Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Book Review)

Life Lessons From Books
4 Jun 202309:20
EducationalLearning
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TLDRIn this book review, Helen London discusses 'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmers, a debut novel set in the 1960s. The story follows Elizabeth, a brilliant but underappreciated chemist navigating a patriarchal society. Despite the challenges, Elizabeth's unyielding and forthright character becomes an inspiration to many. The book, described as highly readable and immersive, explores themes of relationships, gender equality, and societal norms through multiple perspectives, including a humorous canine viewpoint. Helen anticipates engaging discussions in her book club and recommends the book to others.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Helen London reviews 'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmers, a debut novel and book club selection.
  • 🧪 The book follows Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant and analytical chemist facing obstacles in the 1960s patriarchal society.
  • 🚀 Elizabeth's character is refreshing and belligerent, standing her ground and challenging the status quo.
  • 🤔 The reviewer initially considers Elizabeth possibly neurodiverse due to her behavior and lack of self-awareness, but later acknowledges the complexity of her character.
  • 📖 The narrative is highly immersive and features multiple perspectives, including those of Elizabeth's daughter, her dog, and her neighbor Harriet.
  • 🐶 The dog's perspective offers a humorous and unique viewpoint on the human characters and their actions.
  • 📺 Elizabeth's cooking show, 'Sabaret Seeks', uses scientific explanations, which initially annoys producers but eventually inspires her audience.
  • 🌟 The book addresses themes relevant to 2023, such as relationships, gender equality, work challenges, and societal norms.
  • 🤔 The reviewer finds the book 'incredible' because of Elizabeth's modern thinking in a 1960s setting, which may not have been historically accurate.
  • 📖 Despite the historical plausibility, the book serves as a tool for thought and discussion, particularly in book clubs.
  • 👍 Helen London highly recommends 'Lessons in Chemistry' and invites readers to share their thoughts and book club experiences.
Q & A

  • Who is the author of 'Lessons in Chemistry' mentioned in the transcript?

    -Bonnie Garmers is the author of 'Lessons in Chemistry'.

  • What is the main character's profession in the book?

    -The main character, Elizabeth Zott, is a brilliant and highly analytical chemist.

  • In what era is the story of 'Lessons in Chemistry' set?

    -The story is set in the 1960s.

  • How does the protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, face the patriarchal environment of her time?

    -Elizabeth Zott stands her ground, is belligerent, and does not take any nonsense from her male colleagues, despite the patriarchal environment.

  • What is the significance of the different perspectives in the book?

    -The different perspectives, including those of Elizabeth's daughter, her dog, and her neighbor, balance out the narrative and prevent it from being too one-sided or assertive.

  • How does the author use the character of the dog to enhance the story?

    -The dog's perspective provides a humorous and unique viewpoint, adding variety and entertainment to the narrative.

  • What type of TV show does Elizabeth host in the book?

    -Elizabeth hosts a cooking show called 'Saberet Seeks,' where she explains meals in analytical and chemical terms.

  • How does the protagonist's approach to her TV show influence the women of her time?

    -Elizabeth's scientific approach to cooking inspires the women of her time to do more and be more than just housewives.

  • What are some of the themes explored in 'Lessons in Chemistry'?

    -The book explores themes such as relationships, equality between the sexes, the institution of marriage, sexuality, and suicide.

  • Why does the reviewer find the character of Elizabeth Zott somewhat incredible?

    -The reviewer finds Elizabeth's character incredible because her progressive thinking and behavior seem more aligned with 2023 rather than the 1960s.

  • How does the reviewer's perception of the book change as they read further?

    -Initially, the reviewer finds Elizabeth's character refreshing but later starts to feel that the character might be too assertive and lacking in self-awareness and empathy.

  • What is the reviewer's final verdict on 'Lessons in Chemistry'?

    -The reviewer highly recommends 'Lessons in Chemistry,' appreciating its immersive storytelling and the exploration of various themes relevant to 2023.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Book Review Introduction: 'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmers

Helen London introduces the book review of 'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmers, her debut novel. The book is a selection for the reviewer's book club, which will discuss it in a couple of weeks. Helen expresses her enjoyment of book club discussions, as they never agree on a book's quality, which she finds refreshing. She shares her initial impressions of the book, noting its readability and immersive storytelling. The main character, Elizabeth Zott, is described as a brilliant and analytical chemist working in the 1960s, a time of significant gender inequality. Helen appreciates Elizabeth's strong-willed and unapologetic nature, which challenges the patriarchal norms of her era. However, she also finds Elizabeth's character somewhat unbelievable due to her seemingly modern views and behavior, which seem anachronistic for the 1960s.

05:01
🌟 Character Analysis and Themes: Elizabeth Zott and Beyond

The summary delves deeper into Elizabeth Zott's character, exploring her potential neurodiversity and the impact of her strong personality on the narrative. The reviewer discusses the balance provided by other characters in the book, such as Elizabeth's daughter Madeline, the humorous perspective of a dog, and Harriet, the discontented housewife next door. These characters offer different viewpoints and enrich the story. The book's themes are also highlighted, including relationships, gender equality, work challenges, teamwork, sexuality, and marriage. The reviewer notes the book's ability to make the reader feel like an audience member, especially through Elizabeth's cooking show segments. Despite finding the book somewhat incredible due to the protagonist's advanced views for her time, the reviewer appreciates the book's inspiration and its potential to spark discussions in book clubs. The review concludes with a recommendation to read 'Lessons in Chemistry' and an invitation for readers to share their thoughts.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Book Review
A book review is an evaluation of a book, discussing its content, style, and overall impact on the reader. In the context of the video, Helen London is providing her personal insights and opinions on 'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmers, making it a central theme.
💡Debut Novel
A debut novel refers to the first novel written by an author and published for the general public. In the video, 'Lessons in Chemistry' is mentioned as Bonnie Garmers' debut novel, indicating that it is her first published work of fiction.
💡Book Club
A book club is a group of people who meet to discuss books and their contents. In the video, Helen London mentions her anticipation for her book club meeting to discuss 'Lessons in Chemistry,' highlighting the social and discussion aspects of reading.
💡Patriarchal Society
A patriarchal society is one in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. In the context of the video, the protagonist Elizabeth lives and works in a 1960s highly patriarchal environment, facing obstacles due to her gender.
💡Neurodiverse
Neurodiversity refers to the idea that individuals with neurological differences, such as autism, dyslexia, and ADHD, have unique strengths and weaknesses that should be recognized and valued. In the video, the reviewer speculates that the character Elizabeth might be neurodiverse, based on her analytical and unyielding behavior.
💡Character Development
Character development is the process by which a character's personality, abilities, or understanding changes over the course of a story. In the video, the reviewer discusses the evolution of Elizabeth's character, as well as the introduction of other characters that provide different perspectives and balance the narrative.
💡Immersive Writing
Immersive writing is a narrative technique that fully engages the reader's senses and emotions, making them feel as if they are part of the story. The video praises the book for its immersive quality, describing the reading experience as if watching a movie with different scenes and perspectives.
💡1960s
The 1960s refers to the decade from 1960 to 1969, known for its significant cultural, political, and social changes. In the video, the setting of the 1960s is crucial to understanding the protagonist's struggles and the societal context of the story.
💡Relationships
Relationships refer to the way in which people interact and connect with each other. In the context of the video, the book explores various types of relationships, including those between parents and children, friends, and romantic partners, as well as the dynamics of male and female interactions.
💡Equality
Equality refers to the state of being equal, especially in terms of rights, opportunities, and treatment. In the video, the book's exploration of themes related to gender equality and the struggles faced by women in a male-dominated society is a key focus.
💡Multi-Perspective Narrative
A multi-perspective narrative is a storytelling technique where the story is told from the viewpoints of multiple characters. In the video, the book's narrative structure is praised for providing different perspectives, including those of Elizabeth, her daughter, the dog, and the neighbor, which enriches the reader's understanding of the events and characters.
Highlights

Debut novel 'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmers discussed.

Book is a selection for the reviewer's book club.

The protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, is a brilliant and analytical chemist.

The story is set in the 1960s, a highly patriarchal environment.

Elizabeth faces obstacles due to her gender but remains strong and confrontational.

The character of Elizabeth may be neurodiverse, with a lack of self-awareness and empathy.

The narrative includes multiple perspectives, including a dog's humorous view.

Elizabeth's character is balanced by other characters in the book.

The author's intention might have been to provide varied viewpoints to avoid a one-sided narrative.

The reader feels like an audience member, especially during Elizabeth's cooking show segments.

Elizabeth's scientific approach to her cooking show surprisingly inspires the women of the time.

The book covers various themes relevant to 2023, such as relationships, equality, and the institution of marriage.

Elizabeth's character may be seen as unbelievable due to her modern thinking in a 1960s setting.

The author uses fiction to inspire thought and discussion about the challenges faced by women in the 1960s.

The book is recommended for its ability to provoke thought and discussion in book clubs.

The reviewer invites readers to share their thoughts on 'Lessons in Chemistry'.

Transcripts

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