Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman

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The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

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Realistic Fiction. Adult. Historical. Literary Fiction. Feminist. 

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 419

Started: 10 March 2024
Finished: 17 March 2024

Summary:
    The Oxford English Dictionary was born in a shed in Oxford, and tucked under her father's desk in that shed, watching slips bearing important definitions periodically float down from the high tables, is where Esme learned to love words. Growing up as a daughter of an employee of the dictionary, and then becoming employee herself despite the cloud of war and the doubt of her capability based on her gender, Esme was in a prime position to see the words that were left out of the dictionary. Slang. Women's words. Words belonging to the lower classes, the illiterate, the people whose language couldn't be found in the literature cannon.
    The Dictionary of Lost Words tells the story of a girl, an intellectual, a reluctant mother and a joyful fiance, a proud daughter and a prouder wordsmith, and most of all a woman who couldn't stand by and watch people's words be erased. 

Thoughts:
    This was a really lovely and academic and gently feminist book. It wasn't radical in its political stance or in its impact on me, but it was very nice to read. The writing was good, very feminine and I liked both the narration and the epistolary sections. The characters felt very historical-fiction, with a projectable female protagonist and a lovable maid and a hard-working yet doting father, but it worked pretty well and the story felt rather immersive. The scenes where Esme was working with injured war veterans were the most impactful, and I found them quite moving. The story was predictable, though, especially with the death of Esme's fiance; I saw most of the plot points coming a mile away.
    Aside from contributing to the predictability, the historical aspect was quite cool, though; it was interesting to be taken back into the creation of the first comprehensive dictionary, very much an escapist fantasy for members of today's complicated and technology-infested world. If the opportunity arrises, I'd love to read more of Williams' books.