The cover of Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons in Chemistry makes it look like chic-lit, and some blurbs call the book “laugh-out-loud funny.” But in my opinion, it’s neither of those things. This robust, well-written book IS incredibly quirky, thought-provoking, and a round, deep, fulfilling journey.
The cast of characters can hardly be beaten:
a brilliant, uncompromising female scientist ahead of her time
her equally brilliant scientist lover with a mysterious past
a precocious, prodigy child
a nosy, but loveable, neighbor
a priest
an exasperated, quietly progressive tv executive
a fiercely loyal dog (who narrates portions of the book)
a mysterious benefactor
rowing (yes, I mean the sport – it honestly feels like a character at some points!)
and a whole host of broken or abusive or misogynistic – or all of the above – people, who ultimately necessitate content warnings for this book, including sexual assault, emotional cruelty, and suicide.
Set it all in the 1960s, add the inner workings of an afternoon cooking show, and healthy doses of unapologetic feminism, and that’s Lessons in Chemistry. I suppose that’s hard to encapsulate on a book cover or jacket blurb!
Taking it as an actual Lesson in Chemistry, I think this book is about interaction and reaction, and the dial is sometimes turned way up on emotion and possibility. For me, it all came together as fresh, unique, and different. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed every minute of it.
As a fun side note, here’s a first look at Apple TV’s adaptation of Lessons in Chemistry as a TV series.
BOOK:30 