Hi! I finally received my copy of Lessons in Chemistry so I haven’t finished but so far, it’s really good. I’m finding it easy to follow along and I love Elizabeth. Maybe it’s because I can relate to her. Once finished, I’ll return for my final impressions.
I enjoyed the book; it kept my interest.
I enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry, the book and the series. It’s different and quirky. It was light hearted and funny despite Calvin’s death and the struggles Elizabeth had in her life. I’m glad she was able to make the cooking show her way for the most part.
I agree with you. I am a feminist, I grew up in the 60’s-70s and feel like contemporary fiction as a whole depicting the 50’s-60s just try to make it look so black and white and yet nostalgic. I feel like it is the Mad Men version of the time. Trying to make it “look good” yet with horrid underbelly. The characters feel fake to me. I know it is a funny book, and I took it too seriously, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I have found I don’t like a lot of “Tik Tok famous” contemporary fiction. (Hello Beautiful, Like Mother, Like Mother, Pony Confidential, Blood Test: a Comedy, A Good Life, The Half of It, Big in Sweden, The Swimmers, Amazing Grace Adams) I have been more picky about my choices rather than just picking of the Just Released lists. Just my opinion but I didn’t love Lessons in Chemistry.
Well, I finally gave in and requested a copy of “ Lessons in Chemistry ” from my local library. I had this feeling it was going to be one of “those” books, you know the one that is highly overrated and very well tautened as a “must read.” Okay, I admit. . . I was wrong, I now know why it has been so highly talked about on different platforms.The book captures the times, its patronization of women, and blatant sexism. Elizabeth uses chemistry to reveal the danger of this lobsided society. The dialogue is so masterful, you will find yourself laughing out loud to the author’s well phrased put downs and understatements. Readers will find Elizabeth to be very smart, simply fabulous and so entertaining. I was charmed by her out of the norm ways. I thoroughly enjoyed this inspiring, heartwarming story filled with some sadness, much joy and quirky, intelligent opinions.
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This is the most enjoyable fiction book that I’ve read this year. Garmus did a great job capturing the inequality of the 1960’s and added a nice little twist by adding in a smart dog named Six-Thirty.
I did not like the book. I thought it was very silly. OUCH - who threw something at me? 
We read this for my book club - others really enjoyed it. Two others didn’t like it either, but most did.
I actually didn’t finish it, but what I read didn’t grab me.
I did enjoy the book, though I agree with some of the other reviewers about the intense zaniness. I’m not usually the audience for that kind of approach but I did love the story and the main character, so it went well for me.
After finishing Lessons in Chemistry, a few things come to mind. First, I thought I had the ending figured out but boy, was I wrong. It was a good book overall. It kept my attention (though the beginning started slowly). I loved Elizabeth, Harriet and Mad. Such likable characters. My only complaint is the dog. So far fetched.
This was a second reading of the book for me, and although I thoroughly enjoyed it the first time around, I was surprised this time at how much I related to Elizabeth Zott’s attitude toward life and humanity in general. I was especially pleased at the way she could challenge a situation with another way of looking at it. For instance, when Donatti tells her women don’t work after becoming pregnant, she counters with “What about the men?” And when Walter asks, “And what is with the trousers?” her response is that he must like trousers because he wears them all the time. Another thing that was very clever is the way Elizabeth connects the chemistry lessons in Supper at Six to actual life. Every lesson relates to a situation in real life and reveals in some way how important women really are. Elizabeth Zott has many things to teach us.