Wednesday 18 March 2015

Non-Fiction Book Review - 'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops' by Jen Campbell

So funny and so sad, especially if you are or have ever been a bookseller or customer in a bookshop.

Here, in this collection of quotes, you'll find some of the strangest utterings ever issued from human beings, to other human beings. They are made funnier and more baffling by the fact that they were once truly said, unironically (The homophobic quotes by customers are especially cringeworthy!). From what I'd gathered, to be a bookseller, as well as having an extensive knowledge and love of books, and wanting to help others to read as much as possible, another requirement is possessing the patience of a saint (upon realising just how many people may need to read). A few booksellers recorded in here are even sarcastic and witty, probably needed to preserve a sense of normalcy. Turns out the customer isn't always right.

'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops' isn't mean or degrading, but a little gem that's put together just to make you laugh. You might also learn things about bookshops you perhaps didn't know beforehand. Such as: no, they do not usually sell cigarettes, gardening materials, ice cubes or illegal drugs; they're not a day-care center where you leave your kids while you dash off to the post office; they don't give refunds or ban books because of one kid's nightmares; the books don't fly off the shelves and eat the booksellers as far as anyone knows; their signed copies of books tend to be signed by said book's author; and multiple editions of the same book are from the same author - wow, who knew?

Final Score: 4/5

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