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mels_reading_log's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I had never really given much thought to how the dictionary was written and the proof that was needed for a word to be included. This book is fictional but tells the real process of writing the Oxford English Dictionary, the amount of people involved and how many years it took to complete. The main character of Esme was fictional but she grows up with her father working on the words of the dictionary and sees how certain words are left out. Words that are used by people who are not well educated white men. So she starts to collect other words, those of the poor, uneducated and disenfranchised.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Racism, Slavery, and Abortion
vbsauce's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
jessamo19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy and Classism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
theothergrl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The other thing I love about this book is the way it's told through the words Esme collects. Just as she's starting to explore adulthood and rebel a little, she learns vulgar words, which I loved! As we explores life -sex, love, loss, independence -we do so through the words we learn along the way, that define and make sense of our experiences. The way the story unfolds as her dictionary grows is very poignant and effective, I cried so many times reading this! This book was such a wonderful experience.
Graphic: Sexism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Abortion, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
prettylightsandcitynights's review against another edition
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Sexism and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Death of parent
The book is set around the turn of the 20th century so there is obviously sexism and misogyny.thumbeleia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Infertility, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Mental illness, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Cursing, Infertility, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
tremayna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Sexism, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
mleckie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
phantomgecko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I feel like most the thoughts I have on it are surface level, so there's not much else for me to put here. I liked it.
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Classism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion