January 2022 Fiction Group Read - The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

[Alannah]

Please discuss our winner here.

[PattyMacDotComma]

Oh good! It's one I've been moving up my list!

[Alannah]

I'm looking forward to this one. The description on its GoodReads page sounded interesting.

[Alannah]

It is on audible's website too so even better. I have one credit on my account so I will save it for this book.

[Greg]

I'll join on this one. Hadn't heard of it before, but it looks interesting!

[LauraT]

Great! The one I wanted to hear!!! Really looking forward starting it

[Elise]

Wonderful choice! I have been wanting to this one.

[Alannah]

I am hoping to start this one after my current audiobook.

[LauraT]

Started yesterday, onl a few pages.
Liking ot so far, especially because the Oxford English Dictionary has been in my dreams since University years...

[Greg]

LauraT wrote: "Started yesterday, onl a few pages.
Liking ot so far, especially because the Oxford English Dictionary has been in my dreams since University years..."

Great Laura! And yes, I remember a whole shelf at the library full of black leather bound OED books that together made up the whole OED. I used it often! :)

[Alannah]

I started this last night, once I finished my current audiobook. I didn't get too far into the book but I'm enjoying it so far.

[Greg]

Alannah wrote: "I started this last night, once I finished my current audiobook. I didn't get too far into the book but I'm enjoying it so far."

Great Alannah! I will definitely be joining both of you later in the month!

[Jade]

I have this sitting somewhere. About to start it.

[Alannah]

Jade wrote: "I have this sitting somewhere. About to start it."

I'm sure you will like it.

[Olivia]

Started this yesterday, great so far.

[Greg]

Olivia wrote: "Started this yesterday, great so far."

Good to hear Olivia! I'm looking forward to reading it later in the month!

[Margaret]

So far this story is very interesting, especially after watching 'The Professor and the Madman' on Netflix: Which is based on a 1998 book by Simon Winchester

[Jazz]

That was a fascinating movie. I'll add this one to my 'to read list'

Margaret wrote: "So far this story is very interesting, especially after watching 'The Professor and the Madman' on Netflix: Which is based on a 1998 book by Simon Winchester"

[LauraT]

Finished this past week end. Liked it a lot.
I had started it mainly because it dealt with the compilation od the OED, which for us with a degree in English Language and Literature is a sort of Bible.
But going on it deals with much more than the Dictionary.
As the title suggests, the author looks into all those words that were not considered "proper - important" by the professors in charge of the dictionary. All slan words, maily dealing with the feminine universe.
And this battle to give them a dignity - in parallel with the battle for the vote for all women - is extreamly interesting.

[Greg]

LauraT wrote: "Finished this past week end. Liked it a lot.
I had started it mainly because it dealt with the compilation od the OED, which for us with a degree in English Language and Literature is a sort of Bib..."

Sounds good Laura! I will be starting this very soon.

[PattyMacDotComma]

I'm exactly halfway through. I'm finding it slow-going, for some reason (possibly personal, not the author's fault!), but I enjoy the characters and the words.

[LauraT]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I'm exactly halfway through. I'm finding it slow-going, for some reason (possibly personal, not the author's fault!), but I enjoy the characters and the words."

This is true; it took me more than I thought. Every now and then I had to stop and do something else. I liked the topics more than the book I have to admit

[PattyMacDotComma]

I ended up enjoying it overall, but I found it kind of uneven. The history of words is interesting (if that's your thing), the history of the suffragettes was touched upon (but didn't interest me much), and Esme herself wasn't as enjoyable a character as Aunt Edith, Ditte.

I did review it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Greg]

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I ended up enjoying it overall, but I found it kind of uneven. The history of words is interesting (if that's your thing), the history of the suffragettes was touched upon (but didn't interest me m..."

Great review Patty!

[Luci]

I enjoyed this very much. Historical fiction involving the first Oxford Dictionary, women's rights, and a coming of age story as well. I liked most of the characters and especially enjoyed the words.. so many interesting words.

[Greg]

Luci wrote: "I enjoyed this very much. Historical fiction involving the first Oxford Dictionary, women's rights, and a coming of age story as well. I liked most of the characters and especially enjoyed the word..."

Glad you liked it Luci!!