Lessons in Chemistry | Bonnie Garmus

"courage is the root of change—and change is what we’re chemically designed to do."

       It’s November 1961 and chemist Elizabeth Zott, who works at the Hastings Institute, has fallen into a TV role hosting ‘Supper at Six’ and has become an unlikely star. But she is not fulfilled…

    In 1960, after her traumatic experience at UCLA, Elizabeth Zott starts working at the Hastings Research Institute, which is filled with a male workforce that ignores her enthusiasm and hard work. She is the only one who views herself as a chemist. Her male colleagues cannot get past the fact that she's a woman, and treat her more as a secretary and doormat, acknowledging her only long enough to steal her work. Only one person sees her and shows respect for her accomplishments: an aspiring, Nobel Prize-nominated, grudge-holder named Calvin Evans. He is a prickly recluse who chose a lowly institution as the Institute for his research so he’d be able to row, of all things. The first time they met, he thought she was a secretary, and the second time they met, he vomited on her. Charming, huh? There is nothing ordinary about their love story. These two are soul mates. They are great minds alike. They are the quirkiest, most unconventional couple. They row together. They do research together. They adopt the ugliest and most loyal, incredible dog and name him Six-Thirty. They were happy, even though Elizabeth rejected marrying him because she wanted to become an independent scientist without being acknowledged for her husband's contributions.

    But life is unexpected, and so a few years later, Elizabeth is on her own, trying to work as a scientist at a lab in her home, as she earns a meager income as a consultant for scientists who need and want her help, but it’s not enough to provide for herself and her daughter, Mad. Her child is a four-year-old, extra-smart, one-of-a-kind, sweetest girl. And through happenstance, and a desperate producer’s encouragement, she ends up as the host of a cooking show "Supper at Six.". She teaches women to use chemistry not only in their kitchen but in their entire life to embrace change and challenges. But in her heart, she still desires to be truly seen as a chemist, continuing the research she started with Calvin.

    Despite things seemingly going well, Mad thinks her mother is unhappy, and her homework to create a family tree pushes her to search for more information about her father's past. She has no idea that her search will uncover many long-kept secrets.

    I loved the author's extra-intelligent, dark, original sense of humor, that balanced out the serious themes of the book. It captures the times, the patronising way women are treated, the assumptions, the blatant sexism and abuse which shocks you to the core even though you know it’s all true. I absolutely loved how no-nonsence Elizabeth is and how she sees everything so scientifically and is able to cut to the core of every situation. She's fearless in the face of adversity, she stays true to herself, and she never lets others intimidate her into being less than all she can be.

    I am eager for this author to write more so I can get lost in her world again, give myself over to anger and fury but somehow come clean out at the end.