Dr Cam's Book Nook: Monthly Reads & Gut Instincts

LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, Bonnie Garmus

Disclaimer: This blog contains spoilers and discusses key elements of Lessons in Chemistry. If you haven’t read the book yet and wish to avoid spoilers, you may want to read it before continuing.

Finding time to read fiction has been challenging since having a 6-year-old and a 2-year-old. Most of my reading lately has focused on work or microbiome-related topics. Lessons in Chemistry was a refreshing escape snatched in small moments here and there that reminded me how nourishing it is to dive into a good story purely for pleasure.

Breaking Barriers: Women in Science

As a woman in science, I truly appreciated the book’s powerful theme of empowering women to pursue careers in science. Elizabeth Zott’s determination to break barriers and challenge stereotypes resonated deeply with me, celebrating the strength and resilience needed to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated field.

The book highlights the many challenges women in science face-gender stereotypes, workplace discrimination, and the struggle for recognition. It also shows the pressure of balancing career and domestic expectations.

As a female doctor, I’ve often experienced patients assuming I’m a nurse, reflecting these persistent biases. Despite this, the story celebrates resilience and the power of supportive networks in helping women

From Prejudice to Perseverance: My Story and Elizabeth Zott’s

I connected deeply with Elizabeth Zott’s character because her struggles with social bias and being underestimated echoed my own experiences. Coming from a working-class background and attending a local comprehensive school, I sometimes faced prejudice at university from both peers and strangers. Like Elizabeth, I had to push through stereotypes and social barriers to pursue my goals

At school, teachers doubted I could get into medical school, insisting I’d need all A’s at GCSE. Frustratingly, when I visited a grammar school for sixth form, a teacher dismissed my predicted A* grades, saying, “A predicted A* at your school is different to an A* here.” After I achieved seven A*s, my headteacher rang the grammar school in outrage at their prejudice, which ultimately put me off applying. At medical school, a peer once remarked, based on my accent, “I bet one room in my house was as big as your entire house.” These experiences didn’t stop me; if anything, they made me work harder. But as someone with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), these moments have left scars and a lingering sense of being ‘less than’ my degree suggests. Like Elizabeth, I’ve had to push through stereotypes and social barriers to pursue my goals.

From Pie Shop to TV Kitchen: Making Do Like Elizabeth Zott

Like Elizabeth Zott in Lessons in Chemistry, I had to take on jobs I wouldn’t have chosen to support myself during my studies. While at medical school, I worked on the pie counter at Morrisons to help fund my studies- a job far from my passion, but one that kept me going through those busy years. I spent hours cooking pies and racing around the store before closing, trying to convince last-minute shoppers to buy them and avoid waste. Friends from other houses even met me in the student union for their 2p pies. I was basically the Raquel Turner of medical school, hustling pies like Del Boy’s partner! Not too far away from pies, Elizabeth, a brilliant chemist, is forced to leave her passion and work as a TV cooking show host, a path she never wanted. Balancing these jobs alongside intense coursework taught me resilience and time management. Both of us had to adapt and persevere, showing the strength needed to overcome barriers and keep moving forward

Not Just a Pet: Six-Thirty’s Unique Perspective

The perspective of Six-Thirty, the dog, is one of the most unique and touching aspects of Lessons in Chemistry. Experiencing the story through his eyes adds emotional depth and highlights loyalty, grief, and belonging themes. It reminded me of my own childhood, when my pet guinea pigs-especially Jenius, named after Dick King-Smith’s novel-were a source of comfort and reflection during times of stress and neurodiversity, long before online support was available. Like Six-Thirty, Jenius seemed to understand and respond to my feelings, and I often imagined her thoughts, much as the novel invites us into Six-Thirty’s inner world. This narrative choice beautifully captures how pets can be silent companions and emotional anchors through life’s challenges.

Neurodiverse Brilliance: Elizabeth Zott’s Unconventional Mind

Many readers and critics see Elizabeth Zott as neurodiverse, with Autistic traits apparent in the prose - her literal thinking, preference for routines, and direct communication style. The book never labels her as neurodivergent, reflecting the era’s lack of such language. Her behaviours and worldview resonate strongly with neurodiverse audiences and are often interpreted as affirming neurodiversity.

Reading about Elizabeth’s experiences felt especially meaningful to me, as I recently discovered I have ADHD. Like Elizabeth, I often feel out of step with social norms and have my own ways of navigating the world. Her story was a powerful reminder that there’s strength in thinking and being different and that embracing neurodiversity can be challenging and empowering.

Final thoughts: Lessons Indeed

What I loved most about Lessons in Chemistry was how much more there was to Elizabeth’s story than science alone. Her determination shines through not just in the lab, but on the water. Rowing becomes a metaphor for resilience, pushing through pain and setbacks, and finding moments of light and freedom even when life feels heavy. I relate to this deeply, as I’ve found similar relief and renewed identity through Taekwondo after having a baby. Motherhood can strip away your sense of self, leaving you feeling lost or disconnected from who you once were. There’s something powerful about discovering a mindful, physical pursuit when that happens, helping you reconnect with yourself.

I also appreciated the subtle lifestyle medicine undertones in the novel. Elizabeth’s scientific approach to explaining the protein content and nutrient balance of meals for her daughter felt ahead of its time, echoing today’s conversations about healthy eating and the importance of whole foods over ultra-processed options. While the book doesn’t explicitly mention ultra-processed food, Elizabeth’s focus on real ingredients and balanced nutrition is a quiet rebellion against convenience culture and is more relevant than ever.

In the end, Lessons in Chemistry is about perseverance, reinvention, and the joy of finding strength in unexpected places-whether that’s in a boat at dawn, a kitchen full of science, or the everyday acts of standing up for yourself and those you love ❤️

Now that I've finished the book, I can't wait to watch the series on Apple TV+, which stars Brie Larson as Elizabeth Zott.

Please comment below if you’ve read Lessons in Chemistry and have any additional thoughts. I’d love to hear your perspective!

Yours, Dr Cam

Over and out.