Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

 genre: historical fiction

In America in the 1960s, trying to make a place for yourself as a chemist as a woman means you are fighting tooth and nail against misogamy and patriarchy.  And Elizabeth Zott is a chemist, to be sure.  Her job at lab leads to a relationship that will change everything - in ways both miraculous and devastating.  When circumstances require her to find a new source of income - a job hosting an afternoon cooking show means that Elizabeth's private life becomes way more public than she appreciates.  

I had no idea what this story was going to be and in the end, I loved it.  It's not always easy to read - people's lives are hard and complicated and the blatant sexism and harassment/assault in the workplace is deeply upsetting.  I think what is important to me about this story is that it gave me a sense of the absolute grit and strength of all women pioneers, but especially women in the sciences.  Elizabeth's behavior seems to pretty clearly put her on the spectrum and I think in some ways it makes her an even more interesting character.  Her black and white thinking and the way she forged relationships made the story more compelling to me.

It's a make-your-own-family story.  A dream big story. A coping with loss story.  A story of brilliant dogs and accessible chemistry and a woman who knows what she's capable of.