I was lucky enough to receive this as an Arc Reader from NetGalley. I was intrigued by this book as it is non-fiction/memoir which is a genre I am interested in reading more of. I enjoyed this book overall, I liked that the author truly understands what it is to be a bookworm and everything that comes along with it. Those aspects where it was very autobiographical was really good but I feel a lot of the book was focused on giving synopsis of other books which didn’t feel relevant or enjoyable to me which is why I rated the book three stars.

I have yet to read Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading, although I have been meaning to read it ever since it came out, but you know how it is. This one came up on Netgalley so I immediately requested it and was delighted to be approved for an ARC.

This follows on from Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading, so whilst that one is about childhood reading, this one takes us through teen reading, set texts for Uni, and the books and book collecting that she has enjoyed throughout her life.

She comes across as my people; I haven't read a lot of what she read, I didn't even read The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4, by the time everyone else was reading that I had discovered P.G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie, but I could completely relate to her feelings for books and for reading, and the comfort and joy she gets from it. (I was also rather pleased to have my unpopular opinion about Wuthering Heights validated).I

Reading her thoughts on Norah Lofts, an author I have been meaning to read for ages, had me searching the Backlisted podcast that she did about The Town House, and then, hearing John and Andy so enthusiastic sent me too the library, so now I am reading that one as well, and living it. I'm now looking forward to getting to many of the other books written about here, (Adrian Mole - better late than never). I will also be buying this one when it comes out, and Bookworm has moved to the top of the THE pile.

This is a wonderful, detailed and critically engaged loveletter to reading and to books. I haven't read Bookworm, but this book stands alone. I liked the way the sections followed a life, from teenage years to middle age. It meant nostalgia for a time spent discovering new possibilities in the local library but also a practical account of things relevant to me now , like how to thin down (very slightly) your collection.
I learnt about children's books which had come out since my children were at that stage. I also heard about books that are far older, like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Mangan's ability to extoll the virtues of a book she enjoys is so compelling, and her excoriating dismissal of books she dislikes is very entertaining, whether I agree (Wuthering Heights) or disagree (Otessa Mosfegh). The way she makes her point gives me so much to reflect on. I've learnt about myself from reading this book as well as getting ideas for my next reads. As I read, I kept thinking of other people I would like to buy copies for. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether audio books aren't "real books" and that listening to them isn't reading. Personally, I find reading books easier than listening to them, and I know I'm quite unusual in that regard. For those who engage with books through audio recordings, this is a perfectly legitimate way to understand a text. It was reassuring that we didn't agree on everything.
Overall, a fabulous read.

Bookish : How Reading Shapes Our Lives. This is an interesting read for the bookworms out there. I love book recommendations and to see what someone else likes and is reading. My tastes and opinions differ from the authors in lots of the books and selections, but that is a good things. I have created a reading list of books I want to try from this, and found some exciting books I haven't heard of before. To be fair it was a bit of a Vulcan mind dump in places, and seemed as though the author wasn't taking a breath. I think I enjoyed the obsession with bookshop visits, and the process of organising her own library. It was interesting read even though I couldn't relate to the author as a person much..

I loved Lucy Mangan's Bookwork so I really appreciated the opportunity to be able to read Bookish. The parts of Bookish I enjoyed most were things like the joy of exploring little niche bookshops and the different relationships people have with books. I think this would make a lovely gift for any book lover or reading aficionado.

I loved Bookworm when it first came out so I was excited to see that Lucy Mangan wrote a sequel and even more ecstatic when I was approved for an arc.

This book was an absolute delight and I devoured it in a matter of hours. Just like in its predecessor Mangan‘s narrative voice is light and entertaining. You just feel her love of books ooze from the pages (and while that sounds a bit gross I mean it in all the most positive of ways). ;) The book begins where Bookworm left off and takes us through Mangan‘s bookish teenage and adult years, tackling GCSE and college reading lists, helping her navigate relationships etc. I definitely want a hardback copy on my shelf as the digital copy just isn’t enough so I‘ll buy one when the book comes out. I‘m sure it will be even prettier inside and out with a ‘real’ cover.