Book Review
by Willard Manus
THE CHILD THAT BOOKS BUILT by Francis Spufford (Picador) delves into the
link between literature and character. By trying to understand the memorable
books he read as a child and describe how they affected his thinking and
development, Spufford has put together an unusual memoir, one that reminds
us of the powerful effect books can have on imagination. Far from being
just a diversion, an entertainment, books (the author believes) can be
the most important force in our lives, "part of the history of our
self-understanding." At the same time, Spufford also learns that
literature can not save us from life (or death).
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