Review: The Diary of a Bookseller

The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shaun Bythell owns a second-hand bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland. The shop is one of the largest second-hand book shops, and they also hold an annual book festival which is the highlight of Wigtown’s calendar!

In his book, Shaun gives us a written commentary on what its like to own and run a bookshop, and if like me, you thought that meant engaging with people similar to yourself, and reading loads of books, then think again!! One of the most surprising thing I learnt whilst reading this book was that Shaun says that he reads fewer books now than he ever did before he owned the shop.
We are introduced to some lovely characters who I felt a great deal of fondness for. Eccentric, ski suit wearing employee Nicky who delves in the Morrisons skips for treats for “Foodie Friday”, and Sandy the tattooed pagan who trades carved walking sticks in exchange for books on Celtic Mythology.

At first I didn’t think I was going to like this, it wasn’t what I was expecting but if I’m honest, I don’t know what I was expecting either, but I quickly developed a fondness for Shaun, Nicky and Sandy and the customers who came and went, and when the book finished, it left me wanting more. I could have listened to another year and another.

It was upsetting to read about the struggles that independent booksellers face up against the giants like Amazon. It was a really pleasant insight into someone else’s world, although I think I’ll stick to reading books rather than selling them!

View all my reviews

Comments

REVIEW: Confessions Of A Forty-Something F**ck Up by Alexandra Potter

Confessions Of A Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter published by Pan Macmillan Nell Stevens’ life is a mess – moving back to London from LA after her business goes bust and her relationship fails she notices that many things have changed. Her friends are now all settled with children, and she is forced to rent a room in a house. Life just feels like it’s f**ked up!. When Nell gets a job writing obituaries, she first encounters Cricket, an eighty-something widow with challenges of her own, and they strike up an unlikely friendship. Together they begin to help each other heal their aching hearts, cope with the loss of the lives they had planned, and push each other into new adventures and unexpected joys. Because Nell is determined. Next year things are going to be very different. It's time to turn her life around. Initially I didn’t think I was going to like this book, as I mistakenly thought it was transcripts of a podcast, but how wrong was I? Th...

Maybe Next Christmas by Emma Heatherington

Maybe Next Christmas" by Emma Heatherington was a delightful festive read that truly delivered in the end. While I found the beginning a little slow, once the story picked up, I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down! Emma's storytelling and knack for building relatable, heartfelt characters shines through, making the journey worth it. The Christmas charm, along with themes of love and second chances, make this one feel as cozy as her other novels. Definitely recommended for fans of Christmas romances or anyone looking for a feel-good, warm festive read!

Review: The Weekend Away by Sarah Alderson

The Weekend Away by Sarah Alderson Published by Avon Books 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ New Mum Orla and Party girl Kate have been best friends forever and so with Orla adapting to motherhood, and Kate facing a messy divorce, they decide to have a girl’s weekend away in Lisbon. Kate has booked the perfect apartment, complete with hot tub and they kick the weekend off in style with champagne, a fancy dinner, and drinks at a trendy bar. Returning to the apartment that evening Orla feels a bit woozy and goes to bed but the next morning, she wakes up very groggy and is convinced that her drink was spiked and she tries to piece the night back together again. When she checks on her friend, Kate is not in the apartment, and hasn’t left a note – she has simply disappeared. As Orla frantically retraces their steps she makes a series of discoveries that may change her life forever. The main character in this book is Orla who is been married to Rob, together they have baby Marlow who they conceived with IV...

Book-Mad-Mum

Search This Blog