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The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell #inbetweeny

The Diary Of A Bookseller is one I not only read in hardback but bought for myself in hardback. A rare thing indeed. I was attracted to the cover and just love bookshops. Plus I was actually in a bookshop when I came across it which probably encouraged the splurge.

The book diaries a year in the life of a bookshop owner (Bythell) running his bookshop (The Bookshop) in Wigtown, Scotland. As well as colourful accounts of the customers it includes little things like takings and on-line orders. Oh and a fabulous cat called Captain.

Delivered in Bythell's no nonsense style it describes the hardships faced by all booksellers in the age of Amazon. He doesn't shy away from mercilessly ripping into his customers and where as Adam Kay (This is Going to Hurt) went to pains to disguise the identity of his patients there seems decidedly to have been less lengths gone to in this Diary.

Whereas Kay and Bythell's books are totally different, I cant help but compare them as I read them so close together. Both describe a dedication and passion towards their work, both include people from all walks of life making an entrance, both are at times sad (Kay wins this in bucket loads) and both describe an "institution" slowly being strangled.

It's been a while since I have read a book that has changed my perspective on the world yet this, surprisingly, has. I love books and whilst I didn't question too hard how a book can be sold for one pence plus postage, I had no idea of the devastating effect this has had on the book industry. After reading this book I pledge that I will now no longer buy books from Amazon. I will try to avoid chains of bookshops and instead find beautiful, unique and quite possibly struggling independent bookshops in which to obtain the next additions to my "to read" pile.  You will note the link at the top of the page is not to Amazon but to an independent book shop, future links will also be to independent book shops. If you have any you would like me to link to please comment below.

Pledge aside, the book was funny, I now want to visit Wigtown, be a part of the Random Book Club (hint hint), and stay in The Open Book (hint hint). It also features the shooting of a Kindle, an event worthy of a ten any day.

If you love books read it. And also read Scribbles in the Margins.





Comments

  1. Rob4 August 2018 at 18:35

    I loved this book! Shaun Bythell is just hilarious.

    ReplyDelete

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