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By: AUCK 452
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2025-06-16 10:27:20 |
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Was great to read, and then look up on Facebook and see pictures of the actual bookshop. Initially it was quite boring to some members , but to one who always wanted to own a bookstore, it was great. |
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By: CHCH 345
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2025-06-13 16:47:58 |
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Most of us got a bit bored with the repetitiveness and didn't finish this one, but some members of the group really enjoyed it. It was well-written with a good sense of humour but was quite a slow read - more something you'd dip in and out of over a long period of time, rather than reading all at once. Provoked some lovely discussion about books and bookshops, but not one of our most interesting reads. |
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By: CHCH 020
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2025-06-10 20:39:38 |
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A light and undemanding read with an insight into how Amazon has wrecked the book market. Some of us even feel guilty about using our Kindles now. Wigtown sounds like it ought to be on the bucket list and browsing in Shaun's amazing shop, an all day event. And buying some books. Would recommend reading about a year in the life of an erudite bookshop owner who isn't afraid to include his own shortcomings.. |
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By: CHCH 202
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2024-05-28 15:00:19 |
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This provoked quite a discussion - some thought it boring, some thought it "readable but repetitive", and others really enjoyed it and the author's quirky personality. Whatever the opinion, we agreed that we could picture the people and we all had stories about people we had personally come across over time. |
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By: AMBER 006
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2023-08-04 12:14:08 |
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Our score doesn’t reflect our review. One-third of the group, those who frequent second-hand book shops, loved it and found many laugh-out-loud moments and related to some of the customers' habits. Those of us who had been in business were painfully aware of the unviability of the business, so we found the daily tally of online sales, customers to turnover and the hope of a more profitable ‘tomorrow’ page-turning. Others found it mediocre or downright boring. |
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By: WELL 016
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2023-07-19 15:00:42 |
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Most of the group enjoyed the book - we laughed a lot in reading and discussing it. We found that the book was enhanced by listening to Kim Hill's interviews with the author on the RNZ website, and watching YouTube videos made by him and his staff. |
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By: WANAK 010
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2022-12-08 16:12:59 |
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Those that read the book found it entertaining if a little repetitive. It was an easy book to pick up and put down. Small font size was off putting for those of us who like to read at night. Those members of our group who have experienced owning their own retail business identified with many of the customers. |
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By: MARTO 001
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2022-05-11 13:21:39 |
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We nearly all enjoyed this book. We enjoyed the characters, staff and customers. His lovely turn of phrase was very entertaining. |
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By: AUCK 389
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2021-09-15 12:21:17 |
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One of the funniest books so far. A cast of quirky characters and laugh out loud moments. |
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By: DUNED 111
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2021-09-06 12:50:14 |
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Most were not enthusiastic about this trivial, routine, repetitive narrative with no plot. Although for some "easy to pick up and put down". Perhaps an interesting observation of the human condition. |
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By: CHCH 155
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2021-08-27 11:50:37 |
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Enjoyed by all. A quirky view of Shaun's clients and staff. |
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By: WELL 022
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2021-08-23 12:57:14 |
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Interestingly, the general chat of people's opinions prior to looking at the questions, actually covered most of the question topics . Some members of the group really loved the book and thought it very funny. Others felt it was a good book to pick up at odd times, as there wasn't a story thread to lose. The group enjoyed the humour, and found the process of acquiring books fascinating - as we suspect the author does - and valued the insight into the effects of such mass marketing enterprises as Amazon. |
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By: PUKEKO 001
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2021-06-01 18:58:52 |
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Some of our group found this book difficult to read and less laugh out loud than expected. We did however develop fondness for some of the characters, especially Nicky. We enjoyed finding Nicky and Shaun and the book shop on You Tube. It was great doing a virtual tour of the shop. |
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By: AUCK 009
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2020-07-15 14:50:55 |
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Most of us thought it wasn't easy to get into, but as time went on we enjoyed it more and more. Beautifully written with a dry sense of humour, which got drier - poor Nicky! A member brought along her laptop and we had a wonderful time with You Tube footage of Shaun's unusual letter of recommendation and Nicky reading. Discussion centred on the need to preserve BOOKS - and damn Kindle. A few of us would like to shoot at a Kindle as well! |
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By: TIMAR 013
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2020-07-15 14:36:16 |
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Very popular with the group. A wonderful, funny insight into the world of book trading/selling. |
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By: GORE 006
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2020-07-15 14:35:11 |
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We all really enjoyed this book, an amusing read. |
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By: WHANG 015
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2020-07-15 14:34:26 |
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We all loved it. Very quirky and lots of 'laugh out loud' moments. |
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By: AUCK 055
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2020-07-15 14:32:46 |
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Several found the reading in diary form quite difficult but all finished it, enjoying the quirky characters that he met and/or worked with, and his blunt sometimes caustic remarks. Many felt the book was too long. I enjoyed his summing up in the epilogue. |
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By: CHCH 058
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2020-07-15 14:28:52 |
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The overall feedback was positive, enjoyable and interesting, with some reservations about the small print. The group liked the author's sense of humour and the new insights into the running of a bookshop. |
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By: FEILD 002
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2020-07-15 14:24:50 |
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Most found this a thoroughly enjoyable read. The minority found it became tedious. |
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By: WELL 041
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2020-07-13 15:02:55 |
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We all enjoyed this book immensely. Lived up to all the accolades - warm, funny, outspoken, biting humour. Shaun certainly writes with 'biting humour', and Nicky is quite one of a kind! We are looking forward to reading his next book, 'Confessions of a Bookseller'. |
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By: NGARB 001
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2020-03-16 14:08:04 |
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Half loved it, half found it rather tedious. Different story type. Good discussion. Small print put some people off. |
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By: AUCK 210
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2020-02-19 12:58:26 |
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Loved the author's sense of humour. Some members are now following "the bookshop' on Facebook. We have decided to purchase more books from secondhand stores to keep them going up against Amazon (for example). |
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By: ASHB 004
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2019-08-12 09:50:24 |
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A mixed reaction from our group. We were concerned about the effects of online sales on retail. We found some of the trivial detail about the shop a bit irritating, but got a very good picture of the shop and the town. |
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