, Six-Thirty? Let’s talk about Calvin’s death and how that changed everything for Elizabeth. When Elizabeth finds out she’s pregnant, she’s less than thrilled. She never planned to become a mother and with Calvin’s death, she’s now all alone to raise their child. In what ways did motherhood surprise Elizabeth? The story features a great supporting cast from the neighbor Harriet (who eventually becomes like an extended family member) to Elizabeth’s producer Walter (who becomes her best friend). Who was your favorite supporting character and why? Why did Elizabeth agree to host the cooking show? Why did the show resonate with women across the country? Why did Elizabeth eventually leave the cooking show? What are your thoughts about the reveal that Calvin’s real life mother was the one behind the funds to Elizabeth’s scientific research? What did you think about the ending overall? What happens next for Elizabeth? Did you feel like you learned any lessons or anything else from reading the novel? Do you have any favorite passages or scenes you would like to discuss?

Originally I gave this book five stars, but when doing an audit of my five star reads it didn't quite hold up. Would still recommend to most people since it's really a masterclass on misogyny in the workplace and clarifies what a lot of women in male dominated industries experience still today (on perhaps a more implicit scale than how explicit it was in the 50s). 4.5/5

Abysmal. I couldn't bare to finish it.

A unique character, resiliant and self confident, skills of brilliant minds.