Book Notes | ‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’
“Some words are more important than others—I learned this, growing up in the Scriptorium. But it took me a long time to understand why.” Spoken by the protagonist Esme, the author sets up the main theme of The Dictionary of Lost Words.
The novel begins In the late 18th century when a young motherless girl, the fictional Esme, spends her days under the sorting table in the scriptorium or “Scrippy,” a garden shed in Oxford where her father works along with other lexicographers, all male, to review and define the thousands of words sent in by volunteer readers. After one slip of paper is discarded and comes fluttering down under the table, Esme discovers that the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) being created excludes some words determined to be unimportant.
A front-row seat
Spanning the Victorian era, the women’s suffrage movement, World War I, and beyond, this historical novel gives the reader a front-row seat for the making of the first edition of the OED, referring to actual places while weaving in real and fictional characters. The reader follows Esme as she comes of age and begins her own collection of words, consisting of ones discarded by the OED lexicographers along with words of the uneducated and poor, including many words referring to or used by women and considered to be vulgar and, thus, not fitting for the morals of the time.
The vast majority of the UMRA Book Club members liked the book, saying it was very interesting and readable. Many enjoyed learning about the process of how the OED was developed, which the author vividly details. Others commented on the integration of the English suffrage movement and it’s impact on the story line. As Esme grows up, she becomes increasingly aware of the morals of the time and their impact on women’s lives, including her own. Several readers felt the story was tedious and hard to get into.
Overall, this novel is a thought-provoking look at the development of the OED and how the morals of the time impacted what is considered important.
—Mary Jane Towle, UMRA Book Club member
'The Dictionary of Lost Words'
Fri, Oct 20 2023, 2pm
Mary Jane Towle will lead the discussion of The Dictionary of Lost Words, a debut novel by Australian writer Pip Williams, when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 20. This book combines fact and fiction in a tale based on a true event: the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary.
Email Pat Tollefson for more information, including suggestions for starting a new book club. To read summaries of the book club members’ discussions, go to “Book Notes.”
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.