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readbyrach's review against another edition
4.0
A nice insight into the daily life of a bookseller, with some moments that had me laughing out loud while reading. The diary format makes it a quick and fun read, I really enjoyed this.
laurapoulosky's review against another edition
2.0
While this book had a few amusing parts, mostly about unusual books with funny titles, mostly it just made me glad I work in a library instead of a bookstore. I can understand why the author is annoyed with many customers' rudeness and cheapness, but he just sounded so grumpy to me that I couldn't really empathize with him.
lilrusski's review against another edition
4.0
it has been said in several pieces i’ve encountered of late that there is no reason to rationalise why something appeals to one’s nature. when you contemplate a painting, it inspires something profound within you, but there is no pinpointing what in particular arouses this feeling. it is the overarching concept rather than the singular detail which inspires awe and remains imprinted upon the mind’s short-term memory. the same is true for this book, overflowing with small town charm and amusing anecdotes from a cynical bookseller who proudly hung an amazon kindle he’d destroyed by way of shotgun.
shaun bythell, accompanied by jehovah’s witness nikki who perpetually wanders into the shop late for shift with a snack scavenged from a bargain bin, runs scotland’s largest second-hand bookshop, purchased on a whim from an ageing partner in polite conversation. the diary chronicles a year of his life and documents the online as well as in-person sales of the various books from his inventory, ranging from ‘70s erotica to train catalogues (apparently lucrative sales!).
i picked this up in florence on a quiet and idyllic getaway from the tumult of a capriciously loud life. the margins are overflowing with personal anecdotes i found myself sharing with bythell as we looked back on our impressions of the books we picked up from various second-hand shops (in his case, his own) on a pure readerly instinct. the pages fly by, as does the time with a book that enwraps you in warmth as a stone-pit fire on a bitterly stormy night.
— full review @grandepoque instagram!!
shaun bythell, accompanied by jehovah’s witness nikki who perpetually wanders into the shop late for shift with a snack scavenged from a bargain bin, runs scotland’s largest second-hand bookshop, purchased on a whim from an ageing partner in polite conversation. the diary chronicles a year of his life and documents the online as well as in-person sales of the various books from his inventory, ranging from ‘70s erotica to train catalogues (apparently lucrative sales!).
i picked this up in florence on a quiet and idyllic getaway from the tumult of a capriciously loud life. the margins are overflowing with personal anecdotes i found myself sharing with bythell as we looked back on our impressions of the books we picked up from various second-hand shops (in his case, his own) on a pure readerly instinct. the pages fly by, as does the time with a book that enwraps you in warmth as a stone-pit fire on a bitterly stormy night.
— full review @grandepoque instagram!!
fernandoyataco1991's review against another edition
4.0
Una reseña de la vida de una persona dedicada a los libros, muy entretenida y con situaciones bastante peculiares. Ideal para toda persona interesada en los libros.
PD: Me encantó el personaje de Nicky =)
PD: Me encantó el personaje de Nicky =)
mintly's review against another edition
2.0
An easy read. Repetitive in parts, almost to the point of copy-and-pasting sentences. Still, an interesting insight, just not a particularly funny one despite the blurb.