This month’s book club read is a book whose popularity precedes its title . Lessons in Chemistry is a book set in 1950s about a woman Elizabeth Zott, whose only dream is to be a chemist . She is a super intelligent woman with strong communication skills and a very clear mind , but the only thing which works against her is that she is a woman . A woman according to the society norms those days cannot be a chemist . She is scorned , admired , looked down upon, loved , loathed and feared , but she is not treated as an equal .
The whole book is about this extraordinary woman’s effort to become a chemist . In the journey, she faces sexual harassment, hatred, love , she becomes a mother , adopts a pet , learns rowing and becomes a cooking show host on television.
She meets many men and women, few support her , many admire her and many hate her guts .
Elizabeth Zott remains the only constant in this complex web of variable equations. She faces many trials , endures immense losses and witnesses many tragedies. Without realizing that she is capable of love , she gives so much love to everyone around her . She is a protagonist, who is absolute in her beliefs . It is either black or white , there is no gray in between . With such a strong and unique central character , how can this book go wrong ?
The book is a piece of art . The narration is smooth and very creative. A chemist becoming a TV cooking show host , explaining the audience the scientific composition of all the ingredients used to make a simple dish, is a stroke of genius . It is laugh out loud comic at few places and heartbreaking poignant at many other places . From cooking with laboratory equipment to teaching vocabulary to her dog , every experiment of Elizabeth Zott is vividly imaginative and creative.
There are certain points made on religion which I did not agree with , but that is a very personal opinion and that does not affect my rating of the book.
A huge round of applause to Ms Elizabeth Zott and her creator , Bonnie Garmus . I cannot wait to hear these words on the television series which is airing on Apple TV , “children, set the table . Your mother needs a moment for herself”!
Bonnie Garmus , take a bow !
My rating: 👍👍👍👍👍
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