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mrs_bonaventure's review against another edition
3.0
Entertaining, and like Richard Booth’s autobiography, an insight into the book trade (in fact there is a passage in Booth’s book about visiting other towns in the U.K. to set up Book Towns like Hay on Wye, and he visited Wigtown to help set it up).
Good for dipping into rather than reading for long bursts. I haven’t read the first one so perhaps was expecting more depth that I might have senses if I’d had more context, but it’s a good read.
Good for dipping into rather than reading for long bursts. I haven’t read the first one so perhaps was expecting more depth that I might have senses if I’d had more context, but it’s a good read.
almondcookies's review against another edition
1.0
I completely understand people who love books. I, myself, am one of them.
I also completely understand people who love books about books. I, too, am one of them.
This book, however, was not a book about books. This was not a book about loving books and having them touch you to your very core. This book was a repetitive diary of a contemptuous bookseller that pays very careful attention to the weather.
Kudos to you if you made it all the way through, you are far braver (and more tolerant) than I.
DNFed at page 100.
I also completely understand people who love books about books. I, too, am one of them.
This book, however, was not a book about books. This was not a book about loving books and having them touch you to your very core. This book was a repetitive diary of a contemptuous bookseller that pays very careful attention to the weather.
Kudos to you if you made it all the way through, you are far braver (and more tolerant) than I.
DNFed at page 100.
sarahlreadseverything's review
4.0
If you enjoyed the first book, and are happy to read more of the same, then you'll enjoy this installment. There isn't much that's new here, but there's something about the gentle rhythm of Shaun's days and his biting wit that's still very appealing.
lorelaii's review against another edition
3.0
I expected more of this. For me it all felt kinda superficial. I would have loved to get more detail about the characters and to really get to know them.
I can understand this book would be really appealing to people who've worked in a bookshop though, considering you would probably recognise a lot of the situations described.
I can understand this book would be really appealing to people who've worked in a bookshop though, considering you would probably recognise a lot of the situations described.
sallycacchi's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
3.25
A light-hearted read about the realities of running a second-hand bookshop.
This was a nice book, funny in places and I enjoyed the mundanity of the day to day running of the book. I did find it quite hard to get through, the structure of the book, being diary entries for a year didn't really work for me as it became very repetitive very quickly. I expect this works better as an audio book.
I was left wanting to know more about the relationships with the other people in Shaun's life, but this was not forthcoming.
I haven't read the first book, perhaps this would have improved the reading of this one, but I don't think I will be picking it up.
A decent read if you are interested in second hand bookshops and don't mind a slow paced, plodding book.
This was a nice book, funny in places and I enjoyed the mundanity of the day to day running of the book. I did find it quite hard to get through, the structure of the book, being diary entries for a year didn't really work for me as it became very repetitive very quickly. I expect this works better as an audio book.
I was left wanting to know more about the relationships with the other people in Shaun's life, but this was not forthcoming.
I haven't read the first book, perhaps this would have improved the reading of this one, but I don't think I will be picking it up.
A decent read if you are interested in second hand bookshops and don't mind a slow paced, plodding book.
riley_mae's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
laila4343's review against another edition
5.0
Goodness, this was fun! I laughed out loud quite a lot - my absolute favorite parts were about Emanuela, aka Granny, a young (but old at heart) woman from Italy who worked in the shop for a few months. What a character! This book is a delight. I’ve got to read Bythell’s later books.