A review by proletecario
Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller by Oliver Darkshire

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

When I first came across this title while looking through books on bibliophilia and the history of books and libraries I didn't think much of it. The synopsis called my attention and so did the reviews, I wondered how a memoir and/or chronicles of a rare bookshop and its staff could be as funny as they said, so I did the logical thing and bought it to be the judge of that. And I don't regret it one bit. Oliver Darkshire has such a way of narrating events that makes this book one of those you're very relunctant to put down and even finish because you want more of it. It is like you're reading through episodes of a sitcom and is the perfect mixture of all things funny and bizarre with just the perfect amount of self-deprication of a young gay with little to no prospects for the future (situation I am very much relating to as of now) and seriousness to treat (minorly, but still) things such a disability and queerness and youth around the bigger picture that is: books, and the love for books. And as a young transgay that loves books, I very much love this book specifically. I'm so glad to have decided it was worth a shot, because really, I was skeptical at first, thought maybe the humor might not be might thing, I didn't really know what I was diving into with this one but I have no doubts left that Oliver Darkshire is a genius storyteller; if he ever puts out anything else, I'll probably be one of the firsts in line.

First 5/5-star review of the year and it just makes so much sense to me that it had to be this one.