A wonderful book to review today which I raced through eagerly, partly on the treadmill and cross-trainer in a substitute-for-a-long-run gym session on Sunday, partly all the rest of any free moments I had. It’s that good, and it didn’t disappoint, right to the end. I read it on Kindle, so I didn’t get the gorgeous cover, but then I did get it a tiny bit early, via NetGalley (thank you to Random House Vintage) in return for an honest review.
Lucy Mangan – “Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading”
(01 March 2018)
An absolutely delightful book which is a MUST if you’re a 35-55 year old British person and a great read for everyone else, too. She’s one of us, dear blog readers – a massive bookworm – as she takes us through her reading childhood from the Very Hungry Caterpillar to Judy Blume, with so many stops along the way that exactly echoed my own reading experience and huge favourites.
If you’re familiar with Mangan’s columns and other writing, you’ll know that she gives a gently comically exaggerated view of family life – here concentrating of course on her birth family growing up, but also talking about her son and her desperate efforts hoping he’ll become a bookworm like her (it’s so sad when we read that he doesn’t have a favourite book yet!). But there’s a real warmth as she described “those glorious days when reading was the thing and life was only a minor inconvenience”.
I particularly loved it when she revealed her hatred for The Cat in the Hat. I know the book has helped so many reluctant readers and been beloved by millions, but I, like Lucy, found its anarchy really disturbing and upsetting, and when I read of her risk-averse ways and fondness for the routine, I was hoping I’d come across a matching view to mine. And there it was! Obviously we do diverge a little, otherwise this would be a book about me, but we get the classic Nesbits and Streatfeilds, the Borrowers and Mrs Frisby, the wondrous nature of the series and the repetition therein, and the joy of pony books and the shocking amount of those and school stories still washing around the libraries of our 1980s youths.
She brings in fascinating details of the authors’ lives which make it more than “just” a memoir, and there were some great points throughout the book. Did you know that the “Charlotte’s Web” E.B. White was the “Strunk and White” E.B. White? Well, I certainly didn’t. There’s also some background on the growth and development of children’s books which is really well done and interesting and will certainly hold the interest of any reader who hasn’t had the almost exact same reading experience (I loved Lord of the Rings and she loved Sweet Valley High; that’s about it, really!).
The book discusses the emotional growth that reading brings even the most shy and introverted reader, helping with the development of empathy and offering role models and different paths to those she sees around her. There’s also a good strand about how reading older books with unfamiliar vocabulary stretches the mind, although she is pro-expunging the racism from Blyton. Mangan also talks about how being thrilled to find northerners like her family in a book made her realise how much more important it is to be able to see yourself reflected in the books you read when you’re more obviously or deeply other than the straight white norm, and how important it therefore is for books to be inclusive. She also learns a lot about other people’s experiences from “issue” books, as we all do.
The background information and opinions are great and deepen and widen the book, but it’s the direct correlation with my own early reading life that made this such a satisfying read, even down to her policy of buying as many “reading copies” as possible rather than all the pretty ones. She even goes to the Venue in New Cross, although sadly I think a few years before I was living in New Cross myself. A fabulous read that I can see myself pressing onto all and sundry!
Thank you to the publisher for providing this via NetGalley. I found I had two sets of reactions to this book, personal and more reviewery, so I’m going to be submitting a review to Shiny New Books which will be both different and more than this one, and will let you know when that’s out. I hope you’ll forgive me placing two reviews in front of you. This is already a contender for a Book of 2018.
Simon at Stuck in a Book has also written a lovely review, which you can find here.
Simon T
Mar 06, 2018 @ 17:14:34
Isn’t it wonderful? I also loved it. I fall slightly below your age bracket, but I definitely read older books even as a child!
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Liz Dexter
Mar 06, 2018 @ 17:20:10
Have I missed a review of it by you? I just adored it, couldn’t stop reading it. And yes, I thought you’d like it!
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Luci
Mar 06, 2018 @ 17:22:01
I loved this too – she wrote about many of the books included in this in a Guardian column a few years ago, and I was thrilled when my Netgalley request was accepted.
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Liz Dexter
Mar 06, 2018 @ 17:30:23
Oh, fabulous – and I imagine this would be right up your street, too. I was very pleased to be accepted for it on NetGalley although I think I’ll be buying a print copy, too!
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Claire (The Captive Reader)
Mar 06, 2018 @ 17:29:19
I am so excited to read this! I love Mangan’s writing from her Guardian column and was always thrilled whenever she wrote about books there. Having a full book of her doing just that is a dream!
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Liz Dexter
Mar 06, 2018 @ 17:31:09
Yes, indeed, and it’s so wonderful when something you were expecting Very Good Things of does come off and in no way disappoints.
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kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 06, 2018 @ 17:36:36
Getting a lot of love, this one, and as The Lord of the Rings was one of my child-to-adult transition books I think I would empathise too…!
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Liz Dexter
Mar 06, 2018 @ 17:56:09
She has a hilarious comment that the Hobbit is to Lord of the Rings what a jog round the park is to a double Tough Mudder, but I’ll forgive her that one lapse. It really does live up to the hype, and I think you’d like it a lot!
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anewlookthrougholdeyes
Mar 06, 2018 @ 19:31:14
I am looking forward to this book coming out on audible as it will cover the ground of my son and grandchildren. For your generations I am more aware of ‘boys” books. Don’t call me sexist! However from experience boys read different books from girls. Thanks Liz. This has given me ideas for a new blog!
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Liz Dexter
Mar 07, 2018 @ 14:26:58
Yes, I think you’re right – I should show Matthew the list of books in the back and see which ones he’s read. I’m sure the audiobook will be available soon.
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heavenali
Mar 06, 2018 @ 21:39:46
I have seen so many reviews of this and I will probably have to buy it at some point. I want the physical edition though with that pretty cover.
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Liz Dexter
Mar 07, 2018 @ 14:44:08
Yes, I think I’m going to have to get myself a print copy at some point, but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity of a slightly early read on Kindle!
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Rebecca Foster
Mar 07, 2018 @ 12:24:27
I don’t quite fall into your ideal demographic, but I still think this will be a must for me. It sounds like a really charming bibliomemoir.
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Liz Dexter
Mar 07, 2018 @ 14:44:30
I’m sorry to have been (young) ageist and yes, I think you would enjoy it; it is, indeed, charming.
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Rebecca Foster
Mar 07, 2018 @ 15:09:00
I’m not British either 😉 (Though I’ve lived here nearly 13 years in total now!) Lots of the books and authors you mention in the review are familiar from my childhood.
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Liz Dexter
Mar 07, 2018 @ 15:26:26
Ah, OK, that’s good. I was feeling guilty about the age one as it’s been mentioned a couple of times and forgot about the nationality bit!
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buriedinprint
Mar 07, 2018 @ 21:06:01
All of these are familiar to me, as a Canadian reader, and I am very anxious to read this one. It’s so wonderful to have more company in one’s bookishness. Was there anything she discussed that you now want to reread or which you are tempted to seek out for the first time because you missed it?
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Liz Dexter
Mar 08, 2018 @ 09:49:08
It made me want to zip back through Nesbit and Streatfeild (I have a collection of adult Nesbit on my Kindle however) and there were a few authors that looked interesting, most notably Antonia Forest, who I don’t believe I’ve ever read. I thought the Phantom Tollbooth was about an actual Tollbooth on a bridge, and actually don’t fancy it now!
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buriedinprint
Mar 08, 2018 @ 14:55:10
I reread Ballet Shoes a few years ago and thought it just as sweet and charming as I had as a girl (although I think I felt there was more to it then – as it didn’t seem predictable to me as a young reader). The Phantom Tollbooth I read as an adult but I just love the wordplay in it. I’m intrigued by the idea of Judy Blume being read overseas; I didn’t realise she was so well known beyond North America?
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Liz Dexter
Mar 08, 2018 @ 16:31:28
I’ve re-read both in the past quite a lot and still get a lot out of them although yes, obviously one has read a lot more since that so you can see what’s predictable. I’m glad you enjoyed reading it again, too. Judy Blume caused massive furores and book banning and tutting and horror, definitely present over here! How interesting!
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Cari
Mar 08, 2018 @ 02:20:15
Who is the book pusher? 😛
This looks fabulous, I squealed at Judy Blume mention, and team anti Cat
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Liz Dexter
Mar 08, 2018 @ 09:47:18
Hooray for team anti Cat! And the rest of ’em. And yes, OK, I am the book pusher now.
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Cari
Mar 09, 2018 @ 02:57:57
Luckily? This is neither on NetGalley for US residents or US Amazon
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Liz Dexter
Mar 09, 2018 @ 07:49:56
Oh that’s weird, it must be because it’s brand new, I’m sure it will become available on Amazon.
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Ste J
Mar 08, 2018 @ 02:51:44
This sounds like a must read, finding myself in that age bracket, it will be nice to have a trip down memory lane and perhaps reconsider the journey that was taken thanks to books.
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Liz Dexter
Mar 08, 2018 @ 09:50:12
It certainly gave me room to think about the effect my reading had on my personality, although I know I’ve been hugely influenced by Iris Murdoch too and keep finding little bits in her that have informed my choices and actions (I did start reading her at 14, though, so that fits into the time span in the book).
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Naomi
Mar 08, 2018 @ 15:58:56
This sounds wonderful. And I’m so happy to hear readers are loving it. (With books about books, you just never know!)
I’m not British, but I fall exactly in the middle of that age range, so I suspect there would be a lot of books familiar to me! I also suspect it will make me want to read many of the ones I missed. 🙂
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Liz Dexter
Mar 08, 2018 @ 16:31:58
I would imagine so. It’s well worth reading – I’m definitely going to buy myself a print copy!
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Naomi
Mar 09, 2018 @ 00:23:28
I forgot to mention how much I love the cover! Definitely a good one to own. 🙂
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Sarah
Mar 08, 2018 @ 16:03:42
Well, I already had half an eye on this before I read your review but you’ve convinced me I NEED a copy. Ages ago, she had a regular column in The Guardian of what to include when building a children’s library. So much resonated with my own memories, that it became the first thing I’d turn to in saturday’s paper.
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Liz Dexter
Mar 08, 2018 @ 16:32:31
You do, you do. And I remember that, lovely. I’ve always enjoyed her columns and it was fab that her book in no way disappointed.
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integratedexpat
Mar 09, 2018 @ 00:06:08
Ah, this is the book I may just have to buy from Amazon if I order La Belle Sauvage, just so I don’t have to pay postage! I read an excerpt in the Guardian last week, not realising it was from a book and was delighted to discover there’s more to be read. I’m just about to fall off the top end of her age range, but I was struck how many of ‘my’ books she mentioned. The Cat in the Hat is one of the few Dr Seuss books I will tolerate, together with Harry the Rose Horse and I Will Not Get Up Today. If my children wanted the rest read, they had to wait till my husband was about or learn to read it themselves. Horrible pictures. Yuck! I’m also too old for Judy Blume. I know the name, but only because I helped in the library at the international school in Hamburg which was full of American books. To my amazement, the American librarian had never heard of Enid Blyton until she came into contact with British children in Hamburg. I also missed out on Roald Dahl.
I love the comment about needing book characters who reflect your reality. On the other hand, the books I loved the best were the ones set in historical times, or in boarding schools or houses with unimaginable things like governesses and maids, secret gardens, horses and magical creatures like psammeads or where the children went sailing or organised pageants. Yes, I definitely need to read this book!
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Liz Dexter
Mar 09, 2018 @ 07:51:32
I agree, I loved and still love learning about new worlds through my reading – however I’m also conscious that I saw myself (white, middle-class girl) reflected in much of my reading, and I think a bit more diversity would have helped me learn more as well as reflecting other readers who just didn’t find any echo of themselves in the books we had available.
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Katie Wilkins (@DoingDewey)
Mar 15, 2018 @ 04:58:59
This sounds like a great book for any reader. I always love hearing from authors who love to read 🙂 And what a gorgeous cover!
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Liz Dexter
Mar 15, 2018 @ 07:37:29
It’s just wonderful. I need to buy a paper copy so I can have the cover – I read this from NetGalley on Kindle which was great for marking passages but I need a real copy!
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DoingDewey
May 23, 2018 @ 01:18:13
I’m revisiting this post as I go through old Nonfiction Friday link-ups (I may be just a little behind!) and I have to add that I’m completely with you on The Cat in the Hat. I’m definitely a fellow fan of routine and order 🙂
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Liz Dexter
May 23, 2018 @ 08:20:25
That’s fair enough, we all get behind! And hooray, another vote against random pink blobs in the house and for order and routine!
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Christmas acquisitions, state of the TBR January 2019 AND books of the year 2018 | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
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