Published: 10th November 2023
Lessons in Chemistry Synopsis:
This hilarious page-turner follows chemist Elizabeth Zott as she deals with the patriarchal society of the 1960s. She is the only female in her team at Hastings Research Institute. When she is forced to resign, she takes on the role of host of a new cooking show, Supper at Six. She takes a very different, scientific, approach to cooking however, for example telling her viewers to “combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”. Through this cooking show, she grabs the attention of a nation, and inspires overlooked housewives to change the status quo.
My Thoughts (contains mild spoilers):
After many recommendations of this book, I finally decided to give it a try, and do not regret that one bit. This book deals with many themes, like misogyny, feminism, self-worth, and family. Its characters evoke many emotions – some are infuriating, while others make you smile and laugh aloud. There were moments where the characters made me want to cheer because of something they did or said. Some characters that had been infuriating me, changed completely and became the ones that made me cheer. This book was a roller coaster to read because of the range of emotions it made me feel, and the many satisfying character arcs, and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
Garmus had many things to say about misogyny and feminism in the 1960s. She showed, through the characters of Calvin and Elizabeth, the difference in opportunities for women versus men. Calvin receives 43 job offers, whereas Elizabeth receives only one, despite them both having the same skill-level. In addition, when Elizabeth forges a path for herself in Hastings Research Institute, while starting a relationship with Calvin, it is assumed that everything she gains is a result of his influence, rather than something she herself achieved. When their relationship starts, people wonder why she is still “trying to become” a scientist (she rightfully insists that she already is a scientist), when she already “has” Calvin. It was especially painful to read the moments when women joined in with the belittling backchat about Elizabeth, as well as participating in degrading her to her face for daring to be a female scientist. However, it was highly satisfying to see so much of this changing when she began to host Suppers at Six, with housewives everywhere challenging the status quo. It was also horrifying to read about the experiences of Elizabeth’s daughter, Madeline, at school. Madeline’s teacher, Mrs Mudford would discourage her when she behaved “like a man”, and at one point said that her height made the boys feel bad. This moment actually made me laugh because of how ridiculous it was. At the same time, though, it frustrated me because the teaching of patriarchal views in schools is one of the ways that they are perpetuated. Elizabeth Zott was a very inspiring character to read about, because of the way she dealt with the patriarchal system and refused to submit to it.
Garmus also dealt with the theme of self-worth. Again, Elizabeth Zott’s character was very inspiring because of the way she stood up for herself. However, Garmus shows how the fame Elizabeth gets through Supper at Six causes some severe hate to be thrown at her. We see Elizabeth deal with that in a way that becomes very inspiring, but we also see how it hits her like a brick. We see how women are reduced to “just housewives”, and how this really damages their self-worth. We also see how Elizabeth’s daughter Madeline pretends to be “basically illiterate” like the children around her, in order to fit in, when actually she is a very advanced reader. Through all these moments in the book, Garmus showed the way that the patriarchy can strongly affect the self-worth of women and girls, and showed (in a way that was so satisfying to read) Elizabeth Zott inspiring women to start standing up for themselves and follow their dreams.
Garmus also explored the theme of family. Both Elizabeth and Calvin have very traumatic experiences in their family, dealing with things like family suicide and other family deaths, as well as the feeling of abandonment caused by other family members. In this novel we see the two characters dealing with this, and finding out more about what happened in their family. By the end of the novel Garmus has shown the reader that family is more than just blood – family is also made up of the people who are there for you in your darkest moments, and who you are there for in return. I loved seeing this family form throughout the book.
This is one of those books that actually is laugh-out-loud funny, but it also has some very dark, sad, and frustrating moments, and I think that’s one of this novel’s best qualities. I highly enjoyed it and think it’s well worth a read if you haven’t picked it up yet!
Quotes:
“I’m speaking of fixing us, Mr Roth – our mistakes. Nature works on a higher intellectual plane. We can go further, but to accomplish this, we must throw open the doors. Too many brilliant minds are kept from scientific research thanks to ignorant biases like gender and race. It infuriates me and it should infuriate you. Science has big problems to solve: famine, disease, extinction. And those who purposefully close the door to others using self-serving, outdated cultural notions are not only dishonest, they’re knowingly lazy.”
“Whenever you start doubting yourself, […] whenever you feel afraid, just remember. Courage is the root of change – and change is what we’re chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others’ opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into useless categories of sex, race, economic status, and religion. Do not allow your talents to lie dormant, ladies. Design your own future. When you go home today, ask yourself what you will change. And then get started.”