Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

5 reviews

eleanor029's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

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

4.0

I like this book a lot. I could tell that the author did a lot of research and put a lot of effort into it. At times I lost my enthusiasm when the plot got slow, but in the end it was so worth it. Honestly, the last quarter of the book brought it all together and was the best part. I would totally recommend this to any language nerd. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Sexism, Misogyny, Blood, Death, Abortion, Colonisation, and Classism

friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this so much. This book follows the life of Esme Nicoll, and her connection yo words, people and especially women and their experiences. This book is incredibly detailed, canning and engrossing. I loved every minute of it. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in words and their direct and hidden meanings, and would like to feel what it's like to live in victorian times as an ordinary woman. Amazing book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Grief, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexism, Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Ableism, Abandonment, Classism, Cursing, and Slavery

Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Alcohol, Body horror, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Cursing

monnibo's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Cursing, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Colonisation, Pregnancy, Classism, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Classism, Colonisation, War, Abortion, Grief, Slavery, Sexual content, Bullying, and Violence

katekatiekait's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Sexism, and War

Minor: Abortion, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Medical content

ntvenessa's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

2.5

I detested the first half, and then found it adequate by the end. I think the historical account and critique of dictionary making was done sufficiently, although without revelation beyond what is already broadly agreed in linguistics (although I am biased as I am linguistically trained, and perhaps these are not moot points to someone who is not). Ultimately I think its integration with a fictionalised story was its downfall. It simply wasn't convincing, and the tone was jarring. Especially when the author is writing from the first person voice of a child in 19th century England through the lens of a 21st century feminist moralist (but who am I to judge what a 19th century English child would sound like). To some extent you have to suspend your disbelief when reading historical fiction, but there is a fine line and too often events seemed to me too far fetched, too convenient, too formulaic. Bar one turn of events, the plot was rather too convenient. The writing was inelegant. It was not immersive. It is a sign of a clumsy novel when you can anticipate the plot devices as they come. It's like watching a rehearsal as opposed to opening night. I often felt that the crux of what needed to be said could have been compressed -- this is a novel written without economy of language and this I think is to its detriment. While it dilutes what I imagine to be points the author makes (and valid ones at that), I suppose it does also make the writing more accessible. All things said the latter half of the novel hit a chord, not for its storytelling but for its subject matter, which may also mean something to you, if you have ever

Spoiler

grieved

. Maybe this book just wasn't for me, but maybe it's for you?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, and War

Moderate: Abortion, Sexual harassment, and Miscarriage

Minor: Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Colonisation, Child death, Chronic illness, and Car accident