OVERVIEW
So I am one of those very picky readers who has specific genres, authors, and book styles. I have been reading since I was in Kindergarten (thank you, Mark Andrews) and I knew what I liked even back then! HA!
This book has been labeled with multiple genres - historical fiction, humor, and humorous fiction. Personally, I do not think any of these genres apply. The most accurate genre that I have found for this book is quirky tragicomedy.
The book goes back in forth between the a bit in the past to the present time for the book, i.e. the late 1950s/early 1960s and the middle 1950s. It was based primarily in a fictional city on the coast of California at a research facility.
The book style reminds me of a lot of "cutesy" books that I have read in the past. There are a lot of triggering events in the very beginning of the book including rape and suicide which makes this book not funny to me. So I am a little confused as to why it gets tagged with a humor genre.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
This was a debut novel for Bonnie Garmus. This book won the Goodreads Choice Award - Nominee for Best Historical Fiction (2022) and Winner for Best Debut Novel (2022).
Personally, I am puzzled by the Best Historical Fiction as I don't think that it was indicative of life at all in the 1950/1960s. It just didn't read to me like a well-researched historical fiction novel like I am used to reading. Plus, there were many other nominees in the 2023 Best Historical Fiction category that I am shocked did not win.
Character development: 4.0 stars
The character development of the three main characters and secondary characters was a deep dive. We did see into some of their thoughts including the dog (which I loved). I do understand why the main characters were so strong, but it made them difficult to like which hurt the storyline to me.
The main character is Elizabeth - it is all about her, all the time. The secondary characters are her significant other, Calvin; her daughter, Mad; and her dog, six-thirty.
There are many tertiary characters from Elizabeth's graduate advisor at UCLA to the Chemistry Chair at her job to her neighbor, Harriet. The first two characters play ugly villainous parts in Elizabeth's life and the third character was a true friend who allowed her to shine and fly.
Storyline: 3.5 stars
The storyline was not believable to me. Yes, Elizabeth was a brilliant chemist, but her behavior would not have been tolerated then or now because she didn't have the research or degrees to justify it. Her partner on the other hand was a Ph.D. who was a renowned name - his quirkiness would have been allowed as he brought in grant and donor money.
The main locations were coastal California, Cambridge, UCLA, and Iowa.
Memorable/Informative: 3.5 stars
It just wasn't memorable or informative to me. I did learn a new term that I had never heard previously: abiogenesis. Definition of abiogenesis
Book cover: 3.5 stars
Boring and not eye-catching
Book title: 4.0 stars
It was a good choice
Gut feeling: 3.5 stars
I never know what to expect when I read a uber-popular book!
Suggestions:
A list of the literature mentioned in the book would have been nice.
RECOMMEND
BOOK INFORMATION
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
400 pages
This was a library book from LAPL
Release date of 04/05/2022
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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