I can be quite contrary when it comes to book choices, often shunning those which have been given popular plaudits for those that are less renowned, purely in a bid to strike out on my own reading path rather than being led. This is, by my own admission, rather hit and miss.
It was with some trepidation that I chose Lessons in Chemistry, sincerely hoping that it would not be vapid nonsense, loosely plotted and with irritating characters. I needn’t have worried as I can categorically state it is the best book that I have read in 2023. And I have read some rather good ones this year.
The book concerns itself with Elizabeth Zott, a chemist who is passionate about her specialism and is extremely talented. However, it being the early 1960s and a pretty much male-dominated work environment, where employment roles are very much gender oriented, Elizabeth is overlooked frequently to her extreme frustration, and constantly derided for her inability to back down and give in.
She considers herself a scientist but as an attractive young woman, she should be making coffee or typing memos, all the while wearing tightly fitting clothing and lipstick. She rails against this in a forthright and resistant manner but comes up against constant obstacles, some of them more violent than others.
This changes somewhat when she meets Calvin Evans, another scientist who recognises in Elizabeth a kindred spirit with intelligence to match, who rather than holding her back, sees her as an ally and a partner. Both employed at Hastings, they become the talk of the place with their unorthodox relationship and closeness.
However, Elizabeth’s circumstances change and she is forced to leave the world of chemistry and rather serendipitously lands herself a job as a TV chef and again, rather than pandering to the role demanded of her by social mores, she moulds it to become hers.
It is Elizabeth who makes this book but she is surrounded by a wonderful supporting cast, who Garmus makes you either love or hate. But more than that, this is a book that doesn’t just invite discussion about equal opportunities and overturning stereotypes but grabs it, puts it infront of a lectern and urges it to shout as loud as it can the validity of its message to an audience that I can only hope is as earnest as Elizabeth’s in the TV studio.
Scuffed Granny 