This book is undeniably appealing--but absolutely weird! Bonnie Garmus somehow pulls off a very neat trick here, combining serious social commentary with some elements of fantasy, all with a rather light touch. It doesn't seem like it should work, but somehow she pulls it off.

A warning--the light tone notwithstanding, there's some pretty awful content here, including sexual abuse in a variety of contexts. Despite some of the dire subject matter, there's also a lot of humor and sweetness to be found in the premise: a brilliant woman, a chemist, living her life in the 1950s/early 60s with no regard for social norms, including the rather rigid gender norms of the midcentury. Best character by far: the pet dog. 

Anyway, its themes are still, sadly, quite relevant today as we (and the younger generations--sob!) cope with the absurdities of gender politics as they are.

About Me

Laura LaVelle is Wonder Shuffle's Culture Editor. A fan of the great indoors, you can find her in her native NYC, her home in Connecticut, or at a concert, play, library, bookstore, or museum just about anywhere in the world.

NOVEL: Lessons in Chemistry

AUTHOR: Bonnie Garmus

PUBLICATION DATE: 2022

IMAGE: book cover, Vintage