Reviews - The Bookbinder | The StoryGraph

1.45k reviews for:

The Bookbinder

Pip Williams

4.03 AVERAGE

madgrambo's review

4.0

An easy read despite some difficult themes. Set in Oxford at the turn of the 20th century until the Spanish flu pandemic.

tericarol21's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

This is a beautifully written book.

quackethh's review against another edition

4.25

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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: Yes

very good companion to the previous book :)

scnole2021's review

3.75

emotional reflective sad 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

jim_in_in's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional 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 is the companion book to The Dictionary of Lost Words. Even though it should be read after that book, it really isn't a sequel. The main character and the most important secondary character are not is the first book. The book is set in London, England just before, during, and shortly after WW1. One of the things I loved about this book was the treatment of Maud, the neurodivergent sister of the main character. Both characters growth is painful and wonderful to watch.

Content Warnings

vicg_b31's review

3.25

emotional informative sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I enjoyed learning about life in Oxford during WWI, and the tension that exists between those studying at the prestigious university and those who are working class. I didn’t know anything about book binding, and wished I could get a better grasp of what the process looked like from the descriptions.

I resonated with the relationships formed between women, especially sisters, and found some of the dialogue between Gwen and Peggy to be exceptionally funny. I wanted to connect with the characters more, but felt almost like they were being held at arm’s length from me. I never quite clicked with any of them, even Peggy, whose POV I was reading from.

Content Warnings

lelemae's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Although I found the Dictionary of Lost Words to have more emotional impact and a more compelling plot, The Bookbinder has a more compelling cast of characters and world-building. The slight overlap with DOLW was nice, and I was happy to hear more from characters like Tilda. This one didn’t bring me to tears like DOLW did, but I found the relationship among female characters to be the thing that really shined in this one.

Additionally, I haven’t encountered a ton of autism/neurodivergent representation in historical fiction, and I thought Williams handles Maude/her storyline with care.

The Bookbinder is a story of sisterhood (both in the literal and figurative sense).