Bonnie Garmus debut novel, "Lessons in Chemistry", is a delightful book about a chemist named Elizabeth Zott who, when she cannot pursue her research because of the rampant sexism of the 50s and 60s, takes a job as the host of a new TV show called "Supper at Six". Much to the dismay of the producers, Elizabeth teaches cooking as a chemistry class and she encourages her predominantly female audience to see themselves as having equal worth to the men. While the feminist message may not be new, the sparkling wit and humor of the narrator and the eccentric cast of characters makes this a uniquely engaging tale. I read it in a day because I couldn't put it down. This is one of the few books for me that deserve that often used description "laugh-out-loud funny". And, despite having lived my whole life in a world where women have struggled for equal rights with men, for the first time in years I wondered about my own mother (she would have been about Elizabeth's age) and how different her life might have been in a world that valued her talents without reference to her gender. Funny and it makes you think, what more can one ask for in a book?
