A moreish box of delights. Mangan is out to show, not show off – to share her favorite books, sing their praises, and explain what they mean to her ... Part memoir, part good-book guide, Bookish is also a rallying cry ... This charming and entertaining book shows how reading has broadened a mind and enriched a life.
An exploration that is admirably free of the temptation to show off ... Readers won’t share all of Mangan’s preferences, but that’s part of the point – it’s enjoyable enough to eavesdrop on the pleasures of a committed bookworm, especially the romantic ones.
Tackles the myriad complexities of adulthood ... She makes for a wonderfully incisive critic ... But her memoir can also be read as a comic novel, drenched as it is in Sue Townsend snark. Like Townsend, she skewers everyday events for their comedic potential.
