I was in tears.

I couldn't put it down.

I watched the TV show and it didn't remotely convey HALF of what this book was carrying.

I'm devastated.

There are so many things to love about fiction; this novel reminded me of my favorite one: anyone can and should be a narrator. Even a dog! Why is the dog's musings relevant to the plot?

Let me make something clear that should be obvious: I am a feminist. And Elizabeth Zott is an icon. She went through abuse, harassment, rape, belittlement, death of the only man who valued her, childbirth, for lack of better word, et cetera. But not once did she consider keeping her bewilderment at the status quo to herself. No, American society in the 1960s was awful, and this fictional revolutionary focused on empowerment and making sure, something is done about it.

Unfortunately, this story is fictional, but what truly isn't, is the fact that the way you treat living beings becomes exactly how they view themselves. Elizabeth saw women as capable and dogs -- as intelligent, and that's why in this book, they were.

The TV show focused on Elizabeth and her mysteriously manicured appearance, with her backstory shining through like dirt through a fresh coat of paint, but this novel's focus isn't the cooking show, or the romance between two scientists, it's the fact that your observational judgement defines you and the world you live in.

I give out perfect scores liberally because a book must only covey one message perfectly to be valuable, and this book is worth the five stars, and your time.