Audiobook Review -The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

4 Stars

Esme collects words, discarded words that other more important people don’t think belong in the Oxford Dictionary, and soon, in her curiosity, she seeks out words that aren’t deemed fitting for it, creating her own collection of words from people who are considered beneath her position in society. Her exploration of life outside the walls of the scriptorium where she meets some beautiful characters, sculpts her persona, creating a more rounded woman who is learning about the inconsistencies and the discriminatory nature of the world in which she resides.

I enjoyed this book, learning about the intricacies of the compilation of the dictionary, seen through the eyes of a child becoming a woman, in a story filled with love, hurt and loss.

This book lagged at times, the pace being a little slower than I prefer, perhaps because I listened to it rather than read it. I kept checking the time remaining, particularly towards the end, which dragged on more than it could have. Nevertheless, I came away satisfied.

I recommend this book particularly for the historical sentiment and if you have a penchant for words, you will enjoy this for that element, as I did.