Wednesday 24 May 2023

Tring Book Club - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

 

The beginning of this book was excellent and it did try to match that all the way through. Elizabeth Zott is a wonderful character, but she has a back story that I wished I had not read last thing at night. And that did not include her awful parents who never paid any taxes and with whom Elizabeth never has contact.

Into her life comes Calvin Evans, an equally devoted chemist. At one point they are talking long into the night when one of them has to get up and takes notes. He is the one who introduces Elizabeth to rowing, but for me, those passages were not that interesting. However an obstetrician has the best line when he asks Elizabeth if she will come back to row in a years time. "No babies in the boat, there are plenty of those as it is".

Hosting the "Supper at Six" TV show is her salvation. Combining chemistry and cooking is a novel idea and one that warms the story. That is until one fateful error. However this is not a romantic novel, but the characters are all vividly portrayed. My choice for Book Club turned out to be a blockbuster. There is humour, pathos and emotion. I loved it.

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