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What's the Best You Can Do?: First-hand Recollections of a Second-hand Bookseller
 
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What's the Best You Can Do?: First-hand Recollections of a Second-hand Bookseller (Paperback)

by Derek Rowlinson (Author), Graham Kennedy (Illustrator)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
Price: £4.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

  • Paperback: 132 pages
  • Publisher: Clive Scoular; 1st edition (Mar 2009)
  • ISBN-10: 0953960161
  • ISBN-13: 978-0953960163
  • Product Dimensions: 20.6 x 14.8 x 1 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 61,351 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #51 in  Books > Biography > Social & Health Issues > Cultural History > Irish

Product Description

Product Description

If you happen to harbour a vague romantic notion of some day opening your own second-hand bookshop where the artistic intelligentsia would congregate to discuss highbrow matters and engage in witty badinage, then perhaps you would do well to read "What's the best you can do?" first. It may not necessarily put you off the idea altogether, but it will certainly provide you with a sharp reality check. The book is an autobiographical account of a second-hand bookshop owner in Northern Ireland during the 1980s and 90s and is a combination of straight prose mixed with numerous anecdotes of a mainly humorous, but sometimes rather poignantly sad nature. Although set against the backdrop of 'The Troubles', it shows how life generally went on pretty much as normal in those times, and that the experience of the second-hand bookseller is essentially universal, irrespective of circumstances or location. These recollections provide an insight into the world of used bookselling whilst simultaneously entertaining with descriptions of the often inexplicable behaviour of various characters who came through the door. The rude, the mean, and the downright stupid all make an appearance, and the eccentric is never too far away either. Bizarre situations, silly questions, and the author's reaction to them, seriously threaten to have you chuckle out loud at times. A 'must' for lovers of the world of used books.

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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Bookselling, 31 Mar 2009
By kehs (Hertfordshire, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This is an autobiographical collection of anecdotes about the life of a bookseller that provides the reader with many unexpected insights into the book-dealing world. Some of the author's reminiscences will have you laughing out loud and some will bring a lump to your throat and tears to your eyes. Some of his descriptions of his customers are so entertaining, the rude, the thoughtless, the eccentrics and the tightwads all get a mention, as do the kind and considerate. His bookshop was in Northern Ireland, during the Troubles, and it was a bomb that bought to an end Rowlinson's bookstore enterprise. He explains how this event led to him becoming an online dealer and his thoughts on this manner of selling books. This little book is a must for lovers of `books about books' and for those interested in the world of second-hand book selling. It will always have a home on my bookshelves.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Anecdotal gem, 26 Mar 2009
If you want to dip in or simply have an entertaining read, buy this book. The book is a collection of witty, charming and genuinely heart-felt anecdotes and myriad of characters that will leave you laughing.
Derek Rowlinson seems to collect memories as he collected books, with all the energy and passion that you would expect from a true bibliophile.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great wee book that will make you chuckle, 25 Mar 2009
Really enjoyed reading this book and I found myself chuckling through most of the anecdotes - you won't believe some of the crazy things people people get up to second-hand bookshops. There are some poignant moments in there as well - keep your eye out for Christmas Eve.

The illustrations inside are first class and really compliment the writing style. I particularly loved the one on p.101 of the little boy tugging the man's arm in the shop (it's the third one from the left up above).

There are lots of little chapters that you could easily dip in and out of for a quick giggle and I think this will be a book that I will enjoy chuckling through again.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Books and the Irish - or some of them at least
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