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By: DUNED 089
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2025-05-28 12:38:44 |
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The group was unanimous in agreeing that this was one of the better reads we have EVER had!! An original topic based around history made it an excellent read leading to diverse conversations. |
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By: NAP 023
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2025-05-27 09:55:14 |
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This was a superb story - such an insight into the making of the Oxford Dictionary that we've all used from schooldays. Everyone loved it. |
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By: CHCH 557
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2025-05-14 22:10:57 |
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Most people really enjoyed this book. We loved learning more about this interesting piece of history. |
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By: CHCH 558
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2025-04-07 11:02:37 |
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We found this book easy to read and not particularly challenging. Although some of us struggled at the beginning, we eventually enjoyed it. A few readers felt that the book had Downton Abbey undertones. |
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By: CHCH 312
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2025-02-17 12:44:14 |
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Some struggled to get going but those who persevered really enjoyed this story. It was fascinating to find out more about the Oxford Dictionary formation, and the patriarchal bent of the words that made it into the Dictionary. |
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By: PALMN 029
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2024-10-24 20:47:13 |
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A little slow to get into, but it is a beautiful well-written story. A lovely historical fiction that explores how women's lives were not recorded and reflected in history. |
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By: CHCH 552
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2024-08-02 09:34:11 |
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Whilst the first half of the novel felt slow-moving, it was an enjoyable read and we loved the photograph showing that some of the characters were based on real people. |
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By: TAUP 015
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2024-06-25 11:59:14 |
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We unanimously agreed this was a satisfying and enjoyable read. The characters felt real, and we particularly liked the way the fictional character of Esme was interwoven with the historical figures of the true story. The book led to much discussion of the levels of power in language and the effect on women throughout history. |
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By: NELS 076
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2024-03-06 09:50:16 |
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It has taken our group a while to settle down after the holidays. Three of us read the book and really enjoyed it. We found it a wonderful way to view words and give us an idea of how the dictionary came about. We would not have thought it would take so long, and that it was somewhat selective as to the inclusion of words. A wonderful story that wove in the fight and plight of women at that time. |
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By: WELL 194
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2024-03-04 11:07:34 |
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This book was enjoyed by the group. Many of us followed up by reading more about the development of the dictionary. |
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By: FEILD 002
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2024-01-17 11:36:22 |
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A compelling read. |
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By: HAMIL 007
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2024-01-11 11:11:16 |
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Members were unanimous in their rating of this book -we all thought it was excellent and even worth re-reading, because it's a page turner in parts and it's easy to miss important details. We particularly admired the depth of Williams' research and her seamless blend of real and invented characters. Another thing the book did for us was to humanise and enrich our understanding of the production of the Oxford Dictionary, a cultural monument that we have all used and enjoyed both in work and recreation. We all enjoyed the book immensely; it made us think and sparked considerable discussion. |
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By: CHCH 553
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2023-12-13 16:05:44 |
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A really interesting read. Prompted lots of good conversations about the development of the dictionary and the historical contexts of the time such as suffrage and WWI and also the connections to current conversations around language with the new government. |
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By: NAP 034
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2023-10-01 10:34:10 |
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One of our best books this year. The majority of the group really loved the combination of the fiction and non-fiction in the story. There were lots of interesting parts in the book and sometimes we wanted more depth. We had good conversations about words, language and the role of women in the development of language. |
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By: TAUR 062
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2023-09-25 11:51:52 |
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We all found this book really interesting and none of us had thought of how the dictionary had been put together. Clever how she wrote on historical events and also wove in a fictional story. |
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By: COROM 002
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2023-08-08 12:31:28 |
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All enjoyed this interesting and beautiful story woven around real events in the making of the Oxford English Dictionary, women's suffrage, and WWI, plus mention of the Aboriginal languages... We are looking forward to reading her next novel, 'The Bookbinder of Jericho'. Very good discussion. It brought alive people's feelings in these times, especially women. |
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By: AUCK 172
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2023-08-08 12:19:22 |
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Some thought it needed editing, and the themes of WWI and suffragettes too lightly written. Generally enjoyed. |
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By: DUNED 005
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2023-07-13 13:22:56 |
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Everyone enjoyed this book and we had some good discussion around language. |
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By: TEPUK 006
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2023-07-12 11:22:13 |
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A good read. Most enjoyed. Some found it predictable and a little gloomy. Interesting how facts, real events and real people were effectively woven within the fictional narrative. |
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By: NELS 023
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2023-07-10 10:40:58 |
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The majority (10/12) of our group thoroughly enjoyed this book. There was much to learn about the Oxford Dictionary, the Suffragette movement and WWI. Very easy to read and engrossing. |
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By: WELL 213
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2023-06-27 14:54:25 |
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Our group generally agreed this was a wonderful novel, cleverly based on facts and historical events. Some enjoyed the first half more, not liking the number of deaths occurring in the second half. Not surprisingly, the writing is very good. |
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By: MAPUA 001
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2023-06-26 11:53:33 |
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We all enjoyed this book. Thought it was beautifully written, thought-provoking, and led to discussion on many different topics. |
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By: WELL 189
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2023-06-22 13:26:09 |
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Beautifully written, vivid and descriptive - a "slow read" book. Interesting storyline - something very different. Story really 'rang true' to the period. |
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By: TIMAR 022
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2023-06-15 11:46:20 |
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Well-written. Enjoyed by almost all of the group. |
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By: WAIKA 002
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2023-06-08 11:28:11 |
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We all enjoyed the weaving of real people and events into the fictional tale of Esme. A great perspective from the unheard people of the time - women, the poor, soldiers at the front in WW1. |
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By: DUNED 114
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2023-06-01 14:29:11 |
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The book became interesting as we got into it. A window into women's lives at the time. Great mixing of real people who existed in history with fictional characters. |
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By: CHCH 324
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2023-05-22 11:54:24 |
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Very well-written, brings history alive. A little long though, with small print. |
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By: WANAK 010
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2023-05-03 19:26:35 |
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Overall our group enjoyed the book, for some the beginning was a bit slow. We particularly enjoyed the way the author intertwined fact and fiction. A fascinating insight into society over the time the dictionary was put together, lots of discussion around gender bias in language development, evolving nature of words and how meanings change over time. Thought provoking. |
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By: TEPUK 004
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2023-05-03 11:41:50 |
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Great discussion. Group arrived with all manner of dictionaries! |
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By: ROTO 012
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2023-05-01 14:36:39 |
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The book was enjoyed by everyone - for the language, the historical situation and the story. A fantastic read. |
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By: NAP 011
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2023-04-27 21:48:48 |
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Nearly everyone in our group loved this book. Great characters, fascinating history of the Oxford dictionary and women's suffrage & inequality. Not a quick read. |
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By: BLENH 011
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2023-04-20 14:39:42 |
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Most of us loved the book, and found it an excellent telling of social history. |
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By: TIMAR 007
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2023-04-17 14:57:48 |
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We found it a very interesting and satisfying read. Liked the mixture of fact and fiction. |
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By: AUCK 248
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2023-03-20 10:37:26 |
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An interesting book. Generated lots of discussion around gender equality. Thought provoking content. |
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By: TAKA 004
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2023-03-13 09:59:10 |
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Great discussion, very wide ranging across issues of gender and bias. Enjoyable book with slightly removed impersonal tone around the main characters - liked by some. |
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By: AUCK 015
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2023-03-06 13:52:00 |
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A haunting story that was a comfortable easy read. Believable fiction expertly woven into historical fact. An excellent read for those interested in the development of the English language and the place of women in society in the latter part of the 19th and early 20th centuries. |
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By: CHCH 268
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2023-02-27 12:30:23 |
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We had a really in depth discussion around this book. The story beautifully married Esme's fictional experience into the historical story around the Oxford Dictionary, along with the social history of the period. Great characters in Lizzie, Ditte, Esme and Esme's father. |
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By: NELS 048
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2023-01-12 11:18:46 |
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Everyone enjoyed the book and we had an excellent discussion. |
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By: CHCH 333
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2023-01-09 09:56:50 |
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The group enjoyed this book. Some found the beginning slow. Lots of discussion. |
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By: LOWER 019
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2022-12-04 22:02:09 |
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Mostly enjoyed by all although some found it a little slow. Very interesting read! |
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