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sophietica's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 actually. A book for dipping into, not reading in one go.
kingarooski's review against another edition
5.0
This is an almanac of women and women’s history, much of it unknown and untold. Sandi Toksvig is an amazing storyteller and writer and this book is filled to the brim with facts. I savoured it by reading the entries for a week at a time, but felt that this was the week to finish it. I will be dipping into this book for many years to come. Brilliant.
pewterwolf's review
4.0
I'm struggling to write this so might not go onto The Pewter Wolf Reads... as part of NetGalley November 2020. (I left it too long before I started writing this and I don't make notes!)
***Audiobook given by UK publisher, Trapeze, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review/reaction***
I like this meander throughout history, each day dedicated to looking (briefly) at a woman throughout history, all of whom did extraordinary things but most/all of whom have been mostly forgotten (guess which gender wrote the history books, folks?). A line or two for some women, a paragraph to others.
While I enjoyed Sandi narrating this, I sense a book might be the better choice for some people as, if a woman and her history catches your mind, you might be a stuck on researching them if you don't know how to spell her name (I had this several times, hence me asking for this as a stocking filler for Christmas).
***Audiobook given by UK publisher, Trapeze, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review/reaction***
I like this meander throughout history, each day dedicated to looking (briefly) at a woman throughout history, all of whom did extraordinary things but most/all of whom have been mostly forgotten (guess which gender wrote the history books, folks?). A line or two for some women, a paragraph to others.
While I enjoyed Sandi narrating this, I sense a book might be the better choice for some people as, if a woman and her history catches your mind, you might be a stuck on researching them if you don't know how to spell her name (I had this several times, hence me asking for this as a stocking filler for Christmas).
solanpolarn's review against another edition
5.0
Interesting snippets about women from all over the world and various historical time periods.
twosuns's review against another edition
DNF @20%. I thought this book was super interesting when I first bought it but I didn’t manage to keep up (I tried to read a little bit every day) after lockdown finished so dnf’ed for now. Might pick it up again in the future.
patti_pinguin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
nanceoir's review against another edition
5.0
This was part of my daily reading challenge for 2023, and I really enjoyed it. I came to know Sandi Toksvig first as a guest, then as host, on QI, and she was always funny and clever. I enjoyed her 2020 VoxToks on YouTube, so it's no surprise I enjoyed this book, too. It's nice finding humor and personality in what is essentially a fact book. I just wish I could remember all the amazing (mostly) women featured here!
dogearedandfurry's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating look at women through history, many of whom are amazing and we should know more about.
portybelle's review
5.0
Toksvig’s Almanac is a hugely entertaining journey through the year linking each date with women who should be familiar names but, in most cases, aren’t. As the author herself says, this book was always going to be incomplete as there are so many women whose stories remain untold. History generally remembers those who write it and that is usually men. Nevertheless, the book is bursting with fascinating stories of women from all over the world, from all walks of life and from many different periods of history.
As well as being very interesting and informative, the book is also, as you might expect given the author, very funny. Sandi Toksvig tells her stories with passion and wit and encourages the reader (or in my case the listener) to look further into each women’s story as she can only touch upon their lives in this book.
I listened to the audiobook version of this and as you can imagine, it was a joy to listen to. Sandi Toksvig is very easy to listen to and brought the stories of the women to life with her charming way of relating each tale. I also enjoyed finding out about folklore from around the world associated with each month and listening out for the ‘tinkle’ that signified the poem of the month. Listening to the book at the start of the year, I was concerned to learn that January is the month I’d be most likely to be eaten by a wolf! Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be many around my area this year…
As a physical book, this would be great to dip in and out of. As an audiobook, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to a few days worth of stories at a time when I was out for a walk or in the car. Toksvig’s Almanac is a warm tribute to forgotten women, well written, clever and very amusing.
As well as being very interesting and informative, the book is also, as you might expect given the author, very funny. Sandi Toksvig tells her stories with passion and wit and encourages the reader (or in my case the listener) to look further into each women’s story as she can only touch upon their lives in this book.
I listened to the audiobook version of this and as you can imagine, it was a joy to listen to. Sandi Toksvig is very easy to listen to and brought the stories of the women to life with her charming way of relating each tale. I also enjoyed finding out about folklore from around the world associated with each month and listening out for the ‘tinkle’ that signified the poem of the month. Listening to the book at the start of the year, I was concerned to learn that January is the month I’d be most likely to be eaten by a wolf! Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be many around my area this year…
As a physical book, this would be great to dip in and out of. As an audiobook, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to a few days worth of stories at a time when I was out for a walk or in the car. Toksvig’s Almanac is a warm tribute to forgotten women, well written, clever and very amusing.