Are you looking for a new feminist hero? Look no further than Elizabeth Zott in Lessons in Chemistry, written by Bonnie Garmus. Lessons in chemistry book review and why Elizabeth Zott is the ultimate book club hero! Leading the way for women in science and chemistry….. through cooking? This story is funny, sad, addictive and infuriating at times, as well as having feminist themes running through it. With International Women’s day fast approaching (8th March), this book is bound to be even more popular with book clubs. This is due to it’s engaging storyline and strong characters. There are plenty of discussion points about women in the 1960’s compared to now, and how much progress we have made with equality – and how much more there is to do.
“Courage is the root of change—and change is what we’re chemically designed to do.”
What happens in Lessons in Chemistry?
Lessons in chemistry is set in 1960’s America. A time when women were expected to be housewives, looking after the house and raising a family. Those that did work typically worked in certain roles, e.g. secretary or typist. Not Elizabeth Zott, she’s a chemist, and a good one at that! Treated poorly by men in the workplace, until she meets Calvin Evans and discovers a completely different type of chemistry. One thing Elizabeth is certain of, is that her work will not be overshadowed by Calvin’s.
Life is unpredictable though, and Elizabeth finds herself a single mother struggling to make ends meet. With a lab instead of a kitchen, her daughter was never destined for a conventional upbringing. Luckily, Elizabeth’s neighbour Harriet is there to support them both.
An opportunity comes up for Elizabeth to be the star of her own cooking show, Supper at six. As beautiful as Elizabeth is, she is also uncompromising and inflexible. She reluctantly takes up the opportunity, doing it as she sees fit, by making cooking a chemistry lesson. Pinch of sodium chloride anyone?
The women watching the show, learn much more than how to cook a family meal. They realise they can begin to change how they are seen in society. Women should share their knowledge and nurture their learning. They also realise they have a place in society beyond being a wife and a Mother. Boy, are they ready to claim it!
Is it all about feminism?
Although feminism runs through the book, it isn’t in your face. Instead it is a thread that runs through the background of the story. Without giving away any spoilers, Elizabeth Zott does not like to do as she is told. She doesn’t fit into the conventional mould of a woman in the 1960’s. On face value, she could come across as a bit of an oddball, rather than a feminist. During this period, feminism was going through a revival, with many women overturning gender roles and advocating for workplace equality. With this knowledge now, we know that there may have been many Elizabeth Zott’s in this era, but it was most likely still a rarity for most. In the book itself, it seems as though the culture for women is to put up and shut up. Especially in the workplace.
The book covers sensitive topics, with men not only being dominant in the workplace but physically and mentally dominating. I do feel the book should have a trigger warning as sexual assaults take place. They took me by surprise, and I can imagine it may be worse for others if this is a difficult subject for you. In the story these dominating men are overcome in different ways – again no spoilers! However I don’t feel these things would be so easily resolved and dealt with, especially not in that era. Which made me feel like I was reading it with rose tinted glasses. This book isn’t a happy story by any means though, grief is also a prominent theme throughout the book.
Friends
One of the themes I enjoyed was the friendships that Elizabeth built. She comes across as quite cold and unemotional. Despite this she manages to build deep and meaningful friendships with those around her. I particularly liked the relationship between her and Walter, I think it provided some good comedy value throughout the story. Managing as a single mother isn’t easy now, and I can imagine this would only have been worse for Elizabeth in the 1960’s. This would make these relationships even more valuable and important to her. Of course, I have to mention her best friend. Six-Thirty. The bond between Elizabeth and her dog was heart-warming, and it was clear they love each other very much. With that said, I’m not sure how I felt hearing part of the story from the dog’s perspective. It was unusual, but not unenjoyable.
One of the other friendships I thought was interesting was between Elizabeth’s daughter and the Priest, Wakely. If one of my children came home and told me they had been meeting with a stranger I wouldn’t be happy to say the least. However, this story shows how they fell into their friendship, almost by accident. It also shows how they question each other’s thoughts and beliefs and value one another’s opinions.
Elizabeth as a Mother
Now obviously this is a motherhood blog, so I have to talk about Elizabeth as a Mother. I really felt I resonated with her in those early days, and the fuzziness of life with a newborn. Sometimes you need someone else to step in and take control, if only for a while.
As her daughter gets older, Elizabeth’s style of parenting seems quite hands off. There was little emotion shown between her and her daughter which may be difficult to swallow as a Mother reading the book. That doesn’t mean she is a bad mother though. Throughout the story, it is very clear that Elizabeth wants the best for her daughter ‘Mad’. She pushes her learning and development, so that she is much more advanced than her years. I have no doubt she believes this will help her excel in life. As we all know, life isn’t always clear cut, and Harriet provides the nurturing aspects that both Mother and daughter are missing.
On a personal level, I feel that Elizabeth is wanting to be a good role model for her daughter. She never wavers from her beliefs and morals. Her actions demonstrate that women have a right to be seen and heard in other ways than the traditional roles in society. She is also a hard-working single Mother, showing it is possible to go and work hard for what you want.
Lessons in chemistry?
You could be fooled into thinking Elizabeth is fitting into society by teaching women how to cook. Surely this must be the only thing women could possibly be interested in? Nope! This was a cookery show with a difference. With Elizabeth explaining how chemistry played a part in the cooking process. She never assumes that the women in the audience and at home would be unable to understand her scientific explanations. Instead, she acknowledges their intelligence and desire to learn.
Personally, I loved this aspect. Being a science girly myself, I can imagine this is one of the only ways to get me to watch a cookery show. Unless it’s The Great British Bake Off. No convincing is required there! Essentially Elizabeth was providing chemistry lessons to women under the guise of a cookery show.
Is this book worth my time?
Listen, I know time for yourself can be hard to find as a Mother. However, I genuinely feel this book is worth the investment of your time. I gasped, I laughed, I cried. If you read beyond the lines of the book, it really does give you plenty to think about. If you like feminist fiction then you will most likely enjoy this.
I do think this book has lots of themes for discussion running through it. That is what makes it such a great choice for a book club. One of those things is why Elizabeth Zott is the ultimate book club heroine? Is she an advocate for feminism, women in the workplace and single mothers? Or is she just someone with little social skills, who doesn’t like to fit in with the norms of society? After reading the book, I definitely felt she was more on the side of a feminist hero, and I think those in my book club mostly agreed.
I would give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. The reason it didn’t get a full 5 stars, is because I feel parts of the story were glossed over and possibly not a true representation of life in that time. What do I know though, I wasn’t even alive in the 1960’s!
if you have read this book, be sure to let me know what you think.
Sophie x
