Q&A with Chemistry Lessons author Bonnie Garmus about my current favorite fictional dog, Six-Thirty – Dogster

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Chemistry class exceeded the New York Times Best Sellers since it was released last year and it has also landed my personal favorites list. If you’re a dog lover and fan of fiction, you’ve probably heard of Six-Thirty, a mixed-breed rescue dog named after the time of day protagonist Elizabeth Zott finds him in the Street. After being kicked out of a bomb-sniffing program, the scruffy pup finds his way to Elizabeth, a 1950s and 1960s scientist trying to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession. Six-Thirty remains a constant in Elizabeth’s story – aside from her passion for science and her belief in her talents. Six-Thirty’s intelligence matches Elizabeth’s as the dog learns nearly 1,000 English words and shares his thoughtfulness and insightful perspective on his family’s adventures.

This year, Six-Thirty and Elizabeth (and the other amazing characters from this book) will be back in action when Lessons in Chemistry, starring Oscar winner Brie Larson, airs on Apple TV+.

I caught up with author Bonnie Garmus about her knack for naming dogs, the rise of Six-Thirty, and how she hopes the Six-Thirty character will raise awareness of dog intelligence.

Lessons in Chemistry has been on the NY Times Bestseller list since its publication last year. Random penguin house

Dogster: What’s the story behind the name Six-Thirty?

bonny: I thought it would be interesting for a dog to conclude that people and other animals are given names based on the time they are part of a family – because that’s what it is arrived. But I will add that in chemistry, the number six represents carbon, one of the foundations of life. Which means half past six is ​​elementary!

Dogster: Six-Thirty has its own fanbase! Did you expect this level of connection with the character of the dog?

bonny: I had no idea Six-Thirty would be so popular. To be honest, when he started thinking about the page, I got worried. I don’t tend to like magical realism and I’m afraid of the talking animal trope. But in Six-Thirty’s case, his thoughts didn’t seem magical at all – they seemed normal. He does not speak ; he thinks — because all dogs think. In fact, all animals make decisions and solve problems. But in our society, we tend to judge other animals by human definitions of intelligence, which we kinda ignore. In my book, Six-Thirty reverses that. It questions our intelligence.

Dogster: Is Six-Thirty based on a dog in your own life?

bonny: Six-Thirty was based on my previous dog, Friday, who passed away a few years ago. The only character in the book based on an actual living being. Friday, like Six-Hirty, knew a lot of words. The only difference is that we didn’t teach her these words – she learned them by listening. When we were transferred abroad to Switzerland, Friday learned German. No kidding.

Dogster: Who is the dog featured on Six-Thirty’s Instagram account? (@sixythritythedog)

bonny: It’s 99 (Bonnie’s current dog)! Poor 99 is a little tired of being confused with Six-Thirty – as a retired Greyhound racer she is very competitive. But she’s also happy to be part of the movement dedicated to recognizing what dogs actually think. By the way, I’m having trouble following Six-Thirty’s Instagram account!

99 is named after my best friend, Helen. When I was growing up, Helen and I liked to watch a show called Get Smart. It featured two spies called 86 and 99 and Helen and I instantly – after about two episodes – made a firm decision to become spies when we grew up. To prepare, we called each other 86 and 99 every day. (For over 50 years!) So when she passed away in a tragic accident, I was overwhelmed with grief. Fast forward 10 years; Friday was also gone, and a six-year-old retired Greyhound was in dire need of a home. When I first met the Greyhound, she reminded me of my friend Helen. So we named it 99 in honor of Helen. In doing so, I felt like I was reclaiming a piece of my friend.

Six-Thirty, the dog in Lessons in Chemistry, was inspired by Bonnie Friday’s dog, pictured above, who died. © Bonnie Garmus

Dogster: What is your relationship with rescue dogs?

bonny: I have a huge weakness for rescue dogs. We saw him with our dog on Friday – she had been badly abused before coming to our house – but we also saw him with our two previous dogs, Astro and Barney, who also came from shelters. In contrast, 99 is a thoroughbred – a Greyhound – who came to us through a Greyhound rescue service. She had been rejected from a previous house for being “vicious”. When we adopted her – she was six years old at the time – she seemed filled with worry and fear, like someone resigning herself to not being loved. But those fears disappeared after a few months and she opened up to us and welcomed us as much as we had welcomed her. She is very sensitive to human emotion – can’t stand sadness – tries to help by pressing her (very large) body against the sad person. The kids love it for it and so do I.

Dogster: What can we expect from Six-Thirty when Chemistry class airing on Apple TV+ this year?

bonny: It’s not quite the dog I imagined in the book (in the show it’s a Labradoodle – a breed that didn’t exist at the time) but it’s definitely a presence. It’s a challenge to add a thinking dog to the cast and at this point I have no idea how it’s going to pan out. But the people in Hollywood working on the show are the best and I’m sure they’ll find a way.

Keep an eye on Apple TV+ for new series and follow the London adventures of Six-Thirty (99’s) on social media @Sixthirtythedog



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