Page 2 | "Lessons In Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus

MsAmerica · 2022-11-28T00:14:11+00:00

I could have sworn that I'd posted about this, but apparently not - or at least my search isn't coming up with anything. I don't usually read contemporary fiction, but a friend - from whom I don't usually take book recommendations - loved *Lessons In Chemistry*, by Bonnie Garmus, and when I ran across it at the library, I picked it up. And it's rare that I actually laugh out loud at books, but when I laughed twice in the first ten pages, it was a sign of something a cut above the norm. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/677234/lessons-in-chemistry-by-bonnie-garmus/ And now I was just reading this article about it. *Beneath its pink cover, 'Lessons in Chemistry' offers a story about power* By Sadie Stein ^“Lessons in Chemistry” is a book that defies easy categorization and which, depending on which of its suitors had won, or which direction the winning house had decided to take, might have gone a number of ways. For the same reason, it appeals to a range of readers.^ https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/books/bonnie-garmus-lessons-chemistry-book.html https://artdaily.com/news/151811/Beneath-its-pink-cover---Lessons-in-Chemistry--offers-a-story-about-power#.Y4Pt9C-B3rA

Chikapu · 28/01/2023 13:47

I started it last night and found myself getting bored from the get-go, it's probably going to end up as a DNF.

Abracadabra12345 · 25/05/2023 16:22

I loved it but was also disappointed with it.

Impostersyndrome · 26/05/2023 20:03

I listened to the audiobook, and loved it. So much on the nose about academic life for women today, as much as in the sixties, sadly.

Iamacatslave · 26/05/2023 20:07

I loved it and found it very easy to read.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 26/05/2023 20:20

I'm part-way through. Needed a light read after difficult stuff at work and this was recommended by a friend so I had high hopes and all good. Until the assault. Why? Why put a graphic sexual assault into a witty novel that (to quote from the cover) "sparks joy with every page" when just the bit about him putting his hand up her skirt would've told us he was a sleaze. It's so depressing. Have had flashbacks and nightmares. I don't need those pictures in my head and I wish books had trigger warnings, although I suppose it would be hard to draw the line. But they could mention such content on the cover

Alcemeg · 26/05/2023 22:36

I wasn't sure what it was trying to be. A comedy? A tragedy? I like a book with its heart in the right place, but with this one I couldn't work out where the heart was.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/07/2023 16:30

Picked this book up at random a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. Love the fact we get some perspective from rhe dog. Not sure how that will translate to the TV show.

Anyone find it a bit odd the author used "they" to describe Joan of Arc?

toastofthetown · 06/07/2023 16:48

I read it after many positive recommendations and thought it was dreadful. I studied chemistry, and I think that made it worse for me. Elizabeth reminded me of the type of pretentious snot person who would (unironically) use scientific names in day to day life solely to sound more intelligent and feel superior. Kind of like the book really: wanted to seem witty and intelligent but came across as utterly vapid.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/07/2023 17:02

Yes I imagine that's entirely the type of character she is, I enjoyed that.

Abracadabra12345 · 06/07/2023 17:05

I enjoyed the writing but not the characters. Of COURSE she was beautiful (and autistic). Of course only stoopid people believed in God and naturally, her own friend a priest admitted he didn't believe- her hostility towards religion/ faith was pretty strong.

TrustPenguins · 06/07/2023 17:08

Currently reading this. About 100 pages to go. I'm enjoying it so far.

SomersetBrie · 06/07/2023 17:08

toastofthetown · 06/07/2023 16:48

I read it after many positive recommendations and thought it was dreadful. I studied chemistry, and I think that made it worse for me. Elizabeth reminded me of the type of pretentious snot person who would (unironically) use scientific names in day to day life solely to sound more intelligent and feel superior. Kind of like the book really: wanted to seem witty and intelligent but came across as utterly vapid.

Also a chemist and agree with all of this.
I generally manage to get through my day without talking about sodium chloride and H2O.
Started off quite strong but plot really didn't know where it was going by around half way. I barely finished it.

Original poster

MsAmerica · 07/07/2023 02:26

toastofthetown · 06/07/2023 16:48

I read it after many positive recommendations and thought it was dreadful. I studied chemistry, and I think that made it worse for me. Elizabeth reminded me of the type of pretentious snot person who would (unironically) use scientific names in day to day life solely to sound more intelligent and feel superior. Kind of like the book really: wanted to seem witty and intelligent but came across as utterly vapid.

While I don't agree with your individual points, it is true that if you look solely at Elizabeth, she doesn't come off at all as a likable character. No one seems to notice that because of the liveliness of the writing and the amusing turns to the story.

OP posts:

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/07/2023 07:41

I don't think she uses the scientific jargon solely because she is a chemist - isn't it sort of implied she is autistic?

Just seen a trailer for the TV show and the dog doesn't look anything like what I'd imagined 6.30 would look like.

Feenie · 07/07/2023 09:43

FlynG1n76 · 03/01/2023 12:35

I found it really dull and had to force myself to finish it.

Me too, except I stopped reading at 80%. I only read that far because all my friends had raved about it. She got on my nerves.

Lemonyyy · 07/07/2023 10:01

I hated it, and didn't finish. I found the main character infuriating, anachronistic and completely unbelievable. I nearly stopped at the graphic assault scene, and completely agree with previous posters that it was gratuitous.

TrustPenguins · 07/07/2023 13:45

Hmm, just finished this.
Didn't quite live up to the hype and although I did enjoy it (found it a quick & easy read), it was a bit unbelievable and the main character was a bit annoying!
I'd give it 3.5 out of 5.

Backstreets · 07/07/2023 13:54

toastofthetown · 06/07/2023 16:48

I read it after many positive recommendations and thought it was dreadful. I studied chemistry, and I think that made it worse for me. Elizabeth reminded me of the type of pretentious snot person who would (unironically) use scientific names in day to day life solely to sound more intelligent and feel superior. Kind of like the book really: wanted to seem witty and intelligent but came across as utterly vapid.

It strikes me as a particularly American method of denoting intelligence in fiction, learning formulae and complicated words by rote. There was an episode of Hannibal where he’s in Italy and floors a room full of Italian intellectuals by declaring Dante from memory, culminating in wild applause. For me the least realistic scene in that show ;)

I read the book, a bit lightweight for me, but I finished it at least, and it made me chuckle. The romance between the two scientists I found quite touching. Shame there wasn’t more, though I appreciate that was the whole point.

Xmasbaby11 · 08/07/2023 08:15

I read this as a few friends loved it and Ient me a copy. I just couldn't warm to Elizabeth at all and found her unbelievable as a character, a few of the others, too. The dialogue was clunky, again, as she was supposed to be so intelligent and quirky/autistic. The concept was interesting and I did finish it and will remember it, so that's something, it was definitely original.

Original poster

MsAmerica · 21/07/2023 20:00

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/07/2023 07:41

I don't think she uses the scientific jargon solely because she is a chemist - isn't it sort of implied she is autistic?

Just seen a trailer for the TV show and the dog doesn't look anything like what I'd imagined 6.30 would look like.

It's a TV show????

OP posts:

RampantIvy · 21/07/2023 20:16

I read this recently and thought it was OK, just OK. I don't understand the hype TBH.

manontroppo · 21/07/2023 20:21

toastofthetown · 06/07/2023 16:48

I read it after many positive recommendations and thought it was dreadful. I studied chemistry, and I think that made it worse for me. Elizabeth reminded me of the type of pretentious snot person who would (unironically) use scientific names in day to day life solely to sound more intelligent and feel superior. Kind of like the book really: wanted to seem witty and intelligent but came across as utterly vapid.

This, it was utterly horrific and I couldn’t finish it. It felt like the kind of book that got promoted because the author is mates with the right people. I found it to be completely devoid of any merit.

IveHadItUpToHere · 21/07/2023 20:22

I thought it was fine but overhyped. It was too twee for me.

RampantIvy · 21/07/2023 20:29

Is anyone reminded of Sister Boniface?

LizziesTwin · 14/08/2023 18:45

I’ve been listening to it as an audiobook from my local library as I clean & do laundry. I’m enjoying it so far.