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#220 ~ Chemistry for Beginners
Chemistry for Beginners
Dr. Steven J. Fisher is an intelligent biochemist, working for Oxford University. His previous work with bonobo apes brought him to where he is today – studying the female orgasm in hopes of finding a cure for female sexual dysfunction. While Dr. Fisher is brilliant about things the size of molecules, he is your stereotypical scientist. He is nerdy and unable to pick up on the dynamics between men and women. When his lab takes on Ms. G., a final subject for their testing of his chemical breakthrough, KXC97, Dr. Fisher finds himself attracted to her and he doesn’t know why. In desperation to keep her as part of the stud, he agrees to teach her chemistry. All the while, this scientist who notices every nuance of what happens beneath a microscope, misses all of the drama surrounding him in the lab. It takes a major biochemical breakdown for him to see his world for what it is.
I doubt I’ll ever be able to hear the word biochemistry without thinking of Diane Court from the movie “Say Anything”. The way that the school principal annunciates “b-i-o-chemistry” during her introduction at graduation cracks me up. It’s as if he cannot believe that of someone from his high school. In many ways, Ms. G reminded me of Diane Court as a graduate student – if she hadn’t found Lloyd Dobler in high school. She is an attractive and intelligent woman who is tired of being someone’s trophy and wants to be on equal footing with her partner. She isn’t interested in sex, but perhaps that is because her English professor boyfriend has definite expectations of what she will like and how she will enjoy it. She turns to Dr. Fisher’s study because her boyfriend threatened her if she didn’t. I found it interesting how she found her passion in all possible ways as a result.
I very much enjoyed Chemistry for Beginners. I connected with both of the main characters and the way that the story was told in the form of a scientific paper. There were a few things that didn’t work for me, though. There are sections of the novel that are compilations of email and I found the repetition of the email addresses and signatures irritating. Although the novel isn’t long, there was a point where it felt long. I can’t remember the exact point where I began to feel that way, but it was after Ms. G began studying with Dr. Fisher and his team. The novel definitely picked up again once there was competition for her affection. These things were not so bothersome that I didn’t like the novel. Far from it. They do keep me from giving my highest recommendation.
This is the first novel I purchased because of the narrator, Simon Vance. I have loved him from Stieg Larsson’s Millenium Trilogy, so when I found myself with an Audible credit to spare, I searched on books that Vance narrated. This was one of the more recent novels. I did not go wrong. Chemistry for Beginners is a great farce. There were more times than I counted that I laughed out loud. In particular, the scenes where Dr. Fisher believes he is paying an actual Ph.D. for “clinically proven” ways to get a woman in bed were some of the funniest I’ve read in a long time. Anthony Strong has written an entertaining love story about nerds, for everyone. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good laugh and isn’t squeamish about the workings of sexual biology from a clinical standpoint with a vibrating apparatus or two added to the mix.
*****
I purchased this novel from Audible.com.
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#211 ~ The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Bod, although named Nobody Owens, isn’t a nobody. Someone wants him dead. The Man Jack killed his parents and sister one dark night. Bod was just a toddler and narrowly escaped The Man Jack’s knife when he wandered off into the cemetery just across the way from his parent’s home. It was highly unprecedented, but Mr. and Mrs. Owens, both ghosts who have already lived in the graveyard for many years, agree to adopt Bod when the ghost of his mother begs Mrs. Owens to care for him. The graveyard as a whole did not agree to accept Bod and give him the freedom of the graveyard only after Silas also agrees to be his guardian. Silas, unlike the ghosts inhabiting the cemetery, has access to the world outside of the graveyard and can ensure that Bod is fed and educated. Thus begins Bod’s unconventional upbringing. Despite the circumstances, Bod is a typical boy and that often gets him into trouble. It is just that which teaches him what he needs to know to survive within and without the walls of the graveyard.
I had intended to read Neverwhere as my first Neil Gaiman novel, but when I found myself with a credit at Audible.com and noticed that the author himself narrated The Graveyard Book, I had to buy it. Once it was on my MP3 player, I couldn’t stop myself from listening to it. I couldn’t be more thrilled that book was my introduction. It was alive in place and character. I loved Bod, Silas, Mrs. Owens, Scarlett, and Liza. I even enjoyed the less savory characters Bod meets along the way. One of my favorite chapters was when he meets up with the ghouls. I loved the imagination that went into creating their existence, their means of transportation, and their names: The Duke of Westminster, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Lord High Mayor of London, and The 33rd President of the United States (poor President Truman – I had to look that up because I had to know). The dialog was equally delightful – not just with the ghouls, but with all of the characters. While I’m sure that the dialog would have stood out if I had read the print version of this book, Gaiman is fantastic in his narration and really brought out the interplay and poetry in his prose.
I cannot say enough about this book. I listened to it on audio as narrated by Neil Gaiman himself. I listened to Bod’s story on my way to and from work and whenever I got a chance in between. I was enthralled by the different worlds I got to explore along with Bod. It really captured my imagination. I looked forward to my time in the graveyard and was very impressed by the author’s narration. In many ways, I think that made the experience for me. To hear the accents of the ghouls, the Owens’, Silas, and Scarlett made them all come to life. I have a print version of this novel as well and I found myself going to it to reread what I had heard that day and getting excited all over again. The ending, in so many ways, was bittersweet for me. I miss Bod, all of his friends, and all of the things to see and explore in his adoptive home. I look forward to the day that my daughters are old enough to listen to this story along with me, not that I think I can wait that long to read The Graveyard Book again for myself.
To enter for a chance to win the prizes for this theme month, go to the Neverwhere and Beyond page and use the following code: N&B-R1.
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I read the audio version of this book through a purchase on Audible.com.
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Audiobooks from emusic
My husband is often a wealth of knowledge for me. He just sent me an email today letting me know that emusic is now offering audiobook downloads as an add-on to their monthly music subscriptions. What impressed me the most about this is the types of books and the breadth of options they have. I can’t say that I’ve fully researched other audiobook sites, but seeing Special Topics in Calamity Physics right away impressed me very much. For a service just getting started, they have books an impressive selection of historical fiction and memoirs as well. You can count on me signing up for this service. Danny’s investigating if there are any advantages to adding on to what he already has. I can’t wait to download my first book!
Book Blogger Con
Have you heard about the 1st Annual Book Blogger Convention that will be held in NYC during the BEA? You should check it out. I know it will be a fantastic experience. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend due to family obligations, but I'll be trolling blogs for up to the minute news.
WE Magazine’s A Woman Blogger to Watch
Literate Challenges
What's in a Name? 3
Random Reading Challenge
