A review by bookishreadsandme
The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

emotional reflective slow-paced

3.0

This is a well researched piece of historical fiction set during World War 1 that explores social class, the role of women and education. 

You follow bookbinder Peggy who is highly intelligent and wants to study at university but she is working class and doesn’t have the opportunities and pathways the richer folk do. 

You experience Peggy’s frustrations of wanting to learn more whilst binding books instead of reading them, alongside the worry of looking after her twin sister Maude, who doesn’t have a diagnosis but it came across that she possibly has autism. 

Featured are a wide range of characters from different backgrounds such as Peggy’s friend Gwen who is well off, Belgian refugee Lotte, the feisty and wonderful Aunt Tilda and the injured Belgian Bastiaan.

I must admit, something was missing for me with this story. I found the pacing quite slow and I wasn’t really invested in the main character. The plot came across quite flat at times. The side characters weren’t as fleshed out as I wanted them to be either. But, there are some stunning quotes that blew me away and the details about the bookbinding process was fascinating. 

It is an insightful read about that time in women’s history. I loved that side of it and how it explores the power of books. I just felt the plot wasn’t as engaging as it could have been.