LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY

“You want my advice? Don't work the system. Outsmart it."

In this absolutely delightful book, Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant young chemist in the late 1950s who, upon facing profound workplace gender discrimination, becomes the reluctant host of a TV cooking show. Elizabeth is determined to empower her viewers rather than pander to housewife stereotypes, but can she reconcile her identity as a scientist with this new TV personality, and her role as a mother?

This book is a joy to read! Never compromising her principles, Elizabeth Zott is an unforgettable heroine - but I loved even more the richly imagined supporting characters, most of all, her dog Six-Thirty. ❤️ Certain books have that bit of extra magic that makes me want to hug them when I'm done, and this is one of them! I recommend this book to everyone who loves wry humor, quirky characters, and a reminder that we all must be who we are, even if it feels like the world wants us to be somebody else.

I wish I'd read this book years ago, when my then-boss told me that my pregnancy was "coming at a very inconvenient time for the firm" and then did everything he could to force my resignation. Would Elizabeth have been shocked that this behavior still persists today? Has something like this ever happened to you? Let me know in the comments!

For this book, I made a frozen mud pie for Mad - whose idea of a mud pie is writing 3.1415 with a stick in the dirt! This one has a homemade crumbled Oreo cookie crust and a very sweet filling because as Elizabeth says, we all feel better with some sucrose!
Many thanks to @doubledaybooks for the gifted book.
Recipe: @tasteofhome