Yes! This is what it felt like. Spufford reminded me of the excitement of becoming completely immersed in a story, of experiencing Bilbo’s adventures and of the Aslan obsession my friend and I acted out in our playground games. Spufford’s unpicking of his moment of “elaborative choice” and his first forays into adult fiction took me straight back to the shelves of the local library in Suffolk where I spent Saturday mornings, fearing being told to get back to the children’s section at any moment.
Both autobiography and exploration of the effect of fiction on the developing imagination, Spufford intertwines poignant insights into his family relationships with his reading memories.
Love this book!