The Dictionary of Lost Words

by Pip Williams

I cannot overstate the benefits of a busy day for an anxious mind or a lonely heart.

I really wanted to love this book because I love the premise. I find lexicology fascinating, especially how the decisions about which words to include in a dictionary and how they are defined are reflective of a culture. To view the decisions of the original contents of the OED from a gender perspective sounded intriguing. Unfortunately, the book fell a bit flat for me. I didn't find the underlying story compelling. I gave it 4 stars because I still like the premise, but if I could have, I would have given it 3.5 stars.