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By: ROTO 004
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2025-07-03 10:27:00 |
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Best book so far this year. |
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By: HAMIL 003
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2025-06-08 11:44:55 |
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All of our group enjoyed this book and appreciated the unfolding of the storyline and unpredictable character development. We felt that the messages concerning gender, equality of educational opportunities and social expectations developed steadily and were supported by strong characters. Humour drove much of the plot. Most of us felt that the issues that evolved were totally relatable. Characters were inspired. It was well researched, funny, sad and original. |
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By: WHAKA 021
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2025-06-05 14:43:51 |
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What an inspiration to us girls. We all really enjoyed the book and look forward to watching the movie. |
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By: AUCK 107
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2025-06-04 13:31:15 |
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Everyone in the group absolutely loved this book, many having read it before and happy to read it for the second time. Only criticism was that some of the characters seemed to be caricatures rather than fully rounded people. |
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By: NELS 007
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2025-05-15 10:07:08 |
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We laughed and cried. Still very relevant today! |
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By: WHANG 023
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2025-04-04 12:12:50 |
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What kind of story was this? It was like a 1980s feminist coming of age novel set in the 1950s but modelled on the 1960s. If that sounds odd it was meant to be. I really liked this book a lot, at the time I laughed out loud several times. The chemistry of the title runs all through but probably not in the way you imagine. Without creating spoilers there is a cooking show on TV that reminded me very much of that cathartic scene in the movie Network (which was also made using that same checklist). If my review comes across as anything less that 100% urging you to read it then forgive my stumbling words, it is bloody fantastic. |
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By: RANGI 006
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2025-03-24 14:47:12 |
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Most of us found this an interesting approach to presenting the realities of academic life for many women in the 1960s. |
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By: WHAKA 010
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2025-03-20 11:59:54 |
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We loved this book - what an incredibly inspiring woman! |
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By: AUCK 015
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2024-12-18 12:16:37 |
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Our group all enjoyed this book and enthusiastically awarded it 5 stars. It was considered well-written, very descriptive, somewhat whimsical - eg the name and abilities of the dog, 6.30 - and a very readable and relatable account of the many sides of misogynistic attitudes to women in the 1950s. Our regret was that many of these attitudes still exist. We enjoyed the many threads, the somewhat eccentric characters who insisted on living life their way. The chemistry of cooking intrigued several who found answers to some of their culinary failures... |
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By: ASHB 009
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2024-10-23 14:46:56 |
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Much loved by all our members except one! Some had read more than once. Great read, especially if you're a woman of the sixties who didn't fit into the "norm". |
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By: DUNED 118
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2024-10-14 19:57:28 |
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Some members had already read the book but still enjoyed the repeat reading. Our discussion focused us on women’s struggles to be valued and listened to. A timely interview with the author on RNZ explained the personal inspiration she had to write the book. |
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By: THAM 005
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2024-10-09 13:16:28 |
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We enjoyed this one!! We had a great discussion about maiden names vs married names, and how they define women. We were fascinated by the dog! |
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By: HINDS 001
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2024-08-26 11:30:48 |
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Great story. Lots of discussion of all sorts of topics generated from the questions. It was noted that the questions were excellent. Clear and to the point. |
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By: AUCK 255
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2024-07-25 21:50:56 |
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Enjoyed by all. Looking forward to the mini series. |
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By: HAVE 012
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2024-07-04 12:32:32 |
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Everyone enjoyed this book - particularly the very good characterisation and humour, with serious themes 'underneath'. We thought the use of the dog 'Six Thirty' to point out human frailties, was very clever. |
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By: HAMIL 062
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2024-07-04 11:10:30 |
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Loved this quirky original funny clever story which grabbed our attention and was very readable. Sentences were short and concise and one member noticed they were written in the more formal style of English used in the 50s and 60s. The book was sprinkled with many pithy witty insights on morality, parenting, gender roles. Satisfyingly happy ending, where justice was done with the bad guys, and Elizabeth found the family, friendships and career she always wanted. |
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By: QUEEN 015
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2024-06-25 11:37:05 |
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A rare hit with all of our group of diverse tastes. We all loved it - the history, feminism, whimsy, and the heart-warming story. A real favourite. |
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By: CHCH 512
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2024-06-20 10:35:55 |
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Great book. Slow start but once into it, really enjoyed. |
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By: AUCK 100
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2024-05-29 11:38:02 |
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Most really enjoyed this book and found it very entertaining and “laughed out loud”. It was beautifully constructed and flowed well. Very positive about the theme of women’s ability to better themselves. “Why would we not want women in Science?” Some were annoyed by the books given to the child, Mad, and the clash with Mad’s teacher. Also some felt the author “had a go at religion” – perhaps not surprising given the principal character’s early experiences. |
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By: LOWER 006
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2024-04-29 11:40:33 |
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Excellent book - nearly a 5! And we have a scientist, in her 90s, who knows exactly how it was... |
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By: NORTH 003
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2024-02-29 10:34:51 |
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A popular choice! |
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By: AUCK 272
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2023-11-01 14:54:29 |
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Excellent book. All ten of our members read it, which is practically unheard of! |
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By: BLENH 017
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2023-10-16 10:14:51 |
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9 out of 10 of our group really, really enjoyed this book! So entertaining and an eye opener to being a working woman in the 1950s. |
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By: HAST 006
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2023-10-12 12:56:54 |
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We all loved this book a lot. A joyous read although it tackled the trauma of losing a loved one. Positive, uplifting and humorous. |
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By: TAUR 018
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2023-10-05 12:17:10 |
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We almost universally loved this book! Such discussions ensued on SO many topics. We admired Elizabeth and how she just went on as if 'well, this is how it should be done'. The characters were great or awful depending on the roles, entirely appropriately. We look forward to the series. |
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By: CHCH 533
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2023-10-03 20:36:07 |
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4.0/5.0 'Lessons in Chemistry' is an empowering novel written for all readers to grow from and enjoy. Though set in the past, the struggles that the main character, Elizabeth, endured are still relevant. Through the use of believable characters, the author poses several important questions. Who gets to decide what we can, and should, do? What is ‘smart’? An achievable concept, or simply a weapon used to further divide people? Our own lives can be reflected upon as we ponder these questions, hopefully growing to appreciate that our worth can be more than whatever box others placed us in. |
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By: WELL 041
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2023-08-21 14:46:30 |
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A simply wonderful read, a laugh-out-loud story which delighted all of us. We loved the dog 'Six-Thirty' and daughter 'Mad', and how she refused to be corralled like the women of the 60s were. |
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By: BLENH 011
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2023-08-16 09:57:43 |
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All enjoyed the book - a fun read on sadly familiar themes. |
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By: INVER 001
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2023-08-14 12:30:47 |
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All of our group really enjoyed this book. Lots of surprises and lots of layers, all keep the reader entertained/amazed and wondering what was going to happen next. A great read with some great messages. |
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By: AUCK 050
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2023-07-31 11:11:52 |
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An absolutely delightful read, enjoyed by all 10 members without exception. It provoked a lively, funny conversation. |
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By: NELS 048
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2023-07-24 13:01:17 |
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All members of our group really enjoyed the book. Many were reminded of how things had been for women in the 50s/60s. |
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By: WAIKA 012
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2023-07-12 11:16:59 |
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Stimulated a lively discussion about women and their place in society. Was this theme over-played in this book? Notwithstanding, it was the first book this year that everyone in the group enjoyed. |
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By: DUNED 061
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2023-07-06 13:17:59 |
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Everyone enjoyed it! |
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By: CHCH 001
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2023-07-05 10:10:28 |
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All comments were positive! Fabulous writing, easy to read, entertaining, loved the dog, brilliant and so on - never before have the group's opinions been so aligned - a great read. |
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By: AUCK 027
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2023-07-03 14:15:23 |
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This book was enjoyed by everyone, although we felt it was a little predictable. Characters were good and we loved the dog. Refreshing!! |
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By: CHCH 552
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2023-06-29 11:03:21 |
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Everyone in our group loved the book. A very enjoyable read and makes us appreciate how far things have come but that there is still room for improvement with equality in the workplace, perhaps in some fields more so than others. We all loved the magic that Six-Thirty brought to the book as a character and we enjoyed the questions - they prompted some great discussion. |
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By: INVER 017
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2023-06-27 11:25:47 |
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Overall the group enjoyed the book, but found there were far too many discussion questions. |
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By: CHCH 145
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2023-06-07 11:53:04 |
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Everyone really appreciated the book. Not always a comfortable read facing some very uncomfortable issues, but done in a witty and quirky way. Full of 'moments', gems and wisdom. |
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By: WELL 074
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2023-05-08 13:43:07 |
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Much enjoyed by most of our group. We appreciated the deadpan humour and reflections on the life of a woman in the 1960s. Some felt the number of coincidences was extreme and overly used but generally agreed it was a good read. |
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By: AUCK 116
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2023-05-03 15:01:39 |
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We loved the book. A serious issue covered with style and humour. We found many laugh out loud moments. A first novel - hope there are many more. |
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