Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

26 reviews

essieruth's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, War, and Classism

It happens “offstage”, but a female character who is unable to give informed consent is taken advantage of by a man.

oceanwriter's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

3.0

After such a lovely experience reading The Dictionary of Lost Words, I had high anticipation for this book. I sort of regret that now as I think I set it too high in the sense I was expecting to recreate my first experience with this author two years ago. I still enjoyed the essence of the book, it just hit differently this time. And that’s okay. 

 

The story focuses on twin sisters Peggy and Maude, their careers as bookbinders, as well as WWI and the Spanish Flu epidemic. Each other the sisters have different personalities and are charming in their own right. 

 

Though not a sequel to The Dictionary of Lost Words, there are mentions of Esme and her book scattered throughout. Both books are and can be read as a standalone. 

 

I wish I knew what exactly, but something was lacking for me. It might just be me being in a different place, though I have seen some reviews that share my reaction. It didn’t feel the characters were as fleshed out as they were in the first book and I wonder if that is in part because we have two protagonists as well as very present supporting characters. I still loved the writing and highlighted several lovely quotes, it was just overall a different experience than I’d expected. I will likely revisit this one at a later time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Medical content, and Death of parent

bhictoria's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, and War

katievallin's review against another edition

emotional 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

3.5

My biggest issue is that Peggy annoyed me. But she also reminded me of myself, which gives me a lot to consider.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical content, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent

Minor: Body shaming and Xenophobia

jemau11's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Child death and Sexual content

beingsimba's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad

5.0

Not a type of book I would normally read but I'm so glad I did. Full of love without being saccharin, sad but not without hope. The appreciation for books and the written word are apparent (which was what sold it to me in the first place) and the cast of characters (primary and secondary) felt so strong. I'm not sure this will be one I ever revisit, but I so thoroughly enjoyed listening to it in the moment.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and War

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Medical content, Death of parent, and Classism

author2223's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Murder, and Classism

magicsarah's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent

flashandoutbreak's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

qwertybc's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

5.0

I am such a big fan of Pop Williams’ work. She weaves a story which provides insights in to the world then and now. This thought provoking work sheds light on a perspective of the Great War era that is very much unsung. Her characters are well developed and have depth to them in a way that draws you into the text. I can’t wait to visit Oxford one day and see it with a new lens. 

Overall I’m a big fan. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Terminal illness

Moderate: War