Bonnie Garmus
Birth dateApril 18, 1957 (age 69)
Birth placeRiverside, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of California, Santa Cruz
OccupationNovelist
GenreFiction
Notable worksLessons in Chemistry
Websitebonniegarmus.com

Bonnie Jean Garmus (born April 18, 1957) is an American author and former copywriter.

Biography

Garmus is from Seattle.[1] She received her Bachelor's degree in creative writing/aesthetic studies from University of California, Santa Cruz.[2] She has worked as a copywriter and creative director in the US, and has lived in Switzerland and Colombia. She currently resides in the UK.[1]

In April 2022, her debut novel, Lessons in Chemistry, was published.[3] The Guardian noted its "polished, funny, thought-provoking story ... it's hard to believe it's a debut".[3] The New York Times commented on its "entertaining subplots and witty dialogue".[4] Olimpia Mamula Steiner, a professor of chemistry, praised the book profusely: "Once you start it will be difficult to put down, as soon as you finish a chapter you immediately want to read the next one, it's almost addictive."[5]

As of November 2023, Lessons in Chemistry had been sold into 42 territories and has a television adaptation on Apple TV+ starring Brie Larson.[6] Éditions Robert Laffont published a French translation in May 2022 under the title La Brillante destinée d'Elizabeth Zott.[7] Among the prizes Garmus has won are British Book Awards Author of the Year 2023,[8] Waterstones Author of the Year 2022,[9] the Paul Torday Memorial Prize[10] for a first novel by an author over 60, and Forbes Magazine's 50 over 50 Europe, Middle East And Africa 2024.[11] The book was shortlisted for the 2023 RSL Christopher Bland Prize.[12]

Garmus enjoys open-water swimming and has rowed competitively.[1]

In September 2024, Garmus' husband, David Erb, was a Jeopardy! contestant and went on to become a three-time Jeopardy! champion.[13]

Her second novel, Peck & Peck, is set to be released in October 2026.[14]

Awards and recognition

Publications

  • Bonnie Garmus (2022). Lessons in Chemistry. hardcover 1st ed. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0385-54734-5.

References

  1. ^ "Bonnie Garmus". Curtis Brown. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Bonnie Garmus: Chemical reaction". UC Santa Cruz Magazine. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  3. ^ Merritt, Stephanie (19 April 2022). "Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus review – the right comic formula". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  4. ^ Egan, Elisabeth (April 4, 2022). "She Moved From the Chem Lab to the Kitchen, but Not by Choice". New York Times. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  5. ^ Mamula Steiner, Olimpia (2022-09-21). "'Lessons in Chemistry': The (Un)balanced Chemical Equation of (In)equality". CHIMIA. 76 (9): 798–799. Swiss Chemical Society. doi:10.2533/chimia.2022.798. ISSN 2673-2424
  6. ^ O'Keeffe, Alice (January 21, 2022). "Bonnie Garmus on her first novel Lessons in Chemistry". The Bookseller. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  7. ^ Garmus, Bonnie (2022). La Brillante destinée d'Elizabeth Zott. Robert Laffont. ISBN 978-2221-25470-7.
  8. ^ "The British Book Awards". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  9. ^ Post, The Publishing (2022-12-21). "Waterstones 2022 Book Awards". The Publishing Post. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  10. ^ "Paul Torday Memorial Prize - The Society of Authors". 2020-05-08. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  11. ^ McGrath, Maggie. "50 Over 50: Europe, Middle East And Africa 2024". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  12. ^ "Joseph wins RSL Christopher Bland Prize". Books+Publishing. 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  13. ^ https://www.tvinsider.com/1154164/jeopardy-david-erb-qualify-tournament-of-champions
  14. ^ Schaub, Michael (26 February 2026). "New Novel by Bonnie Garmus Coming This Fall". Kirkus. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  15. ^ May, David (15 May 2023). "The British Book Awards 2023: Winners Announced". Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  16. ^ Bunzey, Brittany (2022-11-11). "Announcing Our 2022 Book of the Year". B&N Reads. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  17. ^ "ABIA Winners". ABIA. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Lessons in Chemistry". The Queen's Reading Room. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Books Are My Bag Readers Choice Awards 2023". National Book Tokens. Retrieved 6 February 2024.