Sunday Spotlight

Thank you Random House for this gifted copy.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 is a story about knowledge—who creates it, who can access it, and what truths get lost in the process. Much as she did in the international bestseller 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀, Pip Williams thoughtfully explores another rarely seen slice of history through women’s eyes.

What appealed to you the most in this story?

This was such a moving story about personal growth and working towards your dreams while dealing with unimaginable loss and an ongoing and devistating war. I could not get over how this book just brought all the emotions and had me grabbing my box of Kleenex several times as I found myself increasingly attached to each of the characters.

I also always appreciate the thought and vast amounts of research that Williams does for each of her books. Through each book I have come away with so much new knowledge, and in The Bookbinder I learned so much about the process of book binding, the Belgian refugees during the war, which combined to create a memorable story.

How was the pace?

Slow burn

Do you recommend this book?

Overall, this was an immensely informative story with a rich cast of characters that historical fiction lovers will appreciate.

𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: It is 1914, and as the war draws the young men of Britain away to fight, women must keep the nation running. Two of those women are Peggy and Maude, twin sisters who live on a narrow boat in Oxford and work in the bindery at the university press.

Ambitious, intelligent Peggy has been told for most of her life that her job is to bind the books, not read them—but as she folds and gathers pages, her mind wanders to the opposite side of Walton Street, where the female students of Oxford’s Somerville College have a whole library at their fingertips. Maude, meanwhile, wants nothing more than what she has: to spend her days folding the pages of books in the company of the other bindery girls. She is extraordinary but vulnerable, and Peggy feels compelled to watch over her.

Then refugees arrive from the war-torn cities of Belgium, sending ripples through the Oxford community and the sisters’ lives. Peggy begins to see the possibility of another future where she can educate herself and use her intellect, not just her hands. But as war and illness reshape her world, her love for a Belgian soldier—and the responsibility that comes with it—threaten to hold her back.

💬 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲?

AOTD: Sadly they have started to change here since we drop down into the low 40s at night.