What a wondrous post! I've immediately added this book to my teetering pile of TBR books. It sounds gorgeous and engrossing and comforting. Your description of the way that reading this book brought up reflections on your own history of reading reminded me of my own experience reading Francis Spufford's *The child that books built*, a memoir of childhood and reading that is very delicious (perfectly paired with a non-alcoholic hot chocolate with LOADS of marshmallows, or, you know, a good 42S Pinot Noir if you're of an appropriate age). I recommend it wholeheartedly as a heartbreaking and tender and courageous recollection of the ways that books can be a comfort, pleasure, and safe retreat from the sometimes-too-tough real world of childhood.
Anyway! Thanks for your reviews: they're a delight!
I'm so glad you enjoyed this review - comforting is definitely the word for Bookworm and I hope you enjoy it too when when you read it!
I love that that we're seeing more writers explore the influence of their childhood tastes and reading habits - there's this gut-level knowledge that reading shapes who we are, who we want to be. We see it manifest all the time in novels like Matilda or Anne of Green Gables or Northanger Abbey (notably more present in coming-of-age narratives) but even Milton touches on it with his anti-censorship argument that 'books are as meats and viands are'. Another that I'll probably share soon will be 'How to be a Heroine' by Samantha Ellis, which looks at favourite female characters and the books we revisit throughout out lives. It's so just so fascinating.
And thank you for the recommendations too - I'm definitely going to go find "The Child that Books Built" now too - it sounds like a wonderful extension from Mangan's memoir, and I'll take your pairing rec too! Thank you again and for your lovely comment too!
Apparently, I am older than most. Grew up on Golden Books, still have a few. I can't object to their being beginner readers, because they were what we had, and I can read. But WOW, when I look at some of the stories as a somewhat enlightened grandparent! Oh, my!
Can't wait to read Bookworm and suggest it to my daughter and daughters-in-law!
I think I had some of the Golden Books passed down to me! There's definitely magic there - perhaps I should revisit them though. It is strange how things have changed so much and can influence our reading of classics. Very much hope that you and your daughter / daughter-in-law enjoy Bookworm too. I really love it - a warm hug of a novel and also a wonderful reason to discuss old favourites!
What a wondrous post! I've immediately added this book to my teetering pile of TBR books. It sounds gorgeous and engrossing and comforting. Your description of the way that reading this book brought up reflections on your own history of reading reminded me of my own experience reading Francis Spufford's *The child that books built*, a memoir of childhood and reading that is very delicious (perfectly paired with a non-alcoholic hot chocolate with LOADS of marshmallows, or, you know, a good 42S Pinot Noir if you're of an appropriate age). I recommend it wholeheartedly as a heartbreaking and tender and courageous recollection of the ways that books can be a comfort, pleasure, and safe retreat from the sometimes-too-tough real world of childhood.
Anyway! Thanks for your reviews: they're a delight!
I'm so glad you enjoyed this review - comforting is definitely the word for Bookworm and I hope you enjoy it too when when you read it!
I love that that we're seeing more writers explore the influence of their childhood tastes and reading habits - there's this gut-level knowledge that reading shapes who we are, who we want to be. We see it manifest all the time in novels like Matilda or Anne of Green Gables or Northanger Abbey (notably more present in coming-of-age narratives) but even Milton touches on it with his anti-censorship argument that 'books are as meats and viands are'. Another that I'll probably share soon will be 'How to be a Heroine' by Samantha Ellis, which looks at favourite female characters and the books we revisit throughout out lives. It's so just so fascinating.
And thank you for the recommendations too - I'm definitely going to go find "The Child that Books Built" now too - it sounds like a wonderful extension from Mangan's memoir, and I'll take your pairing rec too! Thank you again and for your lovely comment too!
Apparently, I am older than most. Grew up on Golden Books, still have a few. I can't object to their being beginner readers, because they were what we had, and I can read. But WOW, when I look at some of the stories as a somewhat enlightened grandparent! Oh, my!
Can't wait to read Bookworm and suggest it to my daughter and daughters-in-law!
I think I had some of the Golden Books passed down to me! There's definitely magic there - perhaps I should revisit them though. It is strange how things have changed so much and can influence our reading of classics. Very much hope that you and your daughter / daughter-in-law enjoy Bookworm too. I really love it - a warm hug of a novel and also a wonderful reason to discuss old favourites!