Lessons in Chemistry is an absolute blast to read - I miss it already!

Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus

Doubleday 400 pages, April 5, 2022

This is one of those books I wish wouldn't end. What a great set of characters, a fantastic storyline and an amazingly entertaining read!! The ending is perfect. I particularly love how we get to hear from every character and their true inner thoughts. It makes it so funny - the jokes really land. I listened to this as an audio book, taking advantage of a 37 minute commute to work and frequently laughed out loud.

I know that this is a novel, and a debut no less, that I will wish I could read again for the first time. It was so realistic and perfectly told. I would not change a thing. I waited months to get my hands on this audiobook. It was a book club pick that I never got to read on time! I can understand the hype, the buzz, and the popularity. I completely agree and will certainly list this as a book I'd be willing to read again and again. It was worth the wait, but I definitely miss it already.

Further, thanks to my listen of the quick interview with the author, I know that another novel is coming from Garmus and it will certainly be in my TBR pile.

My biggest takeaway: the world does not deserve Elizabeth Zott but if we had her, we would all be better off. She is perfection in her blunt, uncompromising self and I wish she really did exist in the 1950s. She would certainly have set us on a path towards equality that we still are only dreaming of. I love how she is as a parent and raising her daughter, Mad. I loved how real the parenthood element was in this story and the reliance on her neighbor, Harriet. I also loved Elizabeth's continual corrections to those who referred to Harriet as her housekeeper. She's not a housekeeper. Elizabeth Zott is an excellent character. Fans of the Barbie movement and what it stands for will be fans of EZ.

Spoilers Below. Stop now if you haven't yet read.

My biggest question: Did Roth make it out of Vietnam? Is he able to witness the success of his article? What an excellent touch; a small minute detail that is so telling and represents so much. And this was perfect for me as I just finished The Women by Kristin Hannah (review here). I love when my reading choices tie into each other, even in small ways like this.

My biggest hope: That Six Thirty lives forever. What a special dog and special part of the story! I love that he narrates some of the timeline and gives so much toward Elizabeth, Mad, and the emotional connection between them. He's amazing and I hope he always knows how great he is.

Happy Reading!