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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
This perfect and beautiful story will make you laugh, cry and hold your breath in equal measure.
Sublime.
Sublime.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
To start with the positives, reading a book set in Oxford is extremely fun. The historical setting also meant I learnt a lot about what Oxford would have been like during WW1. The discussion of feminsim at the time is pretty interesting. I also think the book captures female friendships pretty well and I like the depiction of the relationship between the sisters. I can see this book being turned into a film for sure.
However, the dialogue is pretty unbearable. It's extremely unrealistic and honestly makes the characters sound annoying as fuck. There is also a lot of "'No,' I thought. 'Yes' I said.", and, generally, the author is spelling things out for you throughout the book. I also think it falls into some unfortunate rich-girl-befriends-poor-girl clichés. Also, the attempt of making real people like Vera Brittain and Emily Pankhurst a part of the story frankly made me cringe a little.
However, the dialogue is pretty unbearable. It's extremely unrealistic and honestly makes the characters sound annoying as fuck. There is also a lot of "'No,' I thought. 'Yes' I said.", and, generally, the author is spelling things out for you throughout the book. I also think it falls into some unfortunate rich-girl-befriends-poor-girl clichés. Also, the attempt of making real people like Vera Brittain and Emily Pankhurst a part of the story frankly made me cringe a little.
A nice follow-up to and cleverly entwined with Dictionary of Lost Words. A good reminder of how much has been fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. Wonderful characters, as usual, Tilda being my favourite.
"The Bookbinder of Jericho" is the second book I read by Pip Williams. Her first novel "The Dictionary of Lost Words" is the precursor to this book, although both can be read as standalones. However, you will get some fun easter eggs, when reading them in the intended order.
Set in 1914 England, the reader gets introduced to the twins Peggy and Maude. Their mother passed away a while ago, leaving Peggy to take care of her disabled sister. The twins work in a bookbindery, both loving to read, which is uncommen for women in their time. At the start of the first world war, the men get sent away, leaving the women to keep the bindery running. This leaves Peggy with a choice: Will she stay and take care of Maude? Or will she find her place in the world and study at the university?
Pip Williams is an incredible writer and you can tell that she does her research well! The way language and words are described in her books is beautiful, giving them so much power especially for women. Wether you're into historical fiction or not, I think this book could be for anyone!
Set in 1914 England, the reader gets introduced to the twins Peggy and Maude. Their mother passed away a while ago, leaving Peggy to take care of her disabled sister. The twins work in a bookbindery, both loving to read, which is uncommen for women in their time. At the start of the first world war, the men get sent away, leaving the women to keep the bindery running. This leaves Peggy with a choice: Will she stay and take care of Maude? Or will she find her place in the world and study at the university?
Pip Williams is an incredible writer and you can tell that she does her research well! The way language and words are described in her books is beautiful, giving them so much power especially for women. Wether you're into historical fiction or not, I think this book could be for anyone!
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
I very much enjoyed this novel, as it is at once historical fiction and a deeply feminism narrative, one that draws you in to the story. The descriptions are strong and one can easily imagine a wartime Oxford, as so little has changed. It has a strong social voice, as we watch Peggy’s work in the Press — so valuable and yet so little valued — and her enduring consciousness of the barriers between herself and the education she craves and deserves. Williams doesn’t preach; she illustrates and juxtaposes, and in the recreated events of the war, she explores a narrative that wasn’t told by contemporaries, but might have been as important as Vera Brittain’s had it been written by a real Peggy.
This is indeed a lovely companion to The Dictionary of Lost Words but I skimmed the second half as the spectre of war was too overwhelming.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes