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eahoffm2's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Cursing
Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Violence
joshuamartinsen'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is PERFECT. It does exactly what it says in the blurb, but so much more. The author is SO intentional about which words are used and when- carefully choosing which details of the protagonists life to gloss over and which to explore in painstaking detail based on their significance to her at each point in her life. The use of time skips was so thoughtful, and i found they always fast-tracked me to exactly where I wanted to be. Can’t recommend this book enough, and the attention to detail and care that the author put into it is obvious in every word, paragraph, page, and chapter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Classism, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Blood, Child abuse, and Police brutality
laheath's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.0
The description of this book really doesn't do it justice. The decades-long compilation of the very first Oxford English Dictionary is at first a catalyst for Esme's love of words, then the background for her life of learning and experiences through WWI and the women's suffrage movement in the UK. As she becomes aware of classism, sexism, and the struggles against them, she feels compelled to keep her own record of words in common usage that the editors have decided against including in the dictionary. The supporting characters are strong and significant in their impact on her story. In reading the author's note and interviews with the author, it was especially interesting to learn of her inspiration for this novel and where this historical fiction deviated from fact.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, Grief, Death of parent, War, Cursing, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Rating: 4/5 stars
Esme is the daughter of a lexicographer working on the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. But as she grows older and more familiar with her father’s work, Esme begins to realize the words of women and the working class are left out of the OED—and begins to collect them for herself, instead.
This was the November pick for a book club I’m part of and I was so excited because the premise sounded incredible—feminist historical fiction about the importance of words and the way the language we hear and preserve impacts our view of the world? Sign me up immediately!
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like this one lived up to the promise of that premise quite as well as it could have. I found myself repeatedly frustrated by large time jumps and unresolved plot points, and was ultimately pretty frustrated by an ending that felt a bit haphazard. I wanted to be drawn into this book and this world, but I instead found myself a somewhat bored observer of vignettes that sometimes felt almost random, disconnected from the larger narrative for no discernible plot-serving reason.
Still, at the end of the day the concept is spectacular and I felt like the message the book sends has real value—and did make me cry multiple times. If you decide to pick this one up, know that you’re in for fairly slow historical fiction—but if you are a word nerd you will probably enjoy most of the ride.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: feminist historical fiction; words and linguistics; fiction with a message
CW: Pregnancy/post partum depression; death/death of a parent; war/PTSD/injury.
Esme is the daughter of a lexicographer working on the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. But as she grows older and more familiar with her father’s work, Esme begins to realize the words of women and the working class are left out of the OED—and begins to collect them for herself, instead.
This was the November pick for a book club I’m part of and I was so excited because the premise sounded incredible—feminist historical fiction about the importance of words and the way the language we hear and preserve impacts our view of the world? Sign me up immediately!
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like this one lived up to the promise of that premise quite as well as it could have. I found myself repeatedly frustrated by large time jumps and unresolved plot points, and was ultimately pretty frustrated by an ending that felt a bit haphazard. I wanted to be drawn into this book and this world, but I instead found myself a somewhat bored observer of vignettes that sometimes felt almost random, disconnected from the larger narrative for no discernible plot-serving reason.
Still, at the end of the day the concept is spectacular and I felt like the message the book sends has real value—and did make me cry multiple times. If you decide to pick this one up, know that you’re in for fairly slow historical fiction—but if you are a word nerd you will probably enjoy most of the ride.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: feminist historical fiction; words and linguistics; fiction with a message
CW: Pregnancy/post partum depression; death/death of a parent; war/PTSD/injury.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and War
Moderate: Sexism, Classism, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
mattiedancer's review against another edition
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Writing: 5⭐️/5
Genuinely some of the most beautiful writing I’ve read in a bit. Part of the reason the writing felt so gorgeous was definitely the focus on words and their definitions, and yet a lot of the writing was thoroughly developed in a way that did much to show without telling. While being slow-paced, I never felt bored or confused.
Characters: 5⭐️/5
While I didn’t love every character, they all felt real. People who annoyed our MC, Esme, weren’t forced to annoy us in contrived ways. Instead, their characters grated against hers in a natural way. Characters who our MC loved were given consistent personalities and were thrown into situations in which they were required to react.
Plot: 5⭐️/5
It’s a simple story: a young girl grows up watching her father help build the dictionary and chooses that life for herself. And yet, the depth in which Williams is able to apply other themes and subplots into such a simple story is masterfully done. The inclusion of the rise of feminism, the faults of new movements, the coming-of-age aspects from a woman’s perspective, and the harsh realities of life and death were adeptly handled.
Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5
Oh, how sad and wonderful.
Who Should Read This?
- Fans of historical fiction
- Word-lovers and feminists
- Those looking for a slow coming-of-age story that evolves into a story about life in general
CW: Pregnancy, adoption, death, war, violence, trauma, abuse, misogyny, classism
Final Rating: 5⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Bullying, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Sexism, Death of parent, Child death, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Blood, Misogyny, Classism, and Abortion
Moderate: Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Self harm
kivacorent1ne's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
This book was amazing! The historical fiction setting makes for a reflective and inspiring message about many topics. It is so cleverly written, it is so unique!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
atamano's review against another edition
informative
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Classism, Sexual content, and Cursing
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
graceevalyn'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book!! I really enjoy books that deal with big social issues by focusing on very intimate aspects of a single person's life, and by doing that are able to say something clearly about the social issue clearly without preaching. This book did that. It's so thoroughly researched and meticulously put together; the historical detail included about the making of the dictionary is fascinating. The main character and many of the supporting characters are masterfully drawn, flawed, yet sympathetic characters. It's beautifully written and reflects on the role of women (or lack thereof) in the development of language, as well as more generally the power of words and sometimes their inability to say what we want to say. It's also astonishing to read a book that covers a scope of so many years and yet is paced so well and keeps my interest/remains consistent in tone and ideas the whole time while growing along with the character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, War, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion
bookthief's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book follows the life of Esme Nicoll, from a little girl to the mark she has left in the world. This book is for history lovers and those who enjoy getting attached to characters. This is the perfect book to sit and read by a fire in the evenings with a mug of hot chocolate, steaming beside you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Death, Grief, Cursing, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent and War
innerweststreetlibrarian's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I found this disappointingly slow going. There’s nothing particularly wrong with the book, it just didn’t grab me enough to get through it quickly. Esme is quite passive for a protagonist. Things happen around her and to her. It’s a bit depressing.
The words are the real star of the story. I enjoyed the premise that there’s a gender bias in these original dictionaries and the process of collecting the women’s words and defining them was really interesting. The story could have benefited from more of that.
The words are the real star of the story. I enjoyed the premise that there’s a gender bias in these original dictionaries and the process of collecting the women’s words and defining them was really interesting. The story could have benefited from more of that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Child abuse, Death of parent, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Violence, Mental illness, and Sexism
Minor: Misogyny and Infertility