The Diary of a Bookseller Audiobook By Shaun Bythell cover art

The Diary of a Bookseller

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The Diary of a Bookseller

By: Shaun Bythell
Narrated by: Robin Laing
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About this listen

Shaun Bythell owns the Bookshop, Scotland's largest secondhand bookshop. It contains 100,000 books spread over a mile of shelving, with twisting corridors and roaring fires, all set in a beautiful, rural town by the edge of the sea.

A book-lover's paradise? Well, almost.... In these wry and hilarious diaries, Shaun provides an inside look at the trials and tribulations of life in the book trade, from struggles with eccentric customers to wrangles with his own staff, who include the ski-suit-wearing, bin-foraging Nicky. He takes us with him on buying trips to old estates and auction houses, recommends books - both lost classics and new discoveries - introduces us to the thrill of the unexpected find, and evokes the rhythms and charms of small-town life, always with a sharp and sympathetic eye.

Hilarious, wry, and charming, Shaun Bythell's stories from his secondhand bookshop in remotest Scotland are sure to delight listeners of all stripes.

©2018 Shaun Bythell (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Business Comedy & Humor Memoirs, Diaries & Correspondence Funny Witty Scotland
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What listeners say about The Diary of a Bookseller

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Good

At times, humorous. Quick, easy listen. Enjoyable. Quaint shop in Scotland. Recommend for bedtime listen.

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I feel guilty listening to it on Audible plus!

Very enjoyable story. Had me laughing out loud several times. Interesting look into the power of Amazon. Makes me want to buy books for the sake of it!

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3 people found this helpful

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Highly Enjoyable

I loved the diary-entry layout of the story. The narrator is easy to listen too, and I felt I was visiting Scotland. The story immersed me in a small village in Scotland where I could easily see myself visiting the bookshop regularly. I felt the damp chill of the long winter along with the summery tourist season.
I’m looking forward to continuing this series.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Another delight from Shaun Bythell

I truly enjoy listening to journal style narration. My thinking about small book shops has taken a quantum shift. I recommend this book.
I have one criticism that I believe is the fault of the editing. The daily presentation of data regarding online sales and customer spending is sometime quite garbled, as if words were improperly copied and pasted.

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  • Overall
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For anyone who loves used bookstores

Fabulous recounting of a year in the life of a Scottish bookstore, its owner, employees and customers. Funny, interesting, and a very satisfying listen.

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Quirky Humans Never Fail to Disappoint.

A refreshing look at a job that is as irritating as mine. How lovely to be able to laugh and smile at the human condition.

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Superb

I loved every minute of it. My escape from the busyness of online work into the world of my true passion, books.

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Totally entertaining start to finish

The diary format is great in the audible format . The day to happenings in the bookstore are very interesting . Shaun Bythell’s commentary and the anecdotes on his customers and the trade are golden. For whatever reason I loved hearing the online orders and then trying to guess the number filled . ( remember it is the audio version) The end of the day totals added to the charm of the diary. Overall the performance and the book exceeded my expectations . Loved it !

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Enjoyable read about unusual people and a bookstore

I enjoyed this book. It was easy to get lost in the day to day of the bookstore and the sometimes strange customers.

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    2 out of 5 stars

too depressing for words

Amazon gets rich and the book seller falls into poverty. I don't doubt that every word is true.

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3 people found this helpful