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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
"A new life, I thought. 'I'm not going anywhere,'I said, to the indifferent night."
Oh, but she does! This book was my dream book to read combining bookbinding, narrow boats along the river, libraries and librarians, books, higher education against the odds, strong women, and of course, the setting - WWI in England.
While the beginning may be a bit slow - dare I say, dull - for those who have never bound a book, for me it was soothing. Know that the pace accelerates with each chapter until it becomes a page-turner. The protagonists - twins - living on a canal boat during WWI, working class "girls" and each brilliant in their own ways is such an unusual setting with characters who, while different, the reader comes to appreciate both for their own sense of selves.
It is important, upon finishing the novel, to read the "Author's Notes" on how she came to be inspired in writing this book. [I have not yet read her first one [book:The Dictionary of Lost Words|49354511]The Dictionary of Lost Words], but I will!
Oh, but she does! This book was my dream book to read combining bookbinding, narrow boats along the river, libraries and librarians, books, higher education against the odds, strong women, and of course, the setting - WWI in England.
While the beginning may be a bit slow - dare I say, dull - for those who have never bound a book, for me it was soothing. Know that the pace accelerates with each chapter until it becomes a page-turner. The protagonists - twins - living on a canal boat during WWI, working class "girls" and each brilliant in their own ways is such an unusual setting with characters who, while different, the reader comes to appreciate both for their own sense of selves.
It is important, upon finishing the novel, to read the "Author's Notes" on how she came to be inspired in writing this book. [I have not yet read her first one [book:The Dictionary of Lost Words|49354511]The Dictionary of Lost Words], but I will!
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you're looking for well-written WW1 fiction, this is a solid pick!
challenging
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
Three stars.
This was a good story set in Oxford, England, during World War I, a setting I don't often encounter. The characters were generally well-developed, and the story was interesting, but I never felt the tension to turn the page to learn what was going to happen next.
This was a good story set in Oxford, England, during World War I, a setting I don't often encounter. The characters were generally well-developed, and the story was interesting, but I never felt the tension to turn the page to learn what was going to happen next.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
emotional
informative
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
This book is definitely a slow burn but I really enjoyed it.
I loved Peggy and her sister Maude. Considering Maude did not say much she was actually such a rich character who said such profound things at just the right moment. The bond between Peggy and Maude was beautifully explored too as slowly we came to realise that rather than Maude being reliant on Peggy as first appears to be the case that actually in many ways the reverse is true.
The book does a great job of telling the lost stories of the women of Oxford Univerity Press during the 1st World War but also the huge barrier to women, espeically those from working class backgrounds, to obtaining access to study at Oxford univerity. It is a shameful thing and one I suspect the University has never really acknowledged as being disgracful.
The book does meander in places but when I got to the end I realised that slow development of the plot and the characters ultimately becomes really satisfying as it creates a real depth and power in the story being told.
I loved Peggy and her sister Maude. Considering Maude did not say much she was actually such a rich character who said such profound things at just the right moment. The bond between Peggy and Maude was beautifully explored too as slowly we came to realise that rather than Maude being reliant on Peggy as first appears to be the case that actually in many ways the reverse is true.
The book does a great job of telling the lost stories of the women of Oxford Univerity Press during the 1st World War but also the huge barrier to women, espeically those from working class backgrounds, to obtaining access to study at Oxford univerity. It is a shameful thing and one I suspect the University has never really acknowledged as being disgracful.
The book does meander in places but when I got to the end I realised that slow development of the plot and the characters ultimately becomes really satisfying as it creates a real depth and power in the story being told.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Kept waiting for the characters to be interesting or the story to draw me in. Neither happened, though I kept reading and hoping. What a disappointment.