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Lessons in Chemistry
- Narrated by: Miranda Raison
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
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Lessons in Chemistry
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
INCLUDES AN EXCLUSIVE AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH PANDORA SYKES
Your ability to change everything - including yourself - starts here
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing.
But it's the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute take a very unscientific view of equality. Forced to resign, she reluctantly signs on as the host of a cooking show, Supper at Six. But her revolutionary approach to cooking, fuelled by scientific and rational commentary, grabs the attention of a nation.
Soon, a legion of overlooked housewives find themselves daring to change the status quo. One molecule at a time.
Critic reviews
‘Laugh-out-loud funny and brimming with life, generosity and courage’ RACHEL JOYCE
'A novel that sparks joy with every page' ELIZABETH DAY
'I loved Lessons in Chemistry and am devastated to have finished it!' NIGELLA LAWSON
What listeners say about Lessons in Chemistry
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nicola
- 21-04-22
I laughed and cried. A masterpiece.
I absolutely loved this book on so many levels. For sure it satisfied my feelings of injustice in our patriarchal society, it’s nailed to the mast for all to experience… but it’s a great tale too. Loveable characters and original plot. All round winner.
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30 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- M. Knight
- 15-07-22
Disappointing
After such glowing reviews, I thought this had to be good, but I found it tedious. It’s an interesting subject but what ought to feel significant felt lightweight and twee in places. The author can clearly write, but the main character did not engage me or feel believable. I got half-way and couldn’t face another 4 hours of listening, so abandoned it.
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28 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- RogerD
- 04-10-22
Just didn’t feel believable
I just don’t understand all the rave reviews. I didn’t find the characters in this book believable and I think that’s why I didn’t really engage with the story. Nor did I find it funny. Too many horrendous things happened to our heroine, the impact of which was dealt with in a very superficial way.
I felt it wasn’t so much a feminist book as an anti-men book. The men were bad, or if they weren’t bad they were spineless.
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20 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark S
- 13-04-22
One of the best audio books!
Truly an amazing story. Very moving with great characters and an usual theme. Loved Six-thirty! I want to read more by this author but this is her first novel! Will definitely be subscribing to Apple TV to watch the series when it’s made!
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20 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Allium
- 10-04-22
Brilliant - tell your friends
This book should be essential listening for all especially men 😀. It is set in the 50’s but the situations it covers haven’t really changed for lots of women or disadvantaged groups . A lot of the lines are laugh out loud hilarious but there are also shocking scenes . Also a surreal dog and precocious child which you just roll with even though a tad unbelievable . All in all a joyous experience . Save it for a long journey or gardening! ☀️👍
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16 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Shelley L
- 24-07-22
Dull and clichéd story
If I say that the talking dog was the most appealing and believable character, you'll get a sense of how shallow the human characters were. This is too good Vs bad, female Vs male. No nuance whatsoever. Not comedic as sometimes billed, just rather bland.
The scenes with the talking dog were honestly the high spots!
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14 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Maryam
- 09-01-23
No! Just no!
Could not finish it! Every chapter hurt my intelligence and brain so much I had to stop half way! Terrible, unbelievable, and boring portrayal of women and their professional life in 1950s. All of the stereotypes out there,
ALL OF THEM, put together as a story. This hurts feminism so much it's just wrong!
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11 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michelle
- 11-05-22
Had me at the first page.
An excellent book, that I just couldn’t stop listening to! Sad, funny, and tragic, you can’t help but love Elizabeth Zot, Mad, Harriet, Wakely, Dr Mason, Mr Pine and even Miss Frask, but Six-Thirty steals the book!
I defy you not to enjoy this wonderful story.
So well read by Miranda Raison, I need to find other books read by her!
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10 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DIANE PEARCE
- 09-05-22
Deserves every success
Absolutely loved everything about this. Original and engaging, totally enjoyable. Beautifully drawn characters, quotable lines, lovely language. Amazing for a debut, I wish there were more from Ms Garmus.
Don’t miss it.
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10 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Mrsratbag
- 12-12-22
Utterly lacking nuance
I’m afraid I couldn’t finish this book, the storyline is lacking any nuance whatsoever, it’s like being repeatedly hit over the head with a feminist hammer which it turns out that despite being a staunch feminist, I do not like.
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 01-12-22
Loved it!
Loved the narrator, she really bought the story to life. Beautifully written book, funny and entertaining.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JLM
- 12-11-22
Don’t hesitate - outstanding!
What a wonderful, thought provoking, enjoyable listen… I will buy this book to read again and have on my bookshelf. Beautifully crafted, brilliantly performed and now I can’t help but look at my beautiful dog and wonder what’s going through his mind. Loved it!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Web_mistress
- 30-07-22
Had to return, didn't manage even half of it
Nice description, great reviews but I totally missed what was funny. Coming from over 100 years of egalitarian culture, I found the treatment of female scientists, working women in general and smart young girls, as described in the book, disgusting and tragic. Background story took so long that I just got so bored with bullying and tragedies that could not take it any longer. Maybe it is funny later on, but I did not get there. Nothing bad about performance, but performance cannot save the story.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rowena Williams
- 21-09-23
Heartwarming and heartbreaking
Loved this book, it was both heart warming and heart breaking.
The characters were 3 dimensional and original.
Reading this book you realize how far society has come yet how we still have a way to go.
I will definitely be looking for more books from this author.
Also really good narration on the audiobook
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Dorothy
- 16-09-23
Review from a female chemist:
The mc is so unbearable, she would probably get lobotomized in the 1950s. I also feel like she continues to exacerbate patriarchal stereotypes about women in the workplace and how they treated.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Heather Byrom
- 14-09-23
Enjoyed it more than expected
Didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. While things are different today than in Elizabeth Zotts time there are still things and situations written here that I’ve personally experienced so it’s filled me with simultaneous rage and appreciate. Also, upon finishing I’ve learned that there’s a show coming out soon!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Angelica Heldt
- 13-09-23
Totally compelling
Such a wonderful heartfelt story, you laugh you cry. Such a page turner. Really looking forward to the tv series as well.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sarah
- 14-08-23
Uplifting and humouring
I loved every minute of this book! It was heartbreaking, yet uplifting. The characters were relatable. The story was entertaining from start to finish.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Diana Wu David
- 13-08-23
Couldn’t put it down
What a gift to the world that also gives us pause about why, as the authors notes, women still are paid less and fear walking down a dark street alone.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 08-08-23
Delightful and endearing
I bought this book looking for something light and easy and feminist. And it delivered all that in the best way. An honest, endearing tale with equally honest and endearing characters, it was the perfect read in which to get lost. I truly enjoyed the development of the plot and the characters’ growth.
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