This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 so I was delighted to be granted a review copy – thanks to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story is about a highly gifted Chemist, Elizabeth Zott, who is carrying out important research at the Hastings Research Institute – even though her efforts are often belittled and her work stolen by the men around her. After all, it’s the early 1960s and women can’t expect sexual equality – except Elizabeth Zott absolutely does. Her uncompromising stance gets her into trouble but also attracts the attention of older, Nobel-prize-nominated Calvin Evans. An unconventional relationship ensues – one that leaves Elizabeth with a dog, a daughter, and a hit TV cooking show. Things don’t work out as planned at all, but Elizabeth has the strength to work with whatever is thrown at her.
This book has received a lot of hype for its humour, feminist messages and strong female lead – and I can absolutely see that the plaudits are well deserved.
Elizabeth Zott is a fabulously strong and resilient central figure. She cannot understand why women are treated as second class citizens in 1960s America and seeks to correct the balance. She isn’t preaching feminism – she is living it. With each setback thrown at her, she picks herself up and finds a way to thrive – for example, building her own chemistry lab when she is at home with the baby. Even when horrendous things happen to her – and she isn’t immune from sexual predators, loss and prejudice – she faces it with fortitude and resilience. This makes her a formidable opponent for anyone trying to place limitations on her – and I loved the various ways that she dealt with them!
Although the book does have some tragic elements and is genuinely shocking in terms of the sexual politics, it is also packed with humour. Elizabeth Zott is, on the one hand, hugely intelligent and astute, but the humour lies in her contrastingly slightly naive and uncompromising views – she cannot understand why she has to conform to societal expectations and often leaves those who try to stop her floundering in her wake. There’s also delightful humour in the shape of Six-Thirty, the dog, and Mad, Zott’s equally clear-sighted daughter.
I personally loved the fact that Elizabeth is absolutely herself, whatever the situation. If this means presenting a cookery show in chemical terms (something the audience love as it means they aren’t being patronised) then so be it! Similarly, she is happy to row on a men’s team, make coffee in scientific equipment and teach Six-Thirty an extensive vocabulary. All absolutely normal to her – so why compromise?
As mentioned, Elizabeth’s life isn’t easy and the real warmth in this book comes from the characters who become her support network. There is a fabulous neighbour, Harriet, and poor long-suffering Walter, the producer on the cookery show who has to deal with some of Elizabeth’s more controversial moments on TV. In the face of Zott’s sometimes superhuman resolve, it’s lovely to see some more human and flawed characters.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes inspirational stories about women who defy the odds to achieve something amazing. The 1960s gender politics is shocking for a modern reader – in some ways showing how far we’ve come, although always with an undercurrent of ‘some things (sadly) don’t change’. I believe too that this is shortly to become a TV series, so now is definitely the time to read this book ahead of seeing it on screen.
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Header photo by Alex Kondratiev on Unsplash
