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alessiolarva's review against another edition
3.0
Ho cominciato il libro dopo aver letto un articolo che lo recensiva. Inizialmente incuriosito dalle vicende, mi sono trovato a terminarlo con l'impressione che non mi abbia lasciato molto. L'autore (nonché protagonista e proprietario del The Book Shop di Wigtown) si descrive come un burbero, spende molte pagine a raccontare vicende personali. Avrei preferito invece un 'saggio' più in senso classico, dove si spiegano le difficoltà e le strategie di gestione di una libreria al giorno d'oggi.
La totale avversione per tutto ciò che riguarda gli ordini online (sembrano un fardello, più che una opportunità), non ha fatto che farmi salire l'antipatia per il personaggio. Una lettura leggera.
La totale avversione per tutto ciò che riguarda gli ordini online (sembrano un fardello, più che una opportunità), non ha fatto che farmi salire l'antipatia per il personaggio. Una lettura leggera.
emilyjbrown's review against another edition
5.0
As a second hand shop owner, this book really resonates.
I've lost count of the times I've told others about certain parts of the book for the reason that I too have experienced the same thing!
I've lost count of the times I've told others about certain parts of the book for the reason that I too have experienced the same thing!
zbmorgan's review against another edition
5.0
An absolute delight - Bythell weaves some info on the book business and Wigtown in general as well as Scotland into his 'year in the life' of a seller of used books. For many people this is a dream job, but the efforts he goes to to publicize his business, buy and price the books, and keep a life of his own while not letting his eccentric assistant drive him mad is eye-opening.
radwa_mousa's review against another edition
2.0
We all dream of running our own bookstore at some point, right?
Well, this is a quirky light book about what it might be like
Well, this is a quirky light book about what it might be like
sngsweelian's review against another edition
4.0
Love this book! Shaun's irreverence is amusing and exactly how I would have responded to some of his customers.
ngeru's review against another edition
5.0
This was a birthday present, and so I spent much of the birthday reading it, often laughing out loud and reading quotations to my tolerant family. As someone who spends too much time in bookshops,I completely understood some of his more cynical observations about its customers. There is more in the book than just the travails of running a secondhand bookshop, because the interludes about his life in a small town and the vignettes of the people bring a side to him which belies the cynicism he pretends
thecatswhiskers's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
A witty and charming peek behind the scenes of running a secondhand bookshop in Scotland! Shaun Bythell’s dry humor and sharp observations about quirky customers, the struggles of small businesses, and the changing world of bookselling make this diary-style read both entertaining and relatable.
At times, I found Nicky a little frustrating (you’ll see why when you read it!), but her quirks add to the shop's charm. I’m not sure if this book is supposed to put you off owning a bookshop, but it’s only made me want one even more!
Perfect for book lovers who appreciate the magic of independent bookstores. Funny, heartwarming, and a little bittersweet – highly recommend!