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vaishsviews's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
At this point, I will read anything Williams writes because I love her style of writing. She always covers such heavy and complex issues deftly and it never feels overdone.
1914, Oxford. The men have left to fight in the World War and Peggy Jones, with her friends, has to shoulder the burden. Unsatisfied being just a bindery girl, Peggy wants more than the cards she’s been dealt and decides to take advantage of the men being gone. Suddenly, her old life is not enough and she’s desperate to start anew but with the war hitting home, new friends and lovers bring a whole host of other opportunities and Peggy must decide what it is she really wants.
Nobody does historical fiction like Williams and it feels so accessible despite the historical period and the complexities involved. This book traverses World War I and what that meant for the men and women of Oxford, not only in their daily lives but also in their work. World War I doesn’t necessarily appeal to me as something to read about but I firmly believe that Williams has changed my mind.
There’s just something about her writing and the way she covers multiple plot points without losing the arching narrative that links them all. We meet a whole host of characters and nobody is a minor character in this book - they’ve all been impacted by the war in one way or another and their stories fly off the page. But behind the scenes, the Suffragettes are fighting for women’s right to vote and female scholars are fighting to be recognised for their talent and to be rewarded a degree.
I love Williams’ determination to bring erased and hidden voices to the forefront. Usually World War I narratives focus on the soldiers and what they faced on the battlefield but nobody talks about the women who weren’t only left behind but those who had to take up all these empty jobs to keep the country running in the background. We get to know more about this through our main character, Peggy Jones, and the challenges she faces as a single woman. Single women were more likely to take up positions as nurses because they were seen as having no family to put at risk but family goes so much further than blood.
If you haven’t read this or her debut, The Dictionary of Lost Words - I would recommend!
mponsca's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
laurendz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mandi26's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
beccyhilder's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
claretumber's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a_kingslake's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Absolutely loved this, will definitely read again
aseel_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
100% coding Maud as autistic, so many echolalia!! This was very sweet and very sad, but like the other book by this author, very much focusing on the intersection between gender and class, ignoring race completely
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Child death, Sexual harassment, Medical content, War, Sexism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Bullying
bookish_birb's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
timmi10's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25