inthearchives's reviews
101 reviews

Wifedom: Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life by Anna Funder

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Blood

Moderate: Infidelity and War

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Infertility

Amy Levy: Her Life & Letters by Linda Hunt Beckman

challenging funny informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.0

The (absolutely uninspired) plot of this book could have occurred without making the main character’s twin an autistic NPC.  Very flat & one dimensional portrayal of autism to be point of condescension.
Seems like this was excess material from archival research of The Dictionary of Lost Words, which was a delightful book. This does not do what TDOLW does by any stretch.
Reminds me of YA historical fiction I read as a child. 
If you are autistic, a researcher, or interested in women academia at the turn of the century (or all three) you can safely give this one a miss. Total miss. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism

Metaphysical Animals: How Four Women Brought Philosophy Back to Life by Clare Mac Cumhaill, Rachael Wiseman

challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Zarathustra's Sister, The Case of Elizabeth and Friedrich Nietzsche by H.F. Peters

challenging informative fast-paced

5.0

Important text in both the study of Nietzsche and also disinformation. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness and Antisemitism

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

Emergency Sex (And Other Desperate Measures): True Stories from a War Zone by Kenneth Cain

3.0

An Island to Oneself: The Story of Six Years on a Desert Island by Tom Neale

4.0

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

4.0