ktuzinski's review against another edition
Boring delivery of otherwise worthy subjects. Decided the slog wasn’t worth it.
soniateles's review against another edition
5.0
A forma como os factos verídicos estão enredados naquilo que é ficção tornam esta história perfeitamente verosímil. A autora aborda também outros acontecimentos históricos mais ou menos contemporâneos do Oxford English Dicionary como a luta sufragista das mulheres e a Primeira Guerra Mundial. A questão sufragista é um tema lateral mas que faz muito sentido porque, ao longo de toda a história, o papel da mulher, bem como os seus direitos, são colocados em questão, com frequência.
O final do livro não foi aquele que eu imaginava, mas analisando de forma desapaixonada, percebo que foi um final perfeito.
Este livro proporcionou-me momentos muito agradáveis. Nunca tinha pensado como é que as palavras aparecem num dicionário, quem decide a grafia mais correcta ou o seu significado. A autora fez-me olhar para essas pessoas e valorizar o trabalho de tantos e tantas, ao longo dos tempos, nesta recolha e selecção das palavras que fazem parte da riqueza de cada língua. As palavras, principalmente as palavras escritas, sempre tiveram uma grande importância para mim desde que aprendi a ler e a escrever. Não só pelos livros, que adoro desde que os descobri na infância, mas também porque sempre gostei muito de me exprimir pela escrita.
O final do livro não foi aquele que eu imaginava, mas analisando de forma desapaixonada, percebo que foi um final perfeito.
Este livro proporcionou-me momentos muito agradáveis. Nunca tinha pensado como é que as palavras aparecem num dicionário, quem decide a grafia mais correcta ou o seu significado. A autora fez-me olhar para essas pessoas e valorizar o trabalho de tantos e tantas, ao longo dos tempos, nesta recolha e selecção das palavras que fazem parte da riqueza de cada língua. As palavras, principalmente as palavras escritas, sempre tiveram uma grande importância para mim desde que aprendi a ler e a escrever. Não só pelos livros, que adoro desde que os descobri na infância, mas também porque sempre gostei muito de me exprimir pela escrita.
lowlandsbeach's review against another edition
4.0
I mostly enjoyed it. Took me a long time to read it, book probably too long for my liking. Wonderful concept. Felt a bit inauthentic in places, eg the phrase "sorry for your loss" has a 1980s feel rather than an 1890s feel , when it was probably more often used about loss of property. The two men who were romantic interests of Esme didn't seem very realistic. I liked the characters Mabel and Lizzie
rgrimm's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
cheezyreads's review against another edition
3.75
I didn't love but also didn't hate this book it was just alright. Some moments we're absolutely hilarious and others were just hard to focus on
anikaas's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at 20%. I tried. Oh how I tried. It was so incredibly slow and nothing happened and the girl just seemed very lost about it. I couldn’t do it. The reviews are all raves but I couldn’t force myself any further.
saraaai's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
luckyliza13's review against another edition
3.0
3&1/2 * For some reason, it just took me forever to finish this book, but I think that was more due to my general tiredness than a reflection of the book itself. It is really a fascinating, albeit fictionalized, look at the creation of the modern dictionary and the unsung women who did work on it. Through Esme's eyes, I have a renewed appreciation for words and their usage. In today's world of pared down, abbreviated text-talk, the idea of learning new words and their definitions, of relishing the discovery of words you didn't know before, is foreign indeed. This book made me a bit nostalgic for my college linguistic classes and made me want to improve my daily vocabulary usage.
I read to the end of the book feeling as if I really knew Esme. She became a well-drawn character to whom I was endeared, and the same goes for Lizzie. Though Lizzie seems to be almost a secondary character at the beginning, much like her status in life, I suppose, she really becomes an important part of Esme's life and, thus, a compelling character.
I read to the end of the book feeling as if I really knew Esme. She became a well-drawn character to whom I was endeared, and the same goes for Lizzie. Though Lizzie seems to be almost a secondary character at the beginning, much like her status in life, I suppose, she really becomes an important part of Esme's life and, thus, a compelling character.
nguyethatrg's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
Mesmerising and thought-provoking. The story blends nicely the historical events and the fictional and colourful world of Esme, our main character. The characters all became so endearingly familiar to me as we go on through every page, and the streets, the libraries, the Scriptorium. The passion of the people was felt so deeply, and I was once again reminded of the beauty and importance of the written words.
The making of the Dictionary was so interesting and inspiring. The defining of words - how are they defined, when they are used, and perceived differently, by so many? How do we weigh a word’s importance? As they are spoken through time, how are the changed and re-defined? Many questions that emerged and prompted me to muse over.
And I got to learn more about the history that loomed over the story - of the wars people fought, the figures that made history, the places that witnessed those things altogether. Pip Williams has done a brilliant job bringing life into these events.
The Dictionary of Lost Words is a book about book and words, love and death, trauma and healings, people and their purposes. A wonderful read!
Mesmerising and thought-provoking. The story blends nicely the historical events and the fictional and colourful world of Esme, our main character. The characters all became so endearingly familiar to me as we go on through every page, and the streets, the libraries, the Scriptorium. The passion of the people was felt so deeply, and I was once again reminded of the beauty and importance of the written words.
It was never a noisy place, but the Scriptorium had an ensemble of sounds that combined to create a comforting hum. I was used to the shuffling of papers, the scraping of pens and the sounds of frustration that identified each person like a fingerprint.
The making of the Dictionary was so interesting and inspiring. The defining of words - how are they defined, when they are used, and perceived differently, by so many? How do we weigh a word’s importance? As they are spoken through time, how are the changed and re-defined? Many questions that emerged and prompted me to muse over.
And I got to learn more about the history that loomed over the story - of the wars people fought, the figures that made history, the places that witnessed those things altogether. Pip Williams has done a brilliant job bringing life into these events.
The Dictionary of Lost Words is a book about book and words, love and death, trauma and healings, people and their purposes. A wonderful read!
Horror. It’s war-weary. It is the word we use when we have no words. Perhaps some things are not meant to be described - at least, not by the likes of me. A poet, perhaps, could arrange words in a way that creates the itch of fear or the heaviness of dread. They could make an enemy of mud and damp boots and raise your pulse just at the mention of them. A poet might be able to push this word or that to mean something more than what has been ordained by our Dictionary men.
I am not a poet, my love. The words I have are pale and slight against the hulking force of this experience. I can tell you it is wretched, that the mud is muddier, the damp damper, the sound of a flute played by a German solder more beautiful and more melancholy than any sound I have ever heard.
georgia8's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0