The Dictionary of Lost Words

Blurb:

In 1901, the word ‘Bondmaid’ was discovered missing from the Oxford English Dictionary. This is the story of the girl who stole it.

Esme is born into a world of words. Motherless and irrepressibly curious, she spends her childhood in the ‘Scriptorium’, a garden shed in Oxford where her father and a team of dedicated lexicographers are collecting words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. Esme’s place is beneath the sorting table, unseen and unheard. One day a slip of paper containing the word ‘bondmaid’ flutters to the floor. Esme rescues the slip and stashes it in an old wooden case that belongs to her friend, Lizzie, a young servant in the big house. Esme begins to collect other words from the Scriptorium that are misplaced, discarded or have been neglected by the dictionary men. They help her make sense of the world.

Over time, Esme realises that some words are considered more important than others, and that words and meanings relating to women’s experiences often go unrecorded. While she dedicates her life to the Oxford English Dictionary, secretly, she begins to collect words for another dictionary: The Dictionary of Lost Words.

Set when the women’s suffrage movement was at its height and the Great War loomed, The Dictionary of Lost Words reveals a lost narrative, hidden between the lines of a history written by men. It’s a delightful, lyrical and deeply thought-provoking celebration of words, and the power of language to shape the world and our experience of it.

Thoughts:

The book - The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams – took longer than I expected. I was quite excited when I first saw the title and read the blurb. A novel about words, their etymology, dictionaries, scholars, researchers, lexicographers, libraries… It seemed like a treat.

Esme Nicoll, the main protagonist, is introduced at a very young age and then grows into a woman in her thirties quite slowly. She grows up in her father's workplace and falls in love with words. Her relationship with him is wonderful—the instance where she has her first periods is endearing. Their mutual love for language strengthens their bond.

As time passes, the story naturally becomes more about Esme's personal issues. Her pregnancy, and her responses to various issues, such as the women's suffrage movement and the casualties of England at war, gain prominence.

Esme seemed passive and bewildered by it all. Her passion for words also seemed dull after a while. For example, Esme collects words used by the underprivileged, which are excluded from the Dictionary. However, her collection of words goes into a trunk under Lizzie's bed.

Later the man in her life publishes a single copy of it and gifts it to her. Similarly, although she understands why women's rights are important, she never does anything about it.

The other characters were brilliant and memorable. I would have liked to hear more about Edith Thompson, who acts like Esme's self-appointed aunt. She is an expert historian and researcher. She has a circle of scholar friends who visit her house regularly for afternoon tea.

Similarly, the characters of Edith's sister and Lizzie, a lifelong servant at the Murray household, are also quite interesting. Lizzie's mother died when she was eleven. She and her siblings were sent to orphanages. Then she becomes a servant, working more than 16 hours a day, rising earlier than everyone else in the household, and going to bed after them.

Although she has no life of her own or any chance of a husband or family, she wants no part of the suffragist movement and is not convinced that her lot would change. She is simply thankful not to be out on the streets, fending for herself.

The writing is good. The epilogue and the author's note at the end are quite interesting.

Williams has researched the words used by women and the underprivileged, their importance in their lives, and how these were ignored or dismissed by people in charge of creating dictionaries quite well.

To me, this is the most interesting aspect of the story. However, it is often swept aside in favour of other plot threads. My enthusiasm started draining away when that happened.

To summarize—a good book that missed being great by a hair.

Pashu

Blurb:

• A fish saves the world.

• A horse flies across the sky.

• A king discovers that his beloved wife is actually a frog.

Hindu mythology is full of tales in which animals play important roles. Some animals are looked upon with fear and dread, while some are worshipped along with the gods. Some shape the fate of the world, others form everlasting bonds with humans.

Where did the animals come from? From Vishnu’s avatars or Shiva’s asanas? How was a deer responsible for the events of the Ramayana? Why is Garuda the sworn enemy of the nagas? How did a mongoose teach Yudhishtira the true meaning of sacrifice?

Devdutt Pattanaik answers all these questions and more in this exquisitely illustrated book, retelling numerous animal stories from ancient texts, with his trademark charm and wit.

Thoughts:

Yes, this book is for children. Even the author has categorized it so. However, reading Pashu was like meeting an old friend—rediscovering many things, reliving memories—quite an enjoyable experience.

As the years pass, many things go behind a thin curtain that envelops your memories. No matter how hard you try, some names and incidents escape you. Pashu helped me remove that curtain from at least one area: the mythological stories that my paternal grandfather used to tell me.

Not just that. My parents have always been kind to all animals and birds. My mother feeds and cares for those that come near our house. My brother and I have inherited some of that kindness. So, it is wonderful to know how important a role animals or pashu have in Hindu mythology.

Pattanaik shows how the animal kingdom is depicted in Hindu sacred books. This book has over 75 anecdotes accompanied by interesting illustrations. It can serve as an introduction to the uninitiated and a reminder to the well-versed. 

I enjoyed it because it does not preach; it just narrates and leaves you to draw your conclusions—spiritual or otherwise.

Some Girls, Some Hats and Hitler

Blurb:

The astonishing true journey of Trudi Kanter, an Austrian Jew, whose courage, resourcefulness, and perseverance kept both her and her beloved safe during the Nazi invasion is a rediscovered masterpiece.

In London, in 1984, Trudi Kanter's remarkable memoir was published by N. Spearman. Largely unread, it went out of print until it was re-discovered by a British editor in 2011 and now, for the first time, it is available to readers everywhere.

In 1938, Trudi Miller, stunningly beautiful, chic, and charismatic, was a hat designer for the best-dressed women in Vienna. She frequented cafes. She had suitors. She flew to Paris to see the latest fashions. And she fell deeply in love with Walter Ehrlich, a charming and romantic businessman. But as Hitler’s tanks roll into Austria, the world this young Jewish couple knows and loves collapses leaving them desperate to find a way to survive.

Some Girls, Some Hats and Hitler is an enchanting true story that moves from Vienna to Prague to blitzed London, as Trudi seeks safety for her and Walter amid the horror engulfing Europe. In prose that cuts straight to the bone, Trudi Kanter has shared her indelible story. Some Girls, Some Hats and Hitler is destined to become a World War II classic.

Thoughts:

When I first heard the title, I expected it to be a story of some girls wearing hats (a special uniform?) fighting Hitler in some way or using hats to do so. It turned out to be that of a resourceful woman milliner escaping the 1938 Nazi invasion of Austria.

The book is not as heart-wrenching and sad as many of those written by Jews who escaped persecution. As Kanter describes mundane things that belonged to Vienna of that era, there is a sense of loss and helplessness.

However, she does not dwell on it because she has things to do, some of which are rescuing herself, her husband, and her parents and surviving in a heavily bombarded England. She goes on to explain breezily how she did them.

Kanter describes people, fashion, food, culture, and architecture quite vividly. She discusses hope, yearning, and despair too. Sometimes her descriptions are more that of an observer’s than of someone who experienced these things.

You encounter so many interesting characters in this book. However, Kanter focuses on how they were helpful to her. Although this makes her seem shallow, it may be her way of showing appreciation. Whatever you may think of it, you cannot deny that this story, though different and unique, is also a great example of what Jews had to endure during WWII and how many of them managed to survive.

The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden

Blurb:

At the age of nine, Lily is forcefully torn from her mother's arms and sold at a Negro auction by her master, a man that Lily learns that day is her very own father. Seeking solace from such devastation, Lily secretly begins teaching herself to play her new master's piano: an instrument that she is forbidden from touching. Lily becomes an extraordinary pianist and gets away with secretly playing for fourteen years until the master's son, James, discovers her deceit. The “punishment” that James gives Lily starts her on an unprecedented journey that dramatically alters her life and influences the lives of thousands, including a man with great power. Lily's groundbreaking journey also unveils the secret altruistic love of a particular man who has been forbidden from expressing his love to her for years. But the question remains whether or not the strength of his love will be powerful enough to free Lily from the shackles of slavery and protect her dreams and her life while on her turbulent Journey to Winter Garden.

WARNING!!!! Please be advised that this entire series features the following material that some readers may find disturbing, inappropriate, or triggering:

Extreme profanity, racial slurs, extremely graphic violence, sexual misconduct, master/slave intimate relationships, explicit sexual content, violent mistreatment of slaves.

Reader discretion is advised!!!

NOTE: This book is recommended for those who are seeking a very raw, real, deeply emotional, and cerebral story. It is a very long continuous turbulent saga and is, therefore, not recommended for those who are seeking a storyline with instant gratification. It is also not recommended for those seeking escapism that only consists of joyous moments.

Thoughts:

I did not see the note in the blurb until I copied it for this review.

I was seeking a very raw, real, deeply emotional, and cerebral story. I was not seeking escapism that only consists of joyous moments. I was not seeking instant gratification either.

However, the ending seemed like a plot device intended to make people read the sequel(s). I found that irritating. I am a loyal reader. If your book and characters are excellent, I will usually read the series. If I don’t read a book even when I know it is stellar, it means just that the story/characters are not for me.

I don’t know enough to comment on the historical correctness of the content. Yet, the part with Abraham Lincoln and his family seemed unnecessary.

That said, London Skye has captured the innocence of two children who like each other and become friends despite their social and racial differences. She portrays all the characters well.

As the story progressed, I found myself skimming through the pages because they were far too upsetting. It is for this reason that I shall not read the other books in the series. As it is, ever since Black History Month started, I have been reading far too many articles on the same subject.

Note:
I received a free copy of this book from the OnlineBookClub in exchange for an honest review.

This Magnificent Dappled Sea

Blurb:

Two strangers—generations and oceans apart—have a chance to save each other in this moving and suspenseful novel about family secrets and the ineffable connections that attach us.

In a small Northern Italian village, nine-year-old Luca Taviano catches a stubborn cold and is subsequently diagnosed with leukemia. His only hope for survival is a bone marrow transplant. After an exhaustive search, a match turns up three thousand miles away in the form of a most unlikely donor: Joseph Neiman, a rabbi in Brooklyn, New York, who is suffering from a debilitating crisis of faith. As Luca’s young nurse, Nina Vocelli, risks her career and races against time to help save the spirited redheaded boy, she uncovers terrible secrets from World War II—secrets that reveal how a Catholic child could have Jewish genes.

Can inheritance be transcended by accidents of love? That is the question at the heart of This Magnificent Dappled Sea, a novel that challenges the idea of identity and celebrates the ties that bind us together. 

Thoughts:

This book by David Biro explores relationships, family ties, religious roots, adolescence, adoption, abortion, terminal illness, and racial atrocities. Despite spanning continents and decades and touching upon historical events, such as the WWII Jewish Holocaust and the September 11 attacks, it is credible and realistic. 

The descriptions of the lives of the people of the small town of Favola, as well as the rabbi’s life in Brooklyn, are vibrant. Biro has crafted some wonderful characters whose interactions evolve seamlessly over time. The book is enriched by the relationship between Luca, his friends, and the imaginary character Orlando; the friendship between Samuel and Emily; and the respect that Rabbi Neiman, Father Lazzaro, and Imam Hussein share. 

Biro’s profession as a dermatologist has certainly helped in writing a well-researched medical tale. The medical terminology was not overwhelming and the historical storyline was quite interesting. 

The end is not satisfactory in that Luca does not feel a sense of belonging anywhere. I was also left wanting more information about Nina and Samuel, who I think changed the most during the story. 

One of the most interesting things about this book is its title. I initially thought it referred to the sea that separated Luca and the Rabbi. However, it does not. It refers to Dr Matteo Crispi’s thoughts: 

"In all these years, it never failed to amaze him, this magnificent dappled sea of bone marrow, ever regenerating and replenishing itself in an ongoing cycle that made life possible---red cells that carried oxygen to the tissues, white cells that fought off infection, and platelets that made the blood clot." 

Note:

I downloaded a free copy, in exchange for an honest review, from NetGalley when publicist Jennifer Musico brought it to my notice. Thanks to NetGalley and Musico.

The Red Ribbon

Summary: London 1773. Julia Ridler struggles to adjust to life after witnessing the wrenching demise of her closest friend inexplicably strangled by the man she loved. She returns home after the heart-breaking ordeal to find her headstrong sister intent on marrying for passion, despite all the warnings.
When Julia’s friend beckons from the grave, she is forced to embrace her ability, however unnerving. But nothing will prepare her for the frightening discovery of what really happened that night, and why . . .
In the tradition of Daphne du Maurier comes this riveting debut with gripping prose and romantic elements. Set in the atmospheric backdrop of eighteenth century England, The Red Ribbon is a suspenseful triumph about enduring love, bitter betrayal and the unbreakable bond between two sisters.

My thoughts: Even though there you can guess early on what the ending is, I liked how the story progressed. The characters are also well-crafted and are interesting.
As in the case of The Girl With No Past, which I reviewed earlier, Rachel Ledge doesn't explain some important things in this book too.
Although I received an earlier version quite a while ago, I misplaced it and had to read a newer version. So, some of the errors that other reviewers have mentioned have been cleaned up. However, it still has errors—for example, 'gait' has been misspelt as 'gate', which makes you laugh at the most inopportune moments.
Is the story unique? No. I have read similar stories before. The only difference is that the heroine marries someone else; here, the villain himself! Is the book enjoyable? Yes. Despite the predictable ending, you keep on reading to know how it all came to be.

Note: The book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

The Witch of Napoli

Summary: Italy 1899: Fiery-tempered, seductive medium Alessandra Poverelli levitates a table at a Spiritualist séance in Naples. A reporter photographs the miracle, and wealthy, skeptical, Jewish psychiatrist Camillo Lombardi arrives in Naples to investigate. When she materializes the ghost of his dead mother, he risks his reputation and fortune to finance a tour of the Continent, challenging the scientific and academic elite of Europe to test Alessandra's mysterious powers. She will help him rewrite Science. His fee will help her escape her sadistic husband Pigotti and start a new life in Rome. Newspapers across Europe trumpet her Cinderella story and baffling successes, and the public demands to know - does the "Queen of Spirits" really have supernatural powers? Nigel Huxley is convinced she's simply another vulgar, Italian trickster. The icy, aristocratic detective for England's Society for the Investigation of Mediums launches a plot to trap and expose her. Meanwhile, the Vatican is quietly digging up her childhood secrets, desperate to discredit her supernatural powers; her abusive husband Pigotti is coming to kill her; and the tarot cards predict catastrophe. Inspired by the true-life story of controversial Italian medium Eusapia Palladino (1854-1918), The Witch of Napoli masterfully resurrects the bitter, 19th-century battle between Science and religion over the possibility of an afterlife.

My thoughts: To me, this book was not about spiritualism, the paranormal or the supernatural. This was about the grit and craftiness of two Neapolitans, Alessandra Poverelli and Tomaso Labella. Alessandra is an illiterate woman with psychic powers, and Tomaso is a young reporter who gets the opportunity to photograph her and later report her psychic events. 

The constant abuse of Alessandra's jealous husband, the undue interest of the so-called scientists and investigators who study the paranormal, the pull of her unfortunate love for the psychiatrist Camillo Lombardi, and her antipathy towards the British investigator Nigel Huxley all made for good reading. And, that is just one aspect. Tomaso, is the other. 

He is an adventurous, ambitious, courageous young man,  loyal to all his friends. Although he is half in love with Alessandra, he is level-headed enough to counsel her when she is reckless and helps her when she is vulnerable.

It is clear that Michael Schmicker, has done a lot of research for this book. Alessandra is based on the controversial, real-life medium Eusapia Palladino (1854-1918). This is not just a novel. It is an interesting discourse on the never-ending debate between rationalism and spiritualism. The characters and the descriptions in it show great skill in story-telling and a deep interest in humanity.

Note 1: I don't remember who sent me this book. Whoever it was, thank you so much! No matter who that was, this review is unbiased.

Note 2: I read this much earlier than Jezebel's Blues but forgot to write a review from my notes on it.