Book Review: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Garmus’ debut novel: Lessons in Chemistry is a newly added favourite of mine. A tragicomedy published in 2022, it has achieved numerous awards including Goodreads Choice Awards - Best Debut 2022 and multiple Book of the Year in 2022. Bonnie Garmus wrote one novel before Lessons in Chemistry but was rejected by publishers because it was too long. After that, she began writing Introductions to Chemistry, later renamed Lessons in Chemistry. She took inspiration from her own life; specifically when one of her coworkers took credit for her work. Otherwise, Garmus expresses that she wrote Zott to be her role model. It was turned into a TV show in 2023 starring Brie Larson. 

The novel stars a young woman named Elizabeth Zott who goes up against the norms of the 1950s. In a male-dominant profession, Zott fights discrimination based on her gender. She faces perils at UCLA which leads to her expulsion. Instead of getting her PhD in chemistry, she begins working at Hastings Research Institution. Zott plans to work her way up to a senior position but yet again is faced with difficulties.  

At Hastings, Zott is famed for her professional yet aggressive attitude. Many dislike her, but her intelligence cannot be ignored. She becomes even more infamous as she starts dating Calvin Evans – a famous genius within science. They are deeply in love, yet Elizabeth refuses to marry Calvin. She argues that their work would be mixed up if she was forced to take his name. She will regret that decision forever. 

Zott is fired from Hastings after conceiving a child out of wedlock. She has to find a way to support herself financially. Ex-colleagues from hasting pay her for her advice and help on projects. Zott demolishes her kitchen and rebuilds it to function like a lab – she continues her research on abiogenesis. As money tightens she is forced to seek a better paying job. Zott is offered a role as a cooking channel host. She reluctantly takes it but promises to not play by society’s rules. 

This novel is the equivalent of “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Loved ones snatched away too soon, discrimination and assault, and little to no family. Zott has endured a lot in her life, to say the least. Yet she stands strong and true to herself. 

“Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the window of your soul to the sun.” (Marcus Aurelius, page 116)

Throughout the novel, there is a theme that families come in all different shapes and sizes. Zott’s father committed religious fraud and ended up in prison. Her mother escaped to Brazil after being accused of tax evasion. Calivn’s relations are made up of a tangle of lies. Proving that you’re biological family may not be the people who are looking out for you at heart. A blood connection doesn’t mean love – love is defined by so much more than that. 

All in all, this was a really inspirations novel. It provides hope to women around the world who are uncertain about their capabilities. I love the concept and execution and the writing is on par, however, I don’t agree with its genre. I don’t think I would agree that Lessons in Chemistry is a Tragicomedy. It’s a heartbreaking and thought-provoking novel with occasional humour. 

I can’t imagine what Zott must have felt, yet in some sense I do relate to those feelings. She must be extremely angry and angry all the time. It isn’t sorrow that plagues Zott, it’s anger. I’m familiar with that constant anger and it does your head in. My only problem with this novel is that Zott never got rid of her anger. I think it would have been a greater novel if Zott’s internal problems were solved instead of having a quick and exciting ending.