Reviews tagging 'Miscarriage'

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

9 reviews

btothebooks's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is such a sweet and charming book; it definitely gets a little sad but there’s wonderful places to contemplate the use of the English language and the strength of our words. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, War, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Abortion and Miscarriage

storydragon's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This really is a thought-provoking book, and I did quite enjoy most of it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Miscarriage

In the end of the book is quite some loss. I was not really prepared for that. It made me enjoy the last part of the book less.

friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this so much. This book follows the life of Esme Nicoll, and her connection yo words, people and especially women and their experiences. This book is incredibly detailed, canning and engrossing. I loved every minute of it. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in words and their direct and hidden meanings, and would like to feel what it's like to live in victorian times as an ordinary woman. Amazing book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Grief, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexism, Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Ableism, Abandonment, Classism, Cursing, and Slavery

Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Alcohol, Body horror, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Cursing

mleckie's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, War, and Pregnancy

Minor: Abortion, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Infertility, and Slavery

lenchen25's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Death, Child death, Child abuse, Abortion, War, Violence, and Grief

Minor: Miscarriage

katekatiekait's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Sexism, and War

Minor: Abortion, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Medical content

ntvenessa's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I detested the first half, and then found it adequate by the end. I think the historical account and critique of dictionary making was done sufficiently, although without revelation beyond what is already broadly agreed in linguistics (although I am biased as I am linguistically trained, and perhaps these are not moot points to someone who is not). Ultimately I think its integration with a fictionalised story was its downfall. It simply wasn't convincing, and the tone was jarring. Especially when the author is writing from the first person voice of a child in 19th century England through the lens of a 21st century feminist moralist (but who am I to judge what a 19th century English child would sound like). To some extent you have to suspend your disbelief when reading historical fiction, but there is a fine line and too often events seemed to me too far fetched, too convenient, too formulaic. Bar one turn of events, the plot was rather too convenient. The writing was inelegant. It was not immersive. It is a sign of a clumsy novel when you can anticipate the plot devices as they come. It's like watching a rehearsal as opposed to opening night. I often felt that the crux of what needed to be said could have been compressed -- this is a novel written without economy of language and this I think is to its detriment. While it dilutes what I imagine to be points the author makes (and valid ones at that), I suppose it does also make the writing more accessible. All things said the latter half of the novel hit a chord, not for its storytelling but for its subject matter, which may also mean something to you, if you have ever

grieved

. Maybe this book just wasn't for me, but maybe it's for you?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, and War

Moderate: Abortion, Sexual harassment, and Miscarriage

Minor: Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Colonisation, Child death, Chronic illness, and Car accident

alyssadavis's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

I realised that the words most often used to define us were words that described our function in relation to others. Even the most benign words- maiden, wife, mother - told the world whether we were virgins or not. What was the male equivalent of maiden? I could not think of it. What was the male equivalent of Mrs., of whore, of common scold?... Which words would define me? Which would be used to judge or contain?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, and War

Minor: Abortion, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Slavery, and Violence

frogglin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring sad 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

Set against the backdrop of the Suffragette movement and World War I, this is the story of Esme. From a very early age she has spent her time in the Scriptorium, a garden shed where men are working day after day to define as many words as they can with the ultimate aim of publishing the very first Oxford English Dictionary. 

There is a rich sense of history and time in this novel and Esme's growing frustration that "women's words" and those used by the poor or marginalised are not considered worthy of inclusion in the dictionary is perfectly pitched. Her relationship with Lizzie, the maid of the house belonging to Dr Murray (who is in charge of the work of collecting words) grows and deepens as they age into a true friendship.

Esme herself lacks the bravery to chain herself to a fence or march for the vote, it is an interesting portrait of a young women who wants to help make a change but has to find her own way to do it. Something that is still a valid discussion today. Change and progress can come from many directions.

Pip Williams has woven Esme's story among those of real people (although fictionalised) who were busy in the creation of the first Oxford English Dictionary, and also moved Esme into different circles socially which provides a good variety and depth to the story as well as challenging her character into new directions and ideas.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Cursing

Minor: Miscarriage