Book Brief: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

 Lessons in Chemistry 

by Bonnie Garmus

 Doubleday Books, 2022

400 pages

audio edition  narrated by Miranda Raison

Random House Audio, 2022

11 hours and 55 minutes

source: library ebook, audible audio

Goodreads summary:

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it's the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel-prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with--of all things--her mind. True chemistry results.

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America's most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth's unusual approach to cooking ("combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride") proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn't just teaching women to cook. She's daring them to change the status quo.

Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry  is as original and vibrant as its protagonist.

My thoughts:

This is the  buzzy book of the season and with good reason! Elizabeth Zott is one of the most memorable characters I've come across in a very long time, and the supporting cast of characters (including the dog Six-thirty) is superb. 

However, 

...this was not the book I was expecting. The cover implies light and breezy, while the blurb describes the novel as  "laugh-out-loud funny."  I experienced something much more substantial and serious. Garmis offers some pretty grim social commentary on the status of women during the 1960s, which somehow feels even heavier in light of last Friday's Supreme Court ruling.

Lessons in Chemistry  is still a wonderful read. (Trigger warning for a sexual assault scene early in the novel.)  But I do recommend you read, rather than listen. The repeated mispronunciation of Jack LaLanne's name was annoying, but the mispronunciation of multiple chemical names/terms drove me to distraction. I had to give up on the audio and switch to print.

If you're looking for a summer read that's a bit more serious and will easily lend itself to discussion, I recommend Lessons in Chemistry.

My rating:

A Late June Sunday Salon

Hello, friends. It's hard to believe we're approaching the end of June already... summer in Connecticut is in full swing. We're enjoying the town beaches, the parks overlooking the cove and river, and weekly concerts on the green. We've had visits from both NYC daughters, plus I drove to central New York to spend time with my parents... and get a haircut!

I've read some good books this month, too, but haven't managed to write about them. I'll post a full review for Lessons in Chemistry  and then a mini-review round up for the others.

Recent reading//

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

by Maggie O'Farrell, narrated by Anne Flosnik

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

The Four Winds

by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Julia Whelan

Current reading//

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

After finishing Kristin Hannah's version, I figured it was time to reread the classic novel about the Dust Bowl migration. I'm also planning to watch the Ken Burns PBS documentary.

Coming soon//

 It's that time... Paris in July is almost here! Tamara at Thyme for Tea and Deb at Readerbuzz are teaming up to bring this month-long event back to the blogosphere. You can read more about it and sign up here.

My new library book group has chosen The Book of Salt  by Monique Truong (set in Paris) for early August discussion, so at least one of my selections is set. 

Will you be participating?

Feedly update//

A couple of weeks ago I posted about my frustration with bloglovin' and began to set up a feedly account. That's working out well so far. You can follow up to 100 blogs with a free feedly account and, even though I follow more than 100 on blogluvin', I can now read my core group of blogs regularly.

I check blogluvin' periodically to catch up with the rest, but it still appears to be down more often than not...

The week ahead//

Next weekend is the 4th of July! Twin B and her boyfriend will spend the long holiday weekend with us and, of course, I am excited to see them. But... with all that has happened on so many fronts this past week, I'm not really feeling like fireworks, parades, and Yankee Doodle. Sigh.

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.

Weekly Update: June 12, 2022

Hello from southern Connecticut! We've been here just over a week and are finally settling in. We arrived in time for my husband to attend a few college reunion activities last weekend. One of our daughters and her boyfriend were here for a long weekend, too. Easy train access to New York City factored into our decision to purchase here and we're glad both NYC daughters are able to take advantage of it.

A top priority for me has been finding a new walking route, so last week I tried several. I enjoyed the variety and will likely rotate between three of them. Another route was especially scenic, but it turned out to be over four miles instead of my usual two to three - maybe I'll save that one for days when I have more time and energy!

Recent reading//

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

This was a read/listen combination for me and, unfortunately, not the 5-star experience I was anticipating. I'm waffling between 3.5 and 4 stars (a very good read!) and plan to post a review later this week.

Current reading//

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

This book has been on my tbr list for years, and about a month ago I purchased this beautiful paperback. It seems there is not a kindle edition... surprising! In this short novel, Rhys imagines the story behind the madwoman in the attic from Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. I'm about halfway through now and finding to to be atmospheric, tinged with melancholy, and very readable.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox 

by Maggie O'Farrell, narrated by Anne Flosnik

Maggie O'Farrell is another author on my "must try in 2022" list and this is where I decided to begin. It's a read/listen combination that is mostly listening for now. I'm about a third of the way in, completely invested in the story, and can't wait to pick it up again!

What's up with Blogluvin'?

This was my week to try and get caught up with blog reading and I couldn't access my feed for most of the week! It seems to be a recurring Blogluvin' problem, at least for me, and I think it may be time to explore other options. Are any of you using Feedly? What do you think of it? I'll probably set up an account this week.

In the kitchen//

I was craving soup this week and tried a new recipe for Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup from Damn Delicious... and it WAS delicious! The recipe is slightly more involved than other chicken noodle soups I make, but well worth the extra effort. The only change I made was to use 8 cups (two 32oz. cartons) of chicken stock instead of 6 cups. This will be my new go-to chicken noodle soup.

The week ahead//

We have a few more home projects on tap this week. I'm planning to check out a couple more walking routes, while my husbands figures out bike routes. We're looking forward to our  other NYC daughter's visit sometime midweek... she and her boyfriend are the only two who haven't seen the new place yet. I'm sure she'll also help me plan something special for Father's Day next Sunday.

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.

May Wrap-Up and Plans for June

It's the end of May and we're nearly halfway through 2022. I say this every month, but it seems like time is passing so quickly! This was our month to relax and enjoy Florida life before traveling north for the summer. My sister and BIL visited for a few days, we spent lots of time with local friends and neighbors, went for morning walks/runs, and got to the beach for sunset as often as we could.

May was also an excellent reading month for me. I finished six books... half from my planned reading list and half impulse reads or library holds. Two of those books were 5-star reads and I rated two more 4.5 stars, so this turned out to be the highest quality reading month I've had in a very long time!

• The Absolutist by John Boyne  - literary fiction - 4.5/5 stars
• Family of Liars by E. Lockhart - YA fiction - 4/5 stars
• Love & Saffron by Kim Fay  - historical fiction, epistolary - 5/5 stars
• South to America by Imani Perry - nonfiction - 3.5/5 stars
• Book Lovers by Emily Henry - contemporary fiction, rom-com - 5/5 stars
• The Promise by Damon Galgut - literary fiction - 4.5/5 stars

June Reading Possibilities//

• Lessons in Chemistry  by Bonnie Grams (in progress)
• Daughters of the Samurai: A Journey from East to West and Back  by Janice P. Nimura (in progress)
• The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox  by Maggie O'Farrell
• The Monsters of Templeton  by Lauren Groff
• Wide Sargasso Sea  by Jean Rhys
• The Maid  by Nita Prose

Other June Plans//

We'll spend the first few days of June driving north, then settle in for the summer. My husband's college reunion is coming up, as well as our niece's graduation party, and Father's Day. Both NYC daughters have also made plans to visit in June. With Covid transmission levels rising, we're still being cautious and hope these events all take place as planned.

How was your month? What was your favorite May book?

Three Mini-Reviews: South to America by Imani Perry, Book Lovers by Emily Henry, The Promise by Damon Galgut

South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation

by Imani Perry, narrated by the author

Ecco, January 2022

410 pages

source: library ebook, audible audiobook

This is a hard book to categorize, rate, and review. It reads like a combination memoir/travelogue with plenty of history for background and context. Perry, a black woman raised in Alabama, travels around the south to re-experience its culture, food, and arts. Along the way, she meets with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Perry examines each area's history in an attempt to help the reader better understand the region as a whole and how it has shaped the American identity. 

Perry's writing is beautiful, the histories are informative, and and several of the deep dives were fascinating. However, it just didn't come together as I'd hoped and I had a hard time following through to the big picture.

My rating:

 

Book Lovers

by Emily Henry

Berkley, May 2022

398 pages

source: ebook borrowed from the library

I loved this book! I rarely read romance, but was immediately engaged and even laughing out loud by the end of the first chapter. 

The plot follows an enemies-to-lovers trope and involves a cutthroat NYC literary agent, a handsome brooding editor, a struggling bookstore in a bucolic small town, and a lovely relationship between sisters. I don't want to say much more, but this story is fun, cozy, and very funny. I think it's Henry's best book yet, so be sure to tuck it into your beach bag this summer!

My rating:

The Promise by Damon Galgut

Europa Editions, 2021

269 pages

audiobook narrated by Peter Noble

9 hours and 37 minutes

source: purchased hardcover, audio borrowed from library via hoopla

The Promise, set in post-Apartheid South Africa, documents the downfall of a white family living on a farm outside of Pretoria. The promise in question was allegedly made by the father to the mother on her deathbed and is overheard by their youngest daughter. The dying woman wanted her black servant, who has been with the family for years, to be given the small house on the farm property in which she resides. This promise is not immediately kept. There are three subsequent chapters, each occurring at roughly ten year intervals and chronicling another family death and funeral.

The Promise  won the 2021 Booker Prize and is the most literary novel I've read in a while. Though the overall mood is depressing, the structure is effective and engaging, and the writing is excellent. The story offers an interesting look at race relations in South Africa during this turbulent period, as well as the relationships within one specific family. If you're up for a more sobering read, I definitely recommend this book. I'd like to read more by Damon Galgut.

My rating: 

The Sunday Salon: Rainy Season is Here

Do you see that sliver of a sunset? It seems that "rainy season" has arrived in southwest Florida and, after a week of gorgeous sunsets, this was all we got on Friday evening. The humidity is oppressively high and it was already 80 degrees when I went for my walk early this morning. Good thing I've found a mostly shaded route!  I think I'll be ready to head north at the end of the month... although it looks like it might be just as warm there!

Finished  last week//

South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation by Imani Perry, narrated by the author

This was a read/listen combination, but I primarily listened on my morning walks. An interesting combination of memoir and travelogue with plenty of history for background and context, I'll have a short review later this week.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

My second five-star read of the month, this was just so much fun! Get on your library's hold list now and keep an eye out for my thoughts later in the week.

Current reading//

The Promise by Damon Galgut

This is the 2021 Booker Prize winner and my current read/listen combination. It's much more literary than the last couple of novels I read and a welcome change of pace. I purchased the book in NYC last month and downloaded the audio, narrated by Peter Noble, from my library via hoopla. I'm about halfway through it now.

On the blog//

Book Brief: Love & Saffron  by Kim Fay

Book Brief: Family of Liars  by E. Lockhart

In the kitchen//

The focus of my meal-planning last week was on emptying the freezer and I made good progress. I'm trying to use up pantry staples, too. Since I stuck with recipes from the regular rotation, there aren't any new ones to share.

But, we did enjoy splitting this delicious margarita flight for our TGIF lunch at 400 Rabbits. That was definitely a highlight of the week!

The week ahead//

We will focus on packing and prepping for our trip north this week. I also have a checkup with my dermatologist, then lunch with my SIL as a reward. It's hard to believe we are closing in on Memorial Day weekend. Our plan is to hang out here and enjoy one final weekend at the beach. Do you have special plans?

That's it for me...how was your week? What are you reading today?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.

Book Brief: Love & Saffron by Kim Fay

 

Love & Saffron : A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love

by Kim Fay

Penguin Publishing Group, February 2022

kindle edition 192 pages

source: borrowed from the library

Motivation for reading: Catherine from The Gilmore Guide to Books talked about this on the podcast Sarah's Bookshelves Live and it sounded like a book I'd love.

A portion of the goodreads summary:

The #1 Indie Next Pick, in the vein of the classic 84, Charing Cross Road  and Meet Me at the Museum, this witty and tender novel follows two women in 1960s America as they discover that food really does connect us all, and that friendship and laughter are the best medicine. 

When twenty-seven-year-old Joan Bergstrom sends a fan letter--as well as a gift of saffron--to fifty-nine-year-old Imogen Fortier, a life-changing friendship begins. Joan lives in Los Angeles and is just starting out as a writer for the newspaper food pages. Imogen lives on Camano Island outside Seattle, writing a monthly column for a Pacific Northwest magazine, and while she can hunt elk and dig for clams, she's never tasted fresh garlic--exotic fare in the Northwest of the sixties. As the two women commune through their letters, they build a closeness that sustains them through the Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of President Kennedy, and the unexpected in their own lives.

My thoughts:

This book is a gem! I love an epistolary novel, and this one has been compared to an all-time favorite 84, Charing Cross Road.  Turns out that comparison is spot on. The main difference here (aside from the fact that this is fiction and 84, Charing Cross Road is nonfiction) is that the friendship - between two women of different generations in the 1960s - is forged over food rather than books. It begins with a fan letter and a gift of saffron and ends up a most extraordinary friendship.

I loved this little book and was sorry to reach the end. It will surely appear on my list of favorites in December. I plan to purchase a hard copy for myself and will likely gift a copy or two at Christmas. Don't miss it!

My rating: