Birth of a Bookworm

Susan McKnight is an administrator of the Courts Technology Integrated Justice Project at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.

Michel Tremblay has been hailed as “Quebec’s most celebrated living
writer” by The Guardian, but he also has a more universal appeal.
Birth of a Bookworm is one volume in a series that has been dubbed
“the education of Michel Tremblay.” Bambi and Me (1997) describes
his childhood introduction to film, Twelve Opening Acts relates his
introduction to theatre, and Birth of a Bookworm recounts his
introduction to the world of books.

Tremblay’s somewhat overbearing mother introduced him to books
initially as a means of keeping a curious child occupied. She had no
idea that reading would be so crucial in forming the artist he would
become. Their shared love of reading also became an important part of
their lifelong relationship.

With reverence and humour, Tremblay relates his introduction to the
public library system, his impatience with waiting to “graduate” to
the adult section of the library, his encounter with and love for the
works of Gabrielle Roy, and his discovery of a kinship through reading
with his mother and various people he met throughout his early life.

The avid reader can revel in Tremblay’s memories of classical
literature, while others can enjoy the loving manner in which he relates
anecdotes from his early reading experiences. His love of books as
physical objects deserving respect is also quite clear.

Sheila Fischman’s translation ably maintains Tremblay’s wit and
ability to express the seriousness a child ascribes to events in his or
her life.