Summary
Jen Campbell's "Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops" is a delightful compendium of bizarre and amusing encounters experienced by booksellers worldwide. The book is divided into sections, each focusing on a particular bookshop or a collection of anecdotes from various stores. The stories range from customers searching for books with specific shades of green to match wrapping paper, to those convinced they've written a bestseller despite never having actually written anything. The humor is often rooted in the absurdity of the situations, highlighting the unique challenges faced by those working in the bookselling industry.
The Edinburgh Bookshop section introduces us to memorable customers like the one who tried returning a book bought at Waterstones, insisting all bookshops are part of the same chain. We also encounter the customer whose children climb the bookshelves, seemingly oblivious to the potential for disaster, and another who laments the lack of pictures in adult books, finding the transition from illustrated children's books to text-heavy adult ones a cruel twist of fate. The questions about Jane Eyre, Anne Frank's sequel, and crime books involving speeding fines all add to the tapestry of eccentric inquiries.
Ripping Yarns bookshop in London provides its own share of peculiar incidents. One customer searches for signed copies of Shakespeare's plays, another inquires about the availability of mohair wool, mistakenly believing the shop's name refers to yarn rather than stories, while a third refuses to pay a total of £13.05, fearing the number 13 will bring bad luck. The book continues with a series of similar anecdotes from other bookshops, each more outlandish than the last. A customer asks if the book has a mildew smell before ordering, while another tries to abandon their five-year-old child at the store. The mistaken pronouncements of authors' names, the search for non-existent sequels, and the confusion between bookshops and other retail establishments provide endless amusement.
Throughout the book, Campbell captures the patience, resilience, and often bemused reactions of booksellers in the face of these unusual requests. The anecdotes reveal a shared experience among booksellers, a kind of camaraderie forged in the fires of bizarre customer interactions. "Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops" is not just a collection of funny stories; it's a celebration of the quirky world of books and the people who love them, as well as a gentle reminder that the real world can be stranger than fiction. The sheer variety of anecdotes, from the mildly amusing to the truly baffling, ensures there's something to tickle everyone's funny bone. Whether you're a book lover, a bookseller, or simply someone who enjoys a good chuckle, this book is sure to provide hours of entertainment.
The book also touches upon the changing landscape of the bookselling industry, with references to e-readers and the challenges posed by online retailers. Customers ask about the differences between hardback and paperback books on Kindle. Some customers utilize online resources for book recommendations but ultimately purchase elsewhere. One memorable interaction involves a Canadian customer complaining about a book purchased elsewhere that gave her daughter nightmares, demanding the bookshop remove it from their shelves.
Overall, "Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops" is a witty and engaging read that offers a humorous glimpse into the daily lives of booksellers. The book's strength lies in its simplicity and relatability. The anecdotes are short, punchy, and easy to digest, making it a perfect pick-me-up for any book lover. The book is also a testament to the enduring power of the physical book, even in the digital age. Despite the rise of e-readers and online retailers, the bookshop remains a vibrant and essential part of the literary landscape, a place where the love of books and the quirks of human nature collide in endlessly entertaining ways.