What’s the best you can do? Review

PUB DATE: March 2009
This is an autobiographical collection of anecdotes that Derek Rowlinson has experienced as a second hand bookseller in his store.
This was a funny and quick read. I had a hard time putting this book down once I started to read it.
Some of the stories were really funny and I found myself laughing out loud and being able to relate to them. One of the sections was “Ask a Silly Question” and Derek gets asked “Have you read all these?” I use to get asked that all the time and heaven forbid should you say no. You would then get asked why not, you work here don’t you. He also mentioned the shop lifter and that was another one I could relate to as there was this older man who would come in with an open back pack and leave with a heavier closed one. Yes he did steal and it was science fiction books he would steal. We were never able to catch him in the act but Derek the author did in his store.

I have worked in a bookstore (Coles) and I had quite a few characters that I had to deal with on a daily bases. There was one customer who would call every Tuesday to see what new releases there was this week. You had to tell him every single new book that came in that week and heaven forbid should it be a title that interest him and if it was you had to read the back of the book to him. I never got to meet this customer but he did come into the store on a monthly bases.

Another customer would insist that the bargain books we had on display were previously read books that customers returned. We would also say no they are not but they would argue each and every time. Just before I had left my job I told that customer for the last time that it was impossible because there was stacks of 5-10 books in the pile of the same title.
After reading this book I have a whole new appreciation for booksellers in second hand bookstores and in retail stores. Think twice before asking that question you might have to ask. Also please remember your manners and you don’t have to be rude and annoying to booksellers.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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