Lessons in Chemistry

 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book seems to be on every "best of" lists and so it's hard to put preconceptions out of your mind while reading it. It is a good book--it has funny parts, it is well written, and probably all women can relate to some of the prejudices and mistreatment of Elizabeth Zott as she tries to make it in a predominately man's world. (Set in the past, the prejudices can be exacerbated but sadly still very relatable). Still, something was off for me and I couldn't say it was a great book. I think what it is, is that Elizabeth never seems very happy. Sure, she is smart, athletic, and compassionate, and has to deal with more than her share of belittling, humiliation, and underestimation, and her drive, uncompromising spirit, and persistence can be admirable. But she always seems to be ready for a fight, depressed, and defensive (not that I blame her). It's perfectly reasonable for her to be this way, and may be part of the point of the story, but it is hard to root for a character who never seems to take even momentary pleasure.

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other women did want children and a career.  And what was wrong with that?  Nothing.  It was exactly what men got.

She would weather what came.  But weathering is called weathering for a reason: it erodes.

Everyone needed help.  But maybe because she'd never been offered any, she refused to believe in it.

the dust that was so much a part of death

"What I find interesting about rowing," Dr. Mason was saying, "is that it's always done backwards.  It's almost as if the sport itself is trying to teach us not to get ahead of ourselves."

wasn't that the very definition of life?  Constant adaptions brought about by a series of never-ending mistakes?