I’ll say it right up front— this was one of my favorite books this summer. The main character, Elizabeth Zott, is 75% of the reason. The other 25% is the writing— witty, plenty of zing, nice turns of phrase and clever sarcasm. The author gives Zott and the other characters plenty of witty repartee. The plot is basically a series of travails for our heroine to navigate and rise above.

Taking place in the fifties, we meet Elizabeth Zott, an uncompromising, unwilling to make nice woman trying to make her way, through talent and hard work, to a successful career in chemistry. She encounters the typical stumbling blocks of a woman in a male dominated field at that time. For younger readers, please understand that the climate Garmus describes is absolutely factual for the time— women were only supposed to marry, have babies, make a pleasant home for the career man who supported the family. Women were to be subservient to men in most respects in the fifties— defer to their opinions, preferences, desires. Elizabeth Zott would have none of it, and to say her path to the chemist job at Hastings Lab was difficult would be a gross understatement. Foreswearing marriage or children, she had single-minded determination to do great things in chemistry, in spite of the deck stacked against her.

Meeting Calvin Evans did not change her goals one whit, but it did completely change her life. Evans was a brilliant chemist, Nobel-nominated, yet lonely. He was as unconventional as Elizabeth, and entirely willing to meet all her conditions for a relationship. In short, they were absolutely meant for each other. Calvin still longs to marry Elizabeth and have a family with her, but at the same time he supports all her career goals completely, and quietly, behind the scenes tries to make her path smoother.

I do not want to spoil what happens next, for the plot turns from this point onward are complete surprises, forcing Elizabeth to adapt in ways she never anticipated. Despite her steadfast resolve and indominable drive, she is brought to the edge of her ability to cope. There is tragedy, but there are hilarious turns, and unpredictable assistance, leading to a very satisfying resolution. I’ve worked hard not to reveal too much, since the plot twists Elizabeth must cope with are much of the fun of this book.

The greatest delight is the creation of this character, this singular woman, Elizabeth Zott. That, combined with the dialogue Garmus creates makes this book so much fun. Must read.