Scan barcode
launb's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like I have almost had the opportunity of working in a bookshop after reading this book. The flow of people mixed with how people relate to books and bookshops made this a fun read. It definitely fed by fascination with books and book related people.
eggjen's review against another edition
3.0
This was occasionally funny but kind of also a long rant about all the ways people suck, which isn't inaccurate but considering that the people reading it probably frequent bookstores, it's a little off putting to read that supposedly we are all the worst. I ended up skimming a lot of it to be honest.
bethanna_hobbs's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars, I really enjoy Shaun Blythell, this was quick read. I read it in less than 24hrs, witty, succinct, quirky insight to being a bookshop owner and the types of people you encounter. Since reading The diary of a bookseller I have been reminded of my love of bookshops and it rekindled my desire to explore more bookshops (particularly secondhand) and read more.. this book only furthered that. I only give it 3.5 because it was more of a funny coffee table book than a life changing read but I still enjoyed it a lot. I really like the way he writes and I just appreciate his style not just of writing but of life!
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Not a full-length exposé but an amusing case study of bookshop 'types'.
It'll probably annoy a few that see themselves in Shaun's lists, but really this is a light-hearted chuckle, exposing the stereotypes of the typical bookshop visitors, from the tutters and those haggling over prices to the exhausted parents trying to get a moment to themselves, with an embarrassed secret-erotic reader thrown in there for good measure.
Split into subsections with literary Latin titles, it's smile-inducing and wryly funny. As a library worker, I can relate to a lot of the categories. But hopefully not see myself in any of them!
Enjoyed listening to this, an easy and short listen that usefully set itself into chunks and was very easy to follow. A chatty tone suited the audiobook.
I also liked hearing snippets about the author, who now has a young family, and little clues about how the world of the bookshop is doing in the last couple of years. Nice to hear that Bythell isn't averse to lampooning his own staff too - I trust they got their own back at some point!
Pleasant way to spend a few hours. I look forward to a longer volume next time as we delve back into the shop shelves.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
It'll probably annoy a few that see themselves in Shaun's lists, but really this is a light-hearted chuckle, exposing the stereotypes of the typical bookshop visitors, from the tutters and those haggling over prices to the exhausted parents trying to get a moment to themselves, with an embarrassed secret-erotic reader thrown in there for good measure.
Split into subsections with literary Latin titles, it's smile-inducing and wryly funny. As a library worker, I can relate to a lot of the categories. But hopefully not see myself in any of them!
Enjoyed listening to this, an easy and short listen that usefully set itself into chunks and was very easy to follow. A chatty tone suited the audiobook.
I also liked hearing snippets about the author, who now has a young family, and little clues about how the world of the bookshop is doing in the last couple of years. Nice to hear that Bythell isn't averse to lampooning his own staff too - I trust they got their own back at some point!
Pleasant way to spend a few hours. I look forward to a longer volume next time as we delve back into the shop shelves.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
aftaerglows's review against another edition
2.0
the author of this book comes across as extremely condescending and judgemental. i thought the descriptions were going to be quirky and fun, but bythell only seems interested in telling us that most of his customers are extremely obnoxious and that owning an independent bookshop is the worst thing ever. most books like these would have an introduction that specified 'the names of the people in this book have been changed out of respect for them, and the details of their lives have been mixed with other people's, so as to make them unrecognisable out of respect for their privacy'. but why do that when you could publicly make fun of them in a book they (and probably their friends, as bythell apparently lives in a relatively small town) are going to read?
i hope he doesn't close shop, however, because i fear he would publish more books
i hope he doesn't close shop, however, because i fear he would publish more books