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tbookwyrm 's review for:
Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller
by Oliver Darkshire
I received this book due to a monthly subscription. IT WAS AMAZING.
First, I'm the target audience. I'm a voracious reader, I've adored books my entire life, memoir- and essay-style is one of my favorite genres, I love quirky characters/people, esoteric subjects are fascinating, and dry humor is the best kind. This book just hit all of those!
Darkshire chooses the precisely accurate word to capture his meaning and illustrate his experiences. Sometimes I had to look those words up! It was delightful. You should expect nothing less of a rare bookseller than to sprinkle their communication with antiquated and scholarly language that borders on the absurd. The word nerd in my head was transported.
The language choice bordering on the absurd was no doubt done intentionally to emphasize the absurdity of so many of the situations Darkshire found himself in during his tenure as an apprentice. When you find yourself in a niche position, you will inevitably be surrounded by unique characters and humorous situations. These vignettes are given in such a dry, direct manner that I found myself chuckling out loud in rather inappropriate moments that resulted in side eye from strangers. This is a mark of brilliance in composition.
Finally, the design of the hardcover is charming. As you discover that arsenic was once used to provide green coloring on book covers, you'll find yourself contemplating this book's cover again... and then convincing yourself it couldn't possibly be arsenic. Probably.
Overall a delightful memoir for every book nerd or word nerd.
First, I'm the target audience. I'm a voracious reader, I've adored books my entire life, memoir- and essay-style is one of my favorite genres, I love quirky characters/people, esoteric subjects are fascinating, and dry humor is the best kind. This book just hit all of those!
Darkshire chooses the precisely accurate word to capture his meaning and illustrate his experiences. Sometimes I had to look those words up! It was delightful. You should expect nothing less of a rare bookseller than to sprinkle their communication with antiquated and scholarly language that borders on the absurd. The word nerd in my head was transported.
The language choice bordering on the absurd was no doubt done intentionally to emphasize the absurdity of so many of the situations Darkshire found himself in during his tenure as an apprentice. When you find yourself in a niche position, you will inevitably be surrounded by unique characters and humorous situations. These vignettes are given in such a dry, direct manner that I found myself chuckling out loud in rather inappropriate moments that resulted in side eye from strangers. This is a mark of brilliance in composition.
Finally, the design of the hardcover is charming. As you discover that arsenic was once used to provide green coloring on book covers, you'll find yourself contemplating this book's cover again... and then convincing yourself it couldn't possibly be arsenic. Probably.
Overall a delightful memoir for every book nerd or word nerd.