(Warning! May contain spoilers and key plot details!) 

I’ll have to admit, I never saw the ending coming. I’m just going right along, letter by letter and then he throws in that “XYZ” section, combining the last three letters into one action-packed finale’. Though it did seem a little contrived, a little deus ex machina, if you will. It’s understandable though: after compiling twenty-three sections of nonstop alliteration, I can see how he would just want to get it all over with in one shot, even though it did sacrifice a bit of the storyline. 

Speaking of which, there wasn’t much of a plot from the beginning. I mean there was a logical flow of ideas but Webster seemed to shy away from really developing any of the main characters. It seemed like he was all about just defining each of their roles, and then moving on to whatever was next. I never really became attached to anybody in the book, which is probably why I had such a rough time following the plot. 

To Webster’s credit though, he does have great command of the English language. His word choice is stunning and incredibly descriptive. He does a great job of setting up certain scenes and really paints a pretty picture with his vernacular. Unfortunately though, this often comes off as condescending. He’s constantly rubbing it in your face that he knows more than you. Sometimes, it’s not even worth the effort to swim through his sea of grandiose phrases and archaic expressions. 

Yet I think Webster’s major downfall in this specific literary attempt is his tendency to dwell on some of the most mundane aspects of his story. There’s this one part in chapter “Q” where he goes on forever about the mating habits of the quail. I’m sorry Webby, but nobody cares about obscure birds doing provocative dances. It’s not something I want to read about. At times I just want to shake him by the shoulders, tell him to get back on track and focus on the already shaky plot that he has.

All in all, Webster’s Dictionary is organized and in-depth, but at the same time it’s sterile and doesn’t appeal to the emotions well. If you can cut through the imposing vocabulary and make sense of the fragmented plot, it might be worth a read.

 Final Ranking: * ½ (one and a half stars)