“Your job is to bind books, not read them”

WWI historical fiction set in Oxford that follows Peggy, who has been a book binder since age 12. She has aspirations of going to college and struggles with her place in society, in her family and in the world.

Maude is her twin but is “different”. I loved how she was portrayed throughout the book and given a voice for the neurodiverse in the early 1900’s

Suffrage movement, Spanish flu, breaking free of your ‘class’, reading, finding your place in a tumultuous world.

I would have liked to see more of Peg and Bastiaan. But that’s just the romance reader in me. I did love that Peg followed her academic dreams and didn’t give it all up for a man.

Thank you to NetGalley and the amazing publisher for the ARC of this title! I am so grateful to be auto-approved for this title!
I look forward to reading and reviewing. More to come!

Thankful for the opportunity to read this book. I loved it. I also loved The Dictionary of Lost Words, so it was interesting reading some crossover characters since it’s set around the same time period.

This is set during World War 1. Margaret and Maude are twin sisters who work together folding and binding books. Margaret sneaks ruined book sections home to read. She also feels a need to care for her sister but strongly desires to go to college.

This book is about sisterly love, excuses we use to not do the things we strongly desire, second chances and so much more. I loved this book and the authors vivid descriptions of the book binding process.

What a great surprise to have a book every bit as good as The Dictionary of Lost Words.
The characters in this story are well developed and they are endearing.
Readers who love Pip Williams’ writing will love this book, too.

I am very grateful to Random House and to Netgalley for giving me an ARC in turn for an honest review.

This is a wonderful book, filled with interesting characters, all with compelling stories to tell. It takes place in Oxford, around the same time that Pip William's previous book, " The Dictionary of Lost Words" takes place . In fact, some characters from that book make appearances in this one. It is not, however, important that the first book be read first.

The Bookbinder is the story of Peggy and Maude, a set of identical twins brought up by a strong mother, Helen, on a narrowboat on the Oxford canal. By the time this story starts, Helen has died at age 36. Peggy is left to care for her twin who has what we in our time might call Autism. Maude is verbal and literate but speaks only by echoing what others have said. Both work, as had their mother, at Oxford University's press, having left school at age 12 to do so. It is a mind numbing job. Peggy, like her mother before her, loves to read. The narrowboat is filled stem to stern with bits of books that were printed or bound imperfectly and their mother sharedthe stories as the girls grow up. (Greek myth is a favorite; the boat itself is named Calliope.) Her job tortures her all the more as her supervisor repeatedly says "your job is to fold the pages, not read them."'

Tilda, a character from the Dictionary of Lost Words, is also a primary character. She is an actress and suffragette and was a close friend of Helen, also a suffragette. She in fact helped raise the girls and remains a strong influence in their lives.

Britain's entry into WWI brings great changes into the lives of the entire city of Oxford. Many of the men go off to war, leaving the women behind to fill formerly male dominated roles. Others fill different roles than they had previously seen themselves doing. Tilda enters the VAD, the volunteer nursing organization and we come to see the horrors of war through her letters home to the girls. The war also brings refugees from Belgium to Oxford. One is Bastien, a badly disfigured Belgian. Peggy, who volunteers to visit wounded soldiers, meets and falls in love with him. . Another is Lotte whose horrific loses seem to be only assuaged by Maude.

Class distinctions play an important part in the Bookbinder. England, then, was very class conscious. This was especially so in Oxford where the divide expresses itself between Town and Gown (the students at Oxford wear black gowns). Walton street, the dividing line between the Press and the University is an uncrossable barrier between Peggy's present life and the life of learning she so desires. Her life is upended by her friendship with insouciant Gwen, an Oxford student, who doesn't see the obstacles so apparent to Peggy.

Gender is also a steady theme. Suffrage is very important to Peggy as it was to her mother and especially Tilda. In addition, gender roles confined women to certain jobs even within the bindery. Men had certain jobs and women others. They were even divided by sides of the building. Although women were permitted to attend certain colleges within Oxford, they were not awarded degrees.

Peggy and Maude change and grow throughout the book. Maude is not so dependent on Peggy as Peggy thinks. Peggy is not as confined to her current life as she fears. It is this growth that is the driving force propelling the narrative forward. I loved this book and did not want it to end. The ending seemed to leave room for a sequel and I hope Pip Williams considers writing one.

Peggy and her identical twin sister Maude work in a bindery in Oxford during the First World War. They fold the papers - a task that seems so mindnumbingly boring. Unfortunately the beginning of this novel feels that way too. Several obstacles have kept Peggy from following her dreams, but she slowly realizes she can pursue them.

I love all things books. And historical fiction particularly with women as the protagonists are some of my favorites. After reading The Dictionary Of Lost Words with my book club, I knew I’d want to read Pip Williams' next book.

“Now goddess, child of Zeus, tell the old story for our modern times. Find the beginning.” —Homer, The Odyssey, translated by Emily Wilson

Whose job must ever be just to bind, not to read? We all need to read, to expand our minds, challenge our beliefs, ignite our imaginations. Williams writes The Bookbinder characters to life with such avidity while simultaneously shining a light on gender inequality, social injustices and living with war.

By the author of The Dictionary of Lost Words, The Bookbinder is an another enjoyable read. Set in WWI, women are employed in jobs that were generally "men's" positions. The book follows the story of twins Peggy and Maude. Peggy has always loved books and hoped to enter into the university. Maude is more focused on the activity at hand of folding the pages to become books. Peggy feels that she needs to protect the more vulnerable Maude.

As the war rages on, refugees from Belgium flee to England. With the displaced and the men off to war, Peggy sees an opportunity to follow her dream.

My non-fiction reading tends to lean towards WWII, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learning more about WWI. This would make a very good book club book.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Excellent novel by the author of The Dictionary of Lost Words. I always read a work set of Oxford, and this novel tells the story of the working class staff of Oxford University Clarendon Press. We are introduced to Peggy, as she works with and cares for her twin sister Maude, who has special needs. The sisters’ bookbinding duties are beautifully depicted. Peggy dreams of studying at the University, but issues of class and her responsibilities for Maude inhibit her ambition. Then, as the novel progresses from 1914 and 1918, the novel explores the issues relating to World War 1, as Belgian refugees flood into London, introducing well drawn characters, Bastien and Lotte. I highly recommend this work for lovers of Oxford and well-written historical fiction.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
I found the book to be a bit slow at first, but by the end, I couldn't put it down so give it time.
Maude and Peggy are identical twins who have lost their mother and live alone on a boat. They work folding pages in a bindery. Maude is a bit slow and is content to fold paper origami shapes for fun, but Peggy dreams of being in college and having people read her words. The war will change both of their lives, but they don't know that for a while. I found the relationships believable. Feeling like your sister is a pain, but not wanting anyone else in your orbit with her either. A lovely cast of characters.

Reading The Dictionary of Lost Words made me fall in love with author Pip Williams. Now I was excited to journey again into William’s newest novel, The Bookbinder. A huge fan of the WWI setting, themes of the suffragette movement, inequality and pandemics were all prevalent in this new novel. I again fell in love with the deep detail and writing quality that Williams is now known for. This will he a high recommendation for my library patrons and I’m sure, the receiver of many literary awards. Five of five brilliant stars.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I loved Pip William's book The Dictionary of Lost Words and was looking forward to reading The Bookbinder. I also just returned from a trip to London and Oxford, so reading about places I had just been was lovely.

This book had an air of melancholy about it (granted, it was during WW1). The main character Peggy is an adult orphan who lives with her sister Maude who has special needs. Maude is never given a diagnosis in the book but I'm guessing she had a form of autism. The ladies live on a boat in Oxford and work in Oxford's book bindery. They are told to bind books not read them, but Peg can't help herself. She longs to attend Oxford but as a "townie" and caretaker for her sister she feels she cannot.

Peg becomes friends with a female Oxford student and falls in love with a Belgian soldier who is recovering nearby. We follow as she deals with disappointment, death, friendship and guilt.

I enjoyed this story but the tone was just a bit of a downer for me.

Writing: 4/5 Plot: 4/5 Characters: 5/5

Another book by Pip Williams — author of The Dictionary of Lost Words — about an element of The Oxford University Press (aka Clarendon Press) during the early 1900s. While Dictionary focused on those working to compile the OED, Bookbinder focuses on those working in the physical production of the books.

The eponymous bookbinder is Peggy Jones — a young woman who is working in the “Bindery” — the all-female component of the Press, which focussed on folding and preparing the pages of books. There is an absolutely fascinating 1925 silent video titled “Oxford University Press and the Making of a Book” which really helped me visualize Peggy’s work.

Peggy has been working at the Press with her neurodivergent (my term, not the way it is described in the book) twin sister since the age of 12 (they are now ~22). She has always wanted more — she longs for an education, longs to read and have opinions on the books she is folding — but feels that is impossible for someone of her background. She reads bits as she folds (watch the video — you’ll see how difficult that is), and the canal boat they live in is literally papered with scraps of books that did not meet quality requirements, but certainly meet hers.

The time period covered spans WWI — from 1914 to 1918 — with Peggy’s quest for “more” tied in with opportunities at the Press, the fight for women’s suffrage, and her volunteering with recuperating soldiers and Belgian refugees — all arisising from the upheaval of everyday life. Williams did an excellent job of bringing this time period to life, I was able to feel all the complex emotions of that insane time in a manner that felt very time appropriate.
I found the beginning a little muddy and confusing, but once I got into it, I very much enjoyed the story — particularly the vibrant and believable characters: the twin sister, some of the refugees, the canal community, and various suffragists, librarians, and female students. Every one was drawn deeply and was a person I would want to know. I also loved the details of how the Press was run, women’s colleges (which at the time were not allowed to confer degrees), access to libraries, and classical study. And of course, the ultimately successful effort of a woman from the “wrong side of the tracks” to attain an education and make more of herself.

Two interesting quotes:
“When we bound these books, I thought, they were identical. But I realised they couldn’t stay that way. As soon as someone cracks the spine, a book develops a character all its own. What impresses or concerns one reader is never the same as what impresses or concerns all others. So, each book, once read, will fall open at a different place.”

“The words used to describe us define our value to society and determine our capacity to contribute. They also … tell others how to feel about us, how to judge us.”

Oxford England has a "gown" side and a "town" side. Peggy and her identical twin sister, Maude, work as page folders at the Oxford Press in the early 1900s. Maude is special, unique, and Peggy always felt it was her duty to look out for Maude. Peggy even gave up the chance to go to high school to work with Maude. But now, Peggy is unsettled. She wants more that working at the Press the rest of her life. With their house boat full of books, Peggy is well read and that fuels her desire for more. When WWI breaks out, Peggy meets Gwen, a socialite who is enrolled at Somerville College at Oxford. Together they read to some of the Belgian soldiers in the hospital. Peggy falls for Bastiaan even with his face disfigured. He was about to finish university in architecture when the war broke out.

In the Bookbinder, by Pip Williams, the readers learn how books were made in the early 1900s, They see the struggles of those who lived through that horrific war. Will these people survive and get to accomplish their dreams. If you've read The Dictionary of Lost Words and enjoyed it, you'll enjoy this book as well. I recommend them both. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

A fascinating and moving story of a woman who restores books and herself. Loved it! 💕

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ebook ARC!

I LOVED The Dictionary of Lost Words - I think it was my favorite book I read last year. So I was VERY excited to get this arc on netgalley to review.

I’m not sure I loved it as much as I loved TDOLW, but I did love this. Pip Williams just has a way of pulling me into the story and the settings of the book. I love that her side characters are so rounded out, and the main character feels so real. I honestly wasn’t sure I liked Peggy at first, but I did come to really root for her and her family and friends. There’s a lot that happens in the background of this book, with World War I, and it does a good job of managing to convey that, as well as everything that is happening with Peggy.

I did enjoy every time I recognized someone for The Dictionary of Lost Words, although you don’t necessarily have to have read that first (although you should definitely read it!). I’m going to have to read them both back to back soon!

The Bookbinder by Pip Williams was a very enjoyable and riveting story.

I enjoyed this book so much.
The writing was beautiful, the characters charming and the story was intriguing.
Peggy and Maude embark on a journey that was compelling, touching and utterly beautiful.
From start to finish, completely engrossed by the story and its characters.
The timeline of this story was beautifully written, as well as being told in a way that is original and unique. The story is intricate in detail and emotions, and they are woven together seamlessly and artfully.
The Bookbinder is an incredible novel that will become a favorite of anyone who reads it, captivating readers who love an intriguing, heartfelt story.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley, Random House & Ballantine Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The idea for this book is so intriguing to me— it’s a historical fiction novel about a book binder named Peggy and her chosen family through the war torn years of 1914-1918.

Peggy and her twin sister Maude are bookbinders - a fascinating profession I’d never considered before. As the war begins, we see how each of the characters adapt and respond to the various challenges. The effects of war trauma are prevalent and well researched and represented realistically.

The book is written beautifully- the words come together in places like beautiful poetry and I had to marvel at the skill of the author. That being said, the book read a little slow for me— it took me a good hundred pages before I felt sufficiently invested in the characters. The main character Peg felt very one dimensional to me — there wasn’t any growth from her and her rants and ravings were a bit repetitive. In the light of all that was going on, every character seems to have been effected by the horrors of the war, but Peg has a mind for only one thing- getting a degree at university and how she is a victim of her circumstances… there is a love interest, but it seems to be treated as an afterthought, there are friendships forged and opportunities given, but always approached with resentment and victimization when something falls through. Her fall back excuse is her sister who has special needs and therefore she is trapped and cannot pursue her dreams. Any of them.

It’s all very human… but I did hope to see more growth from the protagonist. The other characters were more dynamic - her sister Maude, special as she is portrayed to be, was more dynamic.

The book is written in some places in stream of consciousness and some inferences throughout the book needed to be read between the lines because the book doesn’t explicitly state anything - sometimes if need to reread a section to make sure I understood what I thought I was supposed to be understanding. Like Maude. It took several chapters to understand the book was trying to tell me she had special needs and that they were identical twins. Another portion is a possible rape? But it never explicitly says what happened- the reader has to assume based on the clues given. Once you get used to the writing, you start paying attention to the clues and it’s easier to understand what inferences you’re supposed to take.

This was an enjoyable read over all. It was a very human look at how lives were touched during the First World War.

A special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was stunning. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were well-developed; complex, and intriguing. I highly recommend this beautiful telling of the power of love. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

1 received the ARC for this and even though I had no plans to start this, one night I thought “I’ll just see how it starts.” It was very clear from the opening scene that this was a book for me - that Peggy would be a character I wanted to spend time with.

Oh Peggy! So intelligent - but relegated to feeding her mind and talents on scraps of thought. So capable of soaring but anchored by her responsibilities toward her twin sister and neighbors/found family.

It takes a war, the removal of the gatekeepers - men - to provide the circumstances needed for her to begin to imagine a life for herself beyond the scraps and anchors.

This story is so well told. I was swept along with Pip - feeling her complexities of emotion and ethics right alongside her. I think Williams is an incredibly talented storyteller and social commentator. While, yes, this is a work of historical fiction, I kept reading it as a social allegory. Long story short - read this book.