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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
As someone who has always dreamed of opening my own bookshop, I was drawn to 'The Diary of a Bookseller'. I found it both incredibly interesting and very funny, and it's definitely on my present-buying list for Christmas!
I actually read Confessions of a Bookseller, the sequel to The Diary of a Bookseller, first, for the shallow reason that it received higher ratings on Goodreads. I didn't really enjoy the book but nonetheless felt compelled to read its lower-rated predecessor because I thought Diary of a Bookseller might touch on Shaun and Anna's early relationship (it does not).
Still, I did find it a more enjoyable read compared to Confessions of a Bookseller. (My takeaway: The wisdom of the Goodreads crowd doesn't always work.) For one, the writing seemed lighter (perhaps the task of keeping daily notes about his day hadn't worn Blythell down yet). Characters like Nicky came across more as endearingly eccentric in The Diary of a Bookseller, rather than maddening enough to throttle as she did in Confessions of a Bookseller. It has more interesting characters like Mr Deacon (who only gets a passing mention in book 2) and you get a better feel of the various friendships Blythell has. Somehow, in book 2, he comes across as more curmudgeonly and bitter. Second, you get a bit more context in book 1. In book 2, Blythell glosses over terms and platforms like AbeBooks, FBA, Monsoon. In book 1, he explains how these platforms operate, how the bookselling trade in general works, which is lovely if you love books and anything related to books in general.
Still, I did find it a more enjoyable read compared to Confessions of a Bookseller. (My takeaway: The wisdom of the Goodreads crowd doesn't always work.) For one, the writing seemed lighter (perhaps the task of keeping daily notes about his day hadn't worn Blythell down yet). Characters like Nicky came across more as endearingly eccentric in The Diary of a Bookseller, rather than maddening enough to throttle as she did in Confessions of a Bookseller. It has more interesting characters like Mr Deacon (who only gets a passing mention in book 2) and you get a better feel of the various friendships Blythell has. Somehow, in book 2, he comes across as more curmudgeonly and bitter. Second, you get a bit more context in book 1. In book 2, Blythell glosses over terms and platforms like AbeBooks, FBA, Monsoon. In book 1, he explains how these platforms operate, how the bookselling trade in general works, which is lovely if you love books and anything related to books in general.
5⭐ de la mine. Iata de ce:
⭐ E linistitoare, calma. Nu alearga, nu sufera. Cu putina ironie, cu umor, detasat.
⭐ Cel mai mult imi place ca e reala. Autorul traieste, este exact asa ca pe coperta, chiar are un anticariat, are un cont fain de Insta si pagina de FB. A fost interesant sa vad ca tot ce a scris e palpabil.
⭐ Pentru mine a fost o altfel de lectura: activa. Am stat tot timpul cu telefonul langa mine, am cautat tot felul de nume, carti, locuri la care face referire.
⭐ Desi titlul de jurnal ar suna plictisitor, nu e asa. E un scriitor puternic. Aduna tipologii de oameni, cei care ii viziteaza anticariatul, cei cu care lucreaza, cei de la care cumpara carti. Stiu ce fel de vizitator sunt.
⭐ E linistitoare, calma. Nu alearga, nu sufera. Cu putina ironie, cu umor, detasat.
⭐ Cel mai mult imi place ca e reala. Autorul traieste, este exact asa ca pe coperta, chiar are un anticariat, are un cont fain de Insta si pagina de FB. A fost interesant sa vad ca tot ce a scris e palpabil.
⭐ Pentru mine a fost o altfel de lectura: activa. Am stat tot timpul cu telefonul langa mine, am cautat tot felul de nume, carti, locuri la care face referire.
⭐ Desi titlul de jurnal ar suna plictisitor, nu e asa. E un scriitor puternic. Aduna tipologii de oameni, cei care ii viziteaza anticariatul, cei cu care lucreaza, cei de la care cumpara carti. Stiu ce fel de vizitator sunt.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
funny
fast-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
As I began this book I think I was comparing it to James Herriot’s “All Creatures Great and Small” series that i’ve loved so much— just a guy with an interesting profession in the UK sharing anecdotes about daily life. In that comparison, I would say that “The Diary of a Bookseller” is not as enjoyable, even though I’m much more interested in this profession than in a country vet’s. This wasn’t quite as funny, charming, cozy, and delightful as Herriot’s stories, probably because it’s truly a diary of daily events which just often aren’t all that interesting. That being said, I grew to enjoy this and rest in its simplicity and routine-ness. It definitely could have been cozier, but it is funny in its own way, especially in the ridiculous customer interactions at the bookstore. I would recommend this if you’re very interested in the life of being a bookseller, but it probably wouldn’t be super enjoyable otherwise.