Overall, what did you think of Lessons in Chemistry? (No spoilers, please!)

Book Clubs Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Discussion
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Overall, what did you think of Lessons in Chemistry? (No spoilers, please!)

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I really enjoyed this book. Having grown up in the post-WWII era, it really resonated with me. I was the first person in my immediate family to graduate from high school and my grandparents, who raised me, saw no need for any education beyond that. I defied them by attending junior college, joining the counterculture in the sixties, and having my first child without the bonds of matrimony. My son, who was reading by the age of two, was like Madeline in some ways. My favorite character, however, was Six-thirty,

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I know that I’m in the minority, but I did not care for the book at all. I thought the author was trying too hard to be zany, and although the male attitude was pretty accurate for the time, most of it was just ridiculous - the coffee contraption, the cooking show using Sodium Chloride (table salt), the dog!

4

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. I did enjoy reading it and following Elizabeth and how she continues with her life. Her relationship with Calvin was so sweet. They loved each other. The other men in this story were awful. Madeline, Harriet, and the dog are such wonderful characters and they added to the story. As for the cooking show, I feel that was Elizabeth’s way of sharing her beliefs with other women. It made them think about their own home situations. Often times, we see the dog’s point of view and that was interesting as well. As for Madeline, it would be interesting to see a book about her as she grows up and meets the world head on.

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The style of this book initially struck me as pretty strange, but I did end up enjoying it. I guess I came to somewhat appreciate the comic and unrealistic aspects. I would not choose to read this type of book regularly, however. And I think if I pass it on to my friends, I will preface it with my feelings, so offering to share but not really recommending it. I do think it made valid points about the sexism of that era.

6

I’m still reading it but so far it’s EXCELLENT! I recommended it to my brother and his wife who are both engineers. My brother read it immediately and is now recommending it to everyone he knows too lol

7

This book is one of my favorites. I’ve recommended it countless times. I love the story line, the quirkiness of the characters (including the dog) and crazy TV show. I had the pleasure of meeting Bonnie Garmus and she was so gracious - it made me like the book even more. I wish I had a chance to ask her how she came up with Six-thirty’s name.

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I hoped this book would not contain actual lessons in chemistry. This was a challenging subject for me in high school. In an interesting way, it actually DID present lessons in chemistry which were fun and informative to read.

I enjoyed this book, one of the best fiction offerings I have read in ages. The female characters were especially unique, trailblazers in their time. Elizabeth was a leader for women in ways that some men would never understand, even today, sadly. Calvin was the exception, an intelligent and understanding guy. Including the point of view of Six-Thirty was so creative. Would love a sequel to this story.

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I totally enjoyed this book! I felt that it depicted the 60’s very well, and how women were treated in the workplace. I also was intrigued by Elisabeth’s personality. Was she on the spectrum or was she never shown love in her childhood? She was a most interesting character, intelligent, literal, strong, but was also a good mother, even without a role model. She is not the first or last to have her research taken from her by somone in a supervisory role. But seh made her own way. I liked her!

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Elizabeth Zott is my idol!! She’s smart, outspoken, savvy and someone I would love to have as a friend. I grew up during the 60’s & 70’s and could so relate to how men treated women then. So much of what she described was very true, I remember the “put-downs” trying to be a career woman. Reflecting back, I thought college was my golden ticket but it made no difference, stereotypes remained. Women’s rights have come a long way, with more to follow! Her TV show was awesome. I could have used her knowledge when I took Chemistry (my most difficult class). I loved the twists & turns at the end, you’ve got to read this book!!!

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I enjoyed the book. From the title, I thought that book was going to be a romance novel. Then, I began reading it and discovered this book was interesting and good. I would recommend my friends to read it.

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I loved it ! It was so well written with an interesting plot and characters plus humor. I saw the streaming production and was afraid the book would be different or spoiled by the streaming one but it followed the book well and brought the characters to life.This is definitely on my top 10 list. It always had my attention and made me laugh and cry and appreciate the bittersweet story.

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I liked this book so much that I didn’t want to watch it on TV. Sometimes movies spoil books for me and I didn’t want to take the chance!

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I looked forward to reading this book because of its popularity on book sites and its good reviews. I enjoyed it even though I did not relate to Elizabeth at all. I thought that she was cold and distant in most situations, almost an automaton. Perhaps that’s to be expected, considering her upbringing and the prejudices against her. Her treatment by male scientists was infuriating, but she stood up for herself whence she could.
Her relationships with Calvin, Harriet, Walter and Macklin helped humanize her. I really liked Six-Thirty and Madeleine. I loved the shocked observations of Mad’s abilities and interests. Having just read Remarkably Bright Creatures, I couldn’t help comparing Six-Thirty with Marcellus. Six-Thirty won.

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I think it contains much humor. I haven’t completed the book yet; however, I’m enjoying reading it. I laugh every few pages. So many individuals that I know have read the book and all of them said they loved it. It is one of their favorite books. Of course, I don’t like spoilers, so they are not allowed to tell me about the book.

16

This is one of my favorite books that I have read lately. There is a variety of social commentaries reflected in the book. What makes this book unique is the way the author skillfully intertwines each idea to demonstrate how issues from the 1960’s are still actively important now. The book uses a balanced amount of “seriousness” and humor to cover very complex topics.

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I only just recently finished reading Lessons in Chemistry, so I am late to the book discussion. Everyone else has done such a thorough job of capturing the broader overarching themes as well as mentioning specifics of the book that were especially enjoyable, meaningful, or endearing. In that regard, I have little else that I can offer that would not be repetitive. I did enjoy the book immensely, particularly for the way in which Elizabeth Zott was so steadfast and uncompromising in every single aspect of her life. I must say, however, that the plot-driven misogyny and sexism that stood in such stark contrast to Zott’s determination, values, and unwavering sense of fair play weighed heavily on my spirit because even in today’s world, many of those archaic notions persist. Happily, 6:30 and Mad, Calvin, Walter Pine and ultimately Miss Frask, Avery Parker and Wakely, each served as beautiful counterpoint, bringing the book in its entirety to a very satisfying conclusion.

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I’m still reading it but so far I’m really enjoying this book.

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I too have read Remarkably Bright Creatures and can see the parallels between Marcellus and 6:30. I listened to the audio version of the book and at the end there was an interview with the author. In that interview, she stated that the character of 6:30 was patterned after a real dog. A dog that she and her family rescued, and who also knew a lot of words, even ‘understanding’ German when the family moved. The interview itself was fascinating for me because the additional discussion not only addressed the inspiration for Elizabeth Zott’s character, but also gave a peek at what motivated her to write about that specific period in time.

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20

I agree. I like books over movies because books let me do the imagining.