Reviews

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

subiwoon's review against another edition

emotional informative 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

4.5

windingdownwithbooks's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

beccalynnjo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

maree_k's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative medium-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? It's complicated

3.75

I didn’t enjoy this as much as The Dictionary of Lost Words though I empathised with the main character’s frustrations and anger at the restrictions placed on women, particularly working class women. Perhaps it was a little too didactic? A bit too much ‘look, see, this is what I mean’ rather than allowing me as the reader to discover things for myself. Nonetheless, an enjoyable book. 

jasmin_l's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.75

anho4's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

ifi's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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? Yes

3.75

aljagolob's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.75

essjay1's review against another edition

2.5

I liked the premise and the history this book was based on and perhaps I would have preferred a straight non fiction account of the bindery girls and these accounts of women’s experiences throughout WWI. The main characters are set up well, and some of the scenes in the novel are great, especially those based around the bindery and on the canal boats, but it felt slow and oddly disjointed. I enjoyed Lost Words a lot more, but perhaps in this case the research got in the way of the story. And I would have appreciated it a lot more with about 100 less pages. In a nutshell: too long, too slow, a bit boring. 

chloe_calleja's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.25