The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Esme’s father works at the Scriptorium, where the first-ever Oxford Dictionary is in the works. But what about the words that don’t make it to the dictionary? Or the ones that aren’t defined properly?
Taking place from 1887 until 1928, The Dictionary of Lost Words follows Esme through childhood, the Suffrage movement and World War I as she collects and analyses words that may otherwise be forgotten.
The Dictionary of Lost Words is beautifully written, and Williams clearly has a deep love for linguistics. As the book takes place over so many decades, you really get to know the main characters (particularly Esme).
I loved Esme’s early years and references to the Suffrage movement, and I learned a lot about how the first Oxford Dictionary was produced. I did find the book a little slow, but I appreciate Williams’ intent was for us to get to know Esme and the people around her to better understand them as the book went on.
Fans of historical fiction will adore this book. It is extremely well-researched and stays relatively true to the timeline while still allowing some creative ‘wriggle room’.
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler
Set in the not-too-distant future, marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen travels to the Con Dao Archipelago to investigate an octopus species that has potentially evolved beyond expectations. Ha is working for DIANIMA - a corporation best known for its success in AI - but there’s more to this organisation than what meets the eye.
Elsewhere, Eika is a slave working on a fishing ship and Rustem is a tech whizz trying to make a world-changing discovery…
I could not put this book down. It was exceptionally enjoyable to read. I love a dystopian tale so The Mountain in the Sea hit the spot. Nayler had clearly done his marine biology research before writing and it paid off.
The chapters hop between Ha, Rustem, Eika, and sometimes other people entirely, to create a well-rounded world where you are seeing the story from many different angles. It was an interesting exploration into what could happen to our world, and how AI could develop.
I really loved The Mountain in the Sea but I almost wish a little more happened. There were a lot of chapters focused on research or findings but there didn’t feel like a climax, in my opinion. Nonetheless I would highly recommend giving it a read if you’re into sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian and/or ocean-related books.
Spilt Milk by Amy Beashel
Bea is married with a two-year-old daughter, who she gave birth to not long before her own mother passed away. She has just found out she is pregnant with a second child, which she doesn’t want. When a drunken blog post is accidentally published saying just that, plus a little more about regretting her first child, Bea has to deal with the repercussions.
The premise of this book is great, and I had the pleasure of hearing from Beashel herself at an event earlier this year and she was fantastic. Unfortunately I was just a little let down by Spilt Milk - I loved some parts but on the whole I found it dragged and I really struggled to connect with Bea until about 75% into the book.
What irked me the most, though, was the fact the editing was really bad. There were so many typos and punctuation inconsistencies, and twice a show that was named Sunrise was referred to as Sunshine. It just came across as lazy and really impacted my reading experience.
*TW: Abortion is a key topic in this book.
The Murder After the Night Before by Katy Brent
Molly Monroe wakes up in her flat one December morning with a stranger in her bed, a hangover from hell, and no recollection of the night before. After getting to work she learns she has gone viral for the worst reasons. Could her day get any worse? Yes. Her flatmate, and best friend, is dead in their home.
This book was a real page turner and was so easy to read too. Brent has that wonderful writing style which is chatty and witty while still creating tension when needed.
If you hadn’t guessed, Molly thinks her best friend was murdered, so the story takes you on the journey of her trying to find out who did it - and why. It covers some of Molly’s issues too with past grief and her confidence, which I really appreciated.
I have quite the knack for guessing whodunnits (I must have been a detective in a past life) and this was no exception, but I still loved the story and ended up staying awake until 1am when I got to the final 70 pages because I just couldn’t stop.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Linus Baker is a case worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. When he is sent to investigate an orphanage on an isolated island, he must leave his solitary life behind.
What waits for him is a group of magical children including the Antichrist, and a very pleasant orphanage manager named Arthur.
The House in the Cerulean Sea was this month’s book club read. Its very message is about preconceived notions and making assumptions before you truly know something. This was an extra kick in the teeth for me after I put off reading it for most of the month because it just didn’t sound like my thing… how wrong I was.
I adored this book and it instantly made its way to my top three of the year. A cosy fantasy about found family and belonging, it was the perfect book to read on an equally cosy camping trip to Wales. It felt like a warm hug.
I was so happy to find out the book has a sequel and I can’t wait to read it soon.
What did you read in May? I’d love your recommendations!
I love the sound of "The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams" as I really enjoy reading historical fiction! I haven't done much reading this May as I have been getting ready for a reading event which is held over the summer. 😊 I did read "The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald" though and it was quiet good!
The House in the Cerulean Sea's author T.J. Kline has written two other books in the same vein (as well as some other series I'm unfamiliar with); though they aren't strictly sequels they do fall into the cozy queer found family vibe. Under the Whispering Door deals with the limbo of afterlife and made me cry in a great way, and I'm in the process of reading In The Lives of Puppets, though that one hasn't gripped me like the others or perhaps I'm not in the right mood. Anyway, highly recommend this author and this general genre of cozy fantasy!