In Episode 115, Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry, discusses the inspiration behind her best-selling debut novel, sexism in the workplace, and the story behind Six-Thirty the dog. Plus, Bonnie’s book recommendations! 

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Introducing Summer Shelves (a companion to my Summer Reading Guide)…

• In addition to my annual 2022 Summer Reading Guide, I introduced Summer Shelves, a companion exclusively for Superstars Patrons ($7/mo).
• Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from over 25 former podcast guests and our team members.
• The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and is available in a PDF file format via Patreon.
• If you’d like to get the Summer Shelves companion guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You’ll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker.
• Plus, as a patron you can listen to the monthly Superlatives bonus podcast episodes where I continue the discussion with every guest from the full-length episodes, as they answer 5 bookish “superlative” questions.

Get the Reading Tracker!

Highlights

• Bonnie talks about her inspiration for Lessons in Chemistry and the main character, Elizabeth Zott, who began her book life in a previously unpublished book.
• Why Bonnie chose the professions featured in the book: scientist and television host on a cooking show.
• How Elizabeth’s rowing brings balance to the story.
• How her copywriting career played a role in the novel.
• The significance of the numerical names for the two dogs’ in Bonnie’s life: 99 (in her real life) and Six-Thirty (in the book).
• The real-life dog who inspired the fictional dog, Six-Thirty.
• The big message Bonnie would like both men and women to take away from the book.
• How Sarah and Bonnie feel about posthumously published work.
• Bonnie shares a little bit about her next book and how it compares to Lessons in Chemistry.

Bonnie’s Book Recommendations [25:20]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• The Secret History by Donna Tartt | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:31]
• The Cider House Rules by John Irving | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:35]

Two NEW Books She Loves

• Free Love by Tessa Hadley | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:56]
• Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:48]

One Book She DIDN’T LOVE

• Billy Budd by Herman Melville | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:15]

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

• The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley by Sean Lusk (June 9) | Book Depository [36:37]

Last 5-Star Book Bonnie Read

• Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:25]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne [3:20]
• The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt [26:24]
• A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving [28:43]
• The World According to Garp by John Irving [28:47]
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [31:02]
• The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel [31:46]
• Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee [35:11]
• The Need by Helen Phillips [40:29]

Other Links

About Bonnie Garmus

Website | Twitter | Instagram

Next Episode

In two weeks (June 29), Susie Boutry from Novel Visits will be join me for a special episode discussing the micro genres we love.

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