Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: A Book Review
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Full of dry humor, Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry is a fantastic read and one that is going to be hard to forget. With gorgeous writing, incredible plot, and fabulous characters all of which are surrounded by strong women, Garmus has given the world a masterpiece which will be a must read for decades.
To be honest, I was unsure of Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry when I first started. With all the hype surrounding it, I was worried that it wasn’t going to live up to it – plus, the time jump in the beginning confused me. Regardless, Garmus makes good work of her plot. Staring in the middle before moving backwards to tell the backstory, Garmus keeps her writing strong and pace steady as she goes through the backstory before coming back to the middle to end out the story.
Besides her plot and writing, Garmus also heavily invests in her characters. All characters were heavy and well-developed. They all had their flaws, some of which didn’t want to admit they had them, but everything worked in unison to go along with what their characters would go along with.
I also found it interesting that I pictured the MC, Elizabeth, the daughter, and the neighbor/nanny/friend as POC even though the character descriptions would put them more of the Caucasian type. Honestly, I don’t know why – but I doubt the story changes much regardless of it. I do know one thing for certain, though. Elizabeth is one of those people we would all like to be.
Who would most enjoy the work and who should stay clear (if necessary):
If you enjoy strong woman characters, this story is for you. If you are sick of being underappreciated, this story is for you. If you are sick of being discriminated against for your gender OR feel you are? This book is for you.
Want a nice feminist piece that doesn’t degrade women for enjoying social norms while still showing how important all roles played by a female (as well as roles capable of being played by both male and female)?
Read. This. Book.
Other books like the one reviewed:
Topics of Conversation by Miranda Popkey
The Witch’s Kind by Louisa Morgan
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
The Maid: A Novel by Nita Prose
Mad Honey by Jodo Picoult
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
| Plot: | 9.5 / 10 |
| Characters: | 10 / 10 |
| Writing: | 10 / 10 |
| Editor: | 10 / 10 |
| Total | 39.5 / 40 |
Title: Lessons in Chemistry
Author: Bonnie Garmus
Edition: First Edition
Published: 2022
Publisher: Doubleday (Penguin Random House)
ISBN: 9780385547345
If you want to get it: Amazon; Barnes&Noble
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