Reviews

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

katharina90's review against another edition

informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

This novel conveyed a love for words and language while exploring the creation of the first Oxford English Dictionary.

I enjoyed this historical backdrop and was excited by the premise of a fictional companion dictionary of "lost words" aka entries rejected mostly for sexist and classist reasons.

What fell felt for me was the plot and characters. Everyone was fairly one-dimensional and relationships superficial. The plot was slow moving for the most part, but oddly rushed at times that feel crucial. 

Ultimately I think what bothered me the most was that the many tragic developments towards the end didn't serve a purpose that was satisfying to me, so the heartbreak felt pointless or at least unnecessary. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Sexism, Death of parent, War, and Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Colonisation

lizi8's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

• 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

kate_marie86's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kirahaynes's review against another edition

4.0

Read for my book club

( the list I’m adding is my things to bring up in book club so it’s kinda all jumbled around)

- I felt like I should’ve known more of the dictionary words and meanings
- I found esme and her dads relationship triggering and I was waiting for him to hurt her
- Strange ( in a good way) that esme wasn’t sexualised by her dads coworkers as a child and me crane was just found her annoying ( still sexist though)
- I was so sad whenever she mentioned her daughter and the loss she felt
- Cried when her dad died
- I loved when she described the women of Jericho adopting the wounded local soldiers as they would if the guy was their family and hoping for positive news
- Gareth’s letter broke my heart and made me cry
- Cried at the end
- Glad we got to see who Megan grew up to be even is esme didn’t

bri4589's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

anne_with_an_e's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jen5562's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

sminismoni's review against another edition

2.0

Oh god, how slow, how boring. Two dimensional characters, themes laboured on and on with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. The heavy handed poignant writing style. Really, really over-rated

indium's review against another edition

4.0

Not the novel I was expecting, but it pulled on my heart strings. Without spoiling it, the first third was much lighter (this was what I was expecting) than the more sorrowful ending. I love seeing the research that went behind it and the change of perspective than which is usually told.

cookewitch's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Well I loved The Bookbinder of Jericho, and I loved this!!!

I highly recommend to check out this author if you love historical fiction, books and words ❣️

📖📚📖