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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
So stunningly beautiful and even better, in my opinion, to the Dictionary of Lost Words.
I have a particular interest in the era of World War 1, the Spanish Flu, and female suffrage. Add a vague interest inspired by a contact of a contact of the world of British narrow boats and this is a book that ticks all those boxes for me.
The book is rich, even though it clearly exists in the world of Town not Gown but you can can't help but feel Peggy's thirst for knowledge, yet her devotion to the care and support of her sister, who was obviously intellectually handicapped in some way but exactly how is not explained. Similarly Peggy frequently speaks of her Ma (deceased in the time period) the book is set but her father is never mentioned which makes me wonder about their nature of their conception and birth (Peggy and Maude's). There is much that is assumed but never revealed, leaving the reader to fill in the blanks.
I got the sense that the world of academia is one that Pip Williams is more than familiar with. A) its clear from the research she has put in to the book, and B) reflected in the love of reading and sheer joy Peggy feels when she is allowed to sit and study in the Somerville Library. I do not think you could write that unless it was a feeling you have experienced.
I feel that the book ended on the right note.
I have a particular interest in the era of World War 1, the Spanish Flu, and female suffrage. Add a vague interest inspired by a contact of a contact of the world of British narrow boats and this is a book that ticks all those boxes for me.
The book is rich, even though it clearly exists in the world of Town not Gown but you can can't help but feel Peggy's thirst for knowledge, yet her devotion to the care and support of her sister, who was obviously intellectually handicapped in some way but exactly how is not explained. Similarly Peggy frequently speaks of her Ma (deceased in the time period) the book is set but her father is never mentioned which makes me wonder about their nature of their conception and birth (Peggy and Maude's). There is much that is assumed but never revealed, leaving the reader to fill in the blanks.
I got the sense that the world of academia is one that Pip Williams is more than familiar with. A) its clear from the research she has put in to the book, and B) reflected in the love of reading and sheer joy Peggy feels when she is allowed to sit and study in the Somerville Library. I do not think you could write that unless it was a feeling you have experienced.
I feel that the book ended on the right note.
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
emotional
informative
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:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Read for book club and looking forward to discussing the many aspects of historical fiction, feminism, English class history and factory workers, the trauma and impact of war on everyone beyond the combatants, as well as the combatants themselves (and treatment of POWs), and then onto family and twin dynamics. This was a fascinating book to read and is a great work of historical fiction.
The only downside for me was the final few chapters. The pacing felt much slower and the storyline became a bit obvious. It felt to me like possibly those chapters were written first and then moved to the end of the book as they did not feel as finessed as the rest. Definitely a good read :)
The only downside for me was the final few chapters. The pacing felt much slower and the storyline became a bit obvious. It felt to me like possibly those chapters were written first and then moved to the end of the book as they did not feel as finessed as the rest. Definitely a good read :)
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:
Complicated
I thought the first part had too much detail about how books were made in England in 1914. Then it got personal and emotional.
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
informative
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:
No
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
As someone who doesn’t read historical fiction often I absolutely love Pip Williams. Historical facts are interwoven with rich characters and an inspiring story line.