Lessons In Chemistry: Strange Facts You Probably Didn't Know
TLDRBonnie Garis, the self-taught author of 'Lessons in Chemistry,' a story set in the '60s, reveals her unique writing journey. After a disappointing meeting at work, she began writing about the character Elizabeth Zot, inspired by Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique.' Garis faced challenges learning chemistry to ensure historical accuracy and even risked her home with lab experiments. The novel almost became a TV show before publication, thanks to interest from actress Brie Larson. Despite past rejections, the book's success led to a TV adaptation with Larson as an executive producer, helmed by showrunner Lee Eisenberg and director Sarah Aden Smith. The series also features a non-fictional character, 6:30 the dog, based on Garis's own rescue dog, Friday.
Takeaways
- 📚 The author of 'Lessons in Chemistry,' Bonnie Garis, is self-taught in the subject, which is central to the story's setting and plot.
- 🌟 The character of Elizabeth Zot has been part of Bonnie's creative universe since she was just 5 years old, originating from a childhood story she wrote.
- 📖 Bonnie was inspired to write the novel after reading Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique,' which helped her blend modern feminism with a 1960s setting.
- 🔍 For accuracy, Bonnie had to limit her research to chemistry knowledge from the 1950s and 1960s, using a '50s textbook and her background in copywriting for medicine and technology.
- 🔥 Her dedication to realism led Bonnie to conduct her own chemistry experiments at home, which almost resulted in burning down her house twice.
- 📺 'Lessons in Chemistry' almost became a TV show before it was a published book, thanks to the early interest from actress Brie Larson.
- 🎬 The book sparked a publishing auction with 16 publishers bidding, and it hadn't even been printed yet, showing the high level of interest from the industry.
- 🚀 Bonnie, who calls herself the 'rejection queen,' faced numerous rejections in her writing career before her breakthrough at the age of 64.
- 🤝 The project's success was propelled by Brie Larson's early and passionate involvement, which is unusual for an actress to take on before a showrunner and director are attached.
- 🐶 The character '6:30' the dog in the series is based on Bonnie's real-life rescue dog, Friday, and serves as a tribute to his memory.
Q & A
What is the source of inspiration for the character Elizabeth Zot in 'Lessons in Chemistry'?
-The character of Elizabeth Zot was inspired by the author Bonnie Garis's own experiences and ideas since she was 5 years old, as well as by reading Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique', which provided a modern feminist touch to the story set in the 1960s.
How did Bonnie Garis ensure the authenticity of the chemistry portrayed in 'Lessons in Chemistry'?
-Bonnie Garis taught herself chemistry from a 1950s textbook and conducted her own lab experiments to ensure the accuracy of the chemistry knowledge presented in the story, which was crucial for maintaining the book's educational and genuine nature.
What challenges did Bonnie Garis face while writing 'Lessons in Chemistry'?
-Bonnie Garis faced challenges such as writer's block, the need to learn chemistry in-depth, and conducting lab experiments that almost resulted in burning down her house twice.
How did 'Lessons in Chemistry' initially almost become a TV show before it was published?
-Brie Larson, who stars as the lead character in the show, got a copy of the unpublished novel and recognized its potential for adaptation. This led to a publishing auction with 16 publishers bidding for the book and simultaneous interest from Hollywood.
What was Bonnie Garis's background before her success with 'Lessons in Chemistry'?
-Before her success, Bonnie Garis was referred to as the 'rejection queen', having faced numerous rejections from publishers and agents for her work. She was also a freelance copywriter in medicine, technology, and education.
How did Bonnie Garis overcome the challenges of getting her work published?
-After facing rejection, Bonnie continued her daily job as a freelance copywriter and took writing classes where she met other writers. This eventually led to her meeting agent Felicity Blunt, which marked the beginning of her success.
What was the turning point for Bonnie Garis in deciding to write 'Lessons in Chemistry'?
-The turning point was a meeting at work where her ideas were ignored but later repeated by a male colleague and then listened to by everyone. This frustrating experience motivated her to go home and write the first chapter of 'Lessons in Chemistry'.
Who was instrumental in the adaptation of 'Lessons in Chemistry' into a TV series?
-Brie Larson was instrumental, as she not only saw the potential in the story but also took the initiative to become the executive producer and bring the project to life, connecting with director Sarah Aden Smith and showrunner Lee Eisenberg.
What is the significance of the dog character 6:30 in the series?
-The dog character 6:30 is significant because it is not fictional; it is based on the author Bonnie Garis's own rescue dog, Friday, and serves as a tribute to his memory.
How did Lee Eisenberg become involved with 'Lessons in Chemistry' as a showrunner?
-Lee Eisenberg's wife read the book and recommended it to him. After being captivated by Bonnie Garis's writing style, he realized the story would make a great series, especially since he had a deal with Apple TV to pitch a story.
What makes Brie Larson's involvement in 'Lessons in Chemistry' unique?
-Brie Larson's involvement is unique because she took a significant interest in the project even before it was published, which is rare for an actress. She effectively auditioned the team and was deeply involved in ensuring the right people worked on the show, reflecting her strong belief in the story.
Outlines
📚 The Unexpected Journey of 'Lessons in Chemistry'
This paragraph delves into the surprising backstory of the TV show 'Lessons in Chemistry,' based on the novel of the same name by Bonnie Garis. The author's self-taught journey in chemistry to accurately depict the 1960s setting is highlighted, as well as the character development of Elizabeth Zot, inspired by Garis's childhood writings and feminist influences. The narrative also covers the unique process of adapting the novel into a TV show, with Brie Larson's early involvement and the intense interest from publishers and Hollywood, culminating in a successful publishing auction and the show's development.
🚀 Overcoming Rejection: Bonnie Garis' Path to Success
The second paragraph focuses on Bonnie Garis' personal journey as an author, including her struggles with numerous rejections and her eventual success with 'Lessons in Chemistry.' It details her perseverance through writer's block and the pivotal moment that inspired her to start writing the novel. The paragraph also reveals how her work caught the attention of her agent, Felicity, and the serendipitous discovery of her book by Lee Eisenberg, leading to the show's production. Additionally, it shares the touching story behind the character of 6:30, the dog, who is a homage to Garis's own rescue dog, Friday.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Lessons in Chemistry
💡Bonnie Garis
💡Elizabeth Zot
💡Chemistry in the '60s
💡Self-taught
💡Publishing Challenges
💡Brie Larson
💡Hollywood Interest
💡Lee Eisenberg
💡Rejection Queen
💡6:30 the Dog
Highlights
The original author of 'Lessons in Chemistry', Bonnie Garis, is self-taught on the topic.
The novel 'Lessons in Chemistry' inspired a TV show adaptation, starring Brie Larson.
Bonnie Garis got the idea for the character Elizabeth after a terrible meeting at work.
The character of Elizabeth was part of Bonnie's creation since she was 5 years old.
Bonnie was inspired to add a modern feminist touch to her story after reading Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique'.
Bonnie had to teach herself chemistry from a 1950s textbook to keep the story's setting authentic.
Bonnie Garis conducted lab experiments at home, leading to near house fires.
The book 'Lessons in Chemistry' almost became a TV show before it was published.
Brie Larson's interest in the book led to a publishing auction with 16 publishers bidding for it.
Bonnie Garis faced many rejections in the past, calling herself the 'rejection queen'.
Bonnie wrote another novel before 'Lessons in Chemistry', which was rejected by 98 agents and 100 publishers.
Bonnie Garis overcame writer's block and continued writing 'Lessons in Chemistry' through writing classes and support from fellow writers.
Bonnie was noticed by her agent Felicity at a writers' meeting, leading to her eventual success.
Lee Eisenberg, the showrunner, was introduced to the book by his wife and quickly fell in love with Bonnie's writing style.
Lee Eisenberg had a deal with Apple TV to pitch any story, and he chose 'Lessons in Chemistry'.
Brie Larson took the initiative to ensure the right team was assembled for the show's adaptation.
The character 6:30 the dog in the series is based on a real-life rescue dog owned by Bonnie Garis.
Bonnie Garis was born with writing skills and has been writing for a very long time.
Bonnie Garis got her big break at the age of 64 with 'Lessons in Chemistry'.
The rapid interest and success of 'Lessons in Chemistry' came as a shock to Bonnie after numerous past rejections.
Transcripts
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