Lessons in Chemistry

January 12th was a cold and rainy evening, but seven TIC members braved the elements – ALL except one came by bike! – and made their way to Donna’s home to discuss our latest book. After getting warm drinks and hovering around a table full of delicious sweet and savory snacks, we made our way to the living room to sit and talk about the book. While it does not happen very often, everyone LOVED the book! While just under 400 pages, most found Lessons in Chemistry an easy read. The book, set in 60’s America, had a style of writing and depth of character development that were very appreciated facets. Even though the book dealt with serious and sometimes shocking events – the rape of Elizabeth by her mentoring professor, blatant sexual exploitation and discrimination, cruel and lying clergy and a level of backstabbing-to-get-ahead that was stunning!  – the book was also very funny!

Elizabeth was a quirky and endearing protagonist, whose insistence on doing things her own way often made her life extremely challenging. It was wonderful to see the initial intellectual and then romantic relationship between Elizabeth and Calvin develop and they were true soulmates. Add to this eccentric duo, 6:30 – the unusually named stray dog, who was really a traumatized, bomb sniffing police dog – and you have the most interesting household. Elizabeth, never believing in limitations, set out to increase 6:30’s vocabulary and through his voice in the book, we saw the number of words he understood grow. The dog became a valuable member of the family, and with 4 feet on the ground, he was constantly intervening to aid the rest of the family. Truly hilarious!

When Elizabeth becomes the single mother of Mad – her brilliant daughter who never seems able to fit in – the full force of 60s’ prejudices come crashing down on her. Unable to work as a researcher in the lab, Elizabeth takes a sledgehammer to her home’s kitchen and turns it into a lab. She finally takes a job as the “housewife” presenter of a cooking show, Supper At Six. While not her dream job, she does it her own way, quickly ridding the TV set of the tacky and useless decorations meant to make her kitchen look like “every housewife’s dream”. In her white lab coat – not the short, form fitting dress the network executive wanted – Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (‘combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride’) proves revolutionary. Supported by a loyal neighbor and her boss at the station, her show becomes a sensation and she challenges the women watching to ignore the limitations others place on them and follow their dreams.

If you are looking for a well written, serious, yet funny novel with a cast of unforgettable characters, Lessons in Chemistry will hit the spot!