Hi, I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying a pleasant August day. It’s gorgeous here this weekend and I had a nice bike ride this morning, pedaling 35 miles over hill and dale. Yesterday the dogs and I walked along the river and I took some photos of wildflowers and flowering weeds, see below. We passed some boys fishing, who caught a big rainbow trout right as we walked by. It was great to watch as one boy reeled it in and the other pulled it in with the net. The dogs were fascinated by the flopping fish, which was released after a photo with the boy who caught it. It’s all catch and release on the river.
Also thanks to everyone for their kind words last week about our exciting news about moving to the countryside. We will put our house on the market this week so who knows how that will go.
Meanwhile I fly out on Thursday to Southern California to visit my parents, my brother, and a couple old friends, whom I’m having a reunion with at the beach. We were the three musketeers back in junior high school, and now they live in Northern California and I haven’t seen them in years. We might not have been all together at the beach since 1983, when Madonna’s first album came out, as we used to sing the songs on the way back to the desert, LOL. Those were the days.
And now I’ll leave you with a review of what I finished lately.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus / Doubleday / 400 pages / 2022
Synopsis: Set in 1960s California, the novel is about Elizabeth Zott, an unapologetic determined scientist who finds her education and career opportunities thwarted by sexism and inequality. She falls for a fellow scientist, who introduces her to the sport of rowing and they have an intelligent dog named 6:30 and later a child Madeline “Mad” Zott. Through misfortune, things for Elizabeth take a detour and she finds herself hosting a TV cooking show that empowers housewives and takes off in popularity.
My Thoughts: I loved this novel, which I listened to as an audiobook read by Miranda Raison, and so far it’s my book of the summer. (Wait, didn’t I say that about The Daughter of Doctor Moreau? That one was good, but this one perhaps connected even more.) I laughed in places, I nodded about the female experiences of inequality and sexism … and I found the story endearing and hard to put down. Not only is Elizabeth Zott strong-willed and a hoot to follow, but the other characters are likable too — her next door neighbor Harriet Sloane, who’s trapped in a miserable marriage, and Elizabeth’s child Mad Zott, who at age 5 has read most of Dickens … and Elizabeth’s partner Calvin and her cooking show boss Walter Pine … even the HR woman (who comes to see the light late about sexism) adds some complexity.
Overall I fell into the story hook, line, and sinker. It’s funny in parts plus I give it extra points for including a dog, crazily named 6:30, central to it and a sport — in this case rowing. So it features a sport, a dog, strong female characters … and a winsome storyline about an important subject matter — but that also includes humor — what more do you want? Kudos to debut author Bonnie Garmus who delivers. It’s a relatable book to most females alive … that involves sexism and inequality in the 1960s workplace and society, but it could just as well have been about the 1970s, ’80s … and even ’90s.
Elizabeth Zott is an uncompromising character who fights to be treated equally and others treated fairly. She’s a character I won’t soon forget and I admired how author Bonnie Garmus used her mother’s own experiences as well as her own to fuel the indomitable Zott. Good luck to Brie Larson who will star in a series based on the book for Apple TV+. I was impressed by Brie as Jeannette Walls in The Glass Castle so perhaps she can tackle playing Elizabeth Zott too.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read this novel and what did you think?
I’m glad you enjoyed this one as I did. I thought Elizabeth was a terrific character and she should translate quite well onto the screen. I look forward to watching the television adaptation.
Hey Dorothy – glad you liked this one too. I thought it was a winner. I think it might translate to the screen as well. Have a great week.
I’m SO excited about the reunion, your move, and this book, which somehow I haven’t gotten to yet. We will discuss it all soon!
Thanks Molly. Yeah I’m stoked too, though I’m leaving Robert here with chores if they get showings hmm. I’m also having some detachment issues with our current home, but that’s par for the course. We have much to discuss when you arrive! Is August going by quickly or what?! see you soon.
Lesson’s in Chemistry was one of my favorites in 2022, I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. I love the 60s vive and Elizabeth was a great character. Have fun in Southern CA.
Thanks Diane. I’m glad you liked this novel too. Elizabeth is quite a character. I was impressed by this debut and look forward to her next book. Have a great week.
Fingers crossed your house sells quickly! And I haven’t read Lessons In Chemistry yet, but it sounds good. 🙂
Thanks Lark. We will see how it goes but I hope it sells quickly. This novel was overall entertaining. Enjoy your week.
Good luck with the trip, house selling, and moving too! I’d go crazy with so many changes. I’m amidst a reading slump, or more likely changes that have impacted my reading pace and concentration. Anyways, I’m glad you enjoyed this book so. I started Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra, but I found it too ornery and I don’t have time for that right now; I put it aside and picked up Small Things like These by Claire Keegan, which was longlisted for the Booker, and that’s when I reached a hiatus.
Yeah Carmen, things are distracting right now … so reading and concentrating are not optimal. What changes are going on there? Marra’s books can be a bit dense & dark … I read his 2nd one but I’m in no hurry for his new one. I liked Keegan’s novel which is short but good. I’m reading a PW assigned book but haven’t gotten far yet. The heat is back this week …and we are hanging on like everywhere else. I’m taking the dogs swimming everyday over 80 degrees so they don’t collapse. I hope you will get beyond the slump but give it some time. You will emerge. take care.
What a beautiful area… perfect for a long bike ride! Glad you enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry. Although the cover had me expecting something fluffier, it was an impactful read and I’m still thinking about Elizabeth Zott. I got really annoyed with what I considered mispronunciations on the audio version – Jack LaLanne’s name and many chemical names/terms. Had to switch to print. Safe travels!
Thanks JoAnn. I’ll be in Calif soon – hard to believe. I last went there in March. The book does have a bit of a deceiving cover. Too fluffy it seems for Elizabeth Zott who says she’s always serious. I wasn’t as put off by the audio as you were and was able to overlook the names/terms for whatever reason. I think I was just into the story or to see what would happen. Enjoy your week.
I agree! LaLanne, Nobel Prize, morale, winding: the mispronunciations were off putting. I loved the book, but feel someone should have played the role of audio editor on this recording.
Hi Rita, good point. Thanks for weighing in on this one. Audio narrations are so important … definitely need a good editor for it.
Lessons in Chemistry sounds fun! I too would give bonus points for the name of the dog. 😀 Enjoy your trip to California, always fun to meet up with old school friends…
Thanks Stargazer … it should be a good trip although the timing of it is not really good right now … as we put our place on the market. The hub will try to hold down the fort with the dogs. And I like novels that feature dogs … the dog in this novel knows what is going on! We have a dog like that too … she seems to understand where I’m going or what I’m doing before it happens. Clairvoyant.
Have a great week.
Lessons in Chemistry is now in a box along with the rest of my TBR books, waiting for the to-be-built shelves in the new condo. I just realized I didn’t keep out enough books to last me until the shelves are built so I’ll be breaking into boxes for my reading material after I move next week. I hope your house sale goes well.
Seeing friends that you haven’t seen since 1983 while you are here in So Cal sounds absolutely fantastic. I am all about reconnecting with long time friends. Have a fantastic time with them and your parents.
Thanks Helen. I think all your get-togethers with old friends inspired me to do one too! It should be a blast. And cross your fingers that the house sells. Tomorrow is the big day of it going on the market. I wish you an excellent & smooth move next week to your new condo. It should be great once you’re settled. We’ll compare notes on moving argh! Good luck.
Good for you for riding so far! It’s been years since I’ve done anything like that (getting close to 40 miles, I think but maybe that’s just my wishful thinking and it was more like 20. Lol!). I’ve been a slug on this road trip, not walking very much at all! Or reading. Just lots of relaxing conversations with family, many of whom I haven’t seen in well over 50 years. Crazy! You’ll have great fun with your reunion of sorts. Where in Northern CA do they live? We’re driving back up through the Redwoods tomorrow, taking our time and getting back home a week from tomorrow.
I don’t know why, but it makes me happy to see that you loved Lessons in Chemistry even though I didn’t. I wanted to, and I did like it, but I think I went into it with super high expectations.
Safe travels to you and best of luck with the sale of your house!
Thanks Lesley. We haven’t moved in almost 20 years so this is a big deal. We forgot all the work it entails, argh! And it’s crazy the timing of this trip to Calif. – I thought of canceling it (to focus on the house sale) but somehow I’m still going and Robert will try to keep it tidy for viewings while working etc.
I hope you’re having a great time on your road trip; sounds like gorgeous sightseeing. My reunion friends live in San Mateo and Tahoe … formerly San Jose. It will be great to see them in SoCal. We were teenagers once!
I really went into this novel not knowing much … so I was pretty open … and there were some lines that made me laugh … so I got into it. And ultimately I liked her message and thought her work experiences rang true to women in those times. But glad I didn’t read all the hype before. Safe travels to you & fun times.
I have seen this book in some many places that it is on my long request list at the library. Hope to get it soon. Nice review.
Thanks Harvee. Yeah I hope you like it when you get to it. It was big when it came out in April but I just got a library copy. Enjoy the weekend.
I’m so happy you liked Lessons in Chemistry, Susan. The story was both humorous and thoughtful—-just what I like to find in a good story.
I hope you have a lovely trip. It sounds wonderful to see old friends.
Good luck on selling your house.
Thanks Deb. I noticed you liked the Garmus novel too, which was great to see.
I arrived in Calif. yesterday and it’s baking here around 103 degrees, so trying to do things early in the morn. I hope the housing market holds up north.
Have a great weekend. Happy reading.
Enjoy your visit in California with family and friends! Great strategy to do things early in the morning.
Thanks much to do. & Great to see my folks. Will report back after the trip. Stay cool …
Hope you are having fun reuniting with family and friends! And, I keep hearing such great things about this book. Definitely on my TBR list
Thanks for stopping by Iliana. I hope things are better with you; I know you took a break for a while. It’s going to be nice trip here — and I will likely report back after the trip. Have a great weekend.
Very excited for your new move and adventure! Can’t wait to hear more. We are looking to move into something a bit bigger this next spring/summer. So I love seeing others get into the homes they love.
I’ve heard good things about Lessons in Chemistry. Next time I’m wanting a romance I’ll give this one a go!
Thanks Heather, much to do with the move. Right now I’m in Calif. visiting my folks, where it’s boiling. I only go out early in the morns & evenings.
This novel Lessons in Chemistry is not really a romance … so the marketing is a bit wrong on that … it’s more a story about women’s equality issues in the 1960s and empowerment. It’s done well. Enjoy your week.
Definitely looking forward to reading Lessons in Chemistry. I am on the waitlist at the library and it is taking a loonnnggg time for my turn. Glad you liked it so much–seems there is a lot to like.
Yeah Jane. I thought this novel lived up to the hype and I was entertained by it. I hope you get it soon. Happy reading.