What do you do when you’re an ambitious woman in 1960’s America who refuses to compromise on your values?
It’s pretty tough, but (at least in this book) there’s always the chance you could host a cooking show and become loved by housewives all over the country for being exactly who you are.
It’s never said that Elizabeth Zott is neurodivergent, probably because the term didn’t exist at the time, but it’s clear she doesn’t think like most of us think.
She takes things very literally and she refuses to back down when she knows she’s right. I don’t think she’s unaware of the idea of “playing along to get along,” it’s just that she has no interest in playing that game.
Her interest is in science. Specifically, chemistry.
But she has to leave college before finishing her PhD because a professor assaulted her and, when she fought back, she was forced to leave school while he got to keep his job.
She was so close to finishing her degree that she couldn’t afford to go to another school and start all over again, but she still insisted on pursuing a career in chemistry.
I love how Elizabeth deals with the patriarchy. It’s not that it doesn’t infuriate her. It’s just that she doesn’t let herself dwell in her anger. Instead, she accepts that what happened happened, and then she moves on.
So she gets a job as a lab tech.. She’s not exactly working as a chemist, but she’s still working in a lab helping with experiments, which is the minimum she’ll accept.
Then she meets Calvin Evans, another brilliant chemist who just happens to be the most eligible bachelor in the lab. When the two get together, everyone is confused because they don’t see what Calvin sees in Elizabeth.
SPOILER ALERT!
From here on are some pretty serious spoilers, so if you don’t want important parts of the book spoiled for you before you read it, stop now.
Calvin dies in an accident, but not before impregnating Elizabeth. When the lab finds out about her “condition” they fire her, even though she’s been doing work on which some of their funding relies.
At least in part because of her knowledge of chemistry, Elizabeth also happens to be an amazing cook. When her daughter’s friend’s dad finds out about this, he decides to set her up as the host of a cooking show called Supper at Six.
He tries to make her act like a traditional housewife for the show, but quickly finds out she has no interest in acting. She immediately takes over the show, not only with her forceful personality and strong opinions, but her approach to cooking as a lesson in chemistry wins over audiences all over the country.
In everything she does on the show, she uses precise measurements and explains to her audience the chemistry that’s making her cooking work.
I don’t think I loved this book as much as everyone else did, but it did win me over pretty quickly. It’s a beautiful story and so well written that I couldn’t help falling in love with the characters.
P.S. At one point a stray dog adopts Elizabeth and she names him 6:30 because that’s what time it was when she found him. We get scenes and parts of scenes from 6:30’s perspective and it’s perfect. Of course he’s the best character.