It occurred to me the other day, that despite how much I love books and read a lot, I never post reviews on my blog, so I thought I'd start! I had a copy of "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus for Christmas and it's been on my "to read" pile ever since.
Last week, I finally got around to it. My sister had bought it for me as a friend of hers had recommended it. As I read the description on the back, I wasn't sure it was going to be for me. I'm more of a murder mystery girl and I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy a book about a 1960's lady who hosted a cookery show.
Well it shows what I know! After the first couple of pages, I was hooked, and I'd decided I wanted to be Elizabeth Zott.
"Lessons in Chemistry" is the story of a chemist called Elizabeth Zott who is working with an all male team at the Hastings Research Institute. She is brilliant at her job and her male colleagues don't like it, well except for one. Elizabeth finds that she has real chemistry with a man called Calvin Evans, he's a lonely, brilliant Nobel-prize nominated scientist who can hold a grudge when he wants to. They fall in love.
A few years later, Elizabeth finds herself a single parent and the host of the really successful cooking show "Supper at Six", where her unusual approach to cooking earns her an army of fans and helps her change the status quo.
"Lessons in Chemistry" is one of those books that you've read half of it before you've realised it.
The characters are brilliantly created and one of Bonnie Garmus's real skills is that she gets you to develop real feelings for them. You really want Harriett to get her happy ending, I'd love a daughter like Mads, the friendship between Elizabeth and Walter is beautiful and I think we've all worked for someone like Robert Donatti and encountered a teacher like Mrs Mudford.
I always know when I love a book, because I procrastinate over reading the last 100 pages, because I don't want it to end, I want the characters in my life a little bit longer.
The book left me with a sense that anything is possible, you really do just have to back yourself and believe in your own ability to achieve what you want to.
Whilst the book didn't make me want to take up rowing, it did leave me wondering if any of my dogs understood half as many words as Six Thirty did? If I had to guess, I'd say Cyril the beagle could probably challenge Six Thirty's word count.
I'd love to know what you thought of "Lessons in Chemistry?"
Комментарии