2 Apr 2012

B is for...



Why a bookseller?



I love the smell of books, be they old dusty musty ones or new shiny crisp ones. The sad thing is that with most things being sold online and book shops closing every day, I think this will only become a reality from the comfort of my own home.



Why I would be good at this job.

I used to spend a lot of time in bookshops; there was one on the way home from school that I often used to browse in to see what was new. I would even be so cheeky as to read a book in the shop. I have always been quite a quick reader and so I could be in there for an hour and read a fair few chapters, I would then go back the next day and so on, I even had the nerve to park myself down on one of the foot stalls they have there. 



They must have looked upon me with pity as they never asked me if I was buying anything or to leave. On many occasions my mother would come and find in me in that bookshop when it started to get too late and I wasn’t home.

It will come as no surprise to you to know that that bookshop closed down, but not in anyway related to my non-purchases. Honest!

So basically, I love books, I love reading and would happily alphabetise to my hearts content.


Why I wouldn’t be good at this job.

There is NO reason why? Seriously, I could do this. After critically examining myself and what may or may not happen if I worked in this position – there is a high likelihood that I would be so engrossed in a book that the customer wouldn’t get served.


Have you ever worked in a bookshop? What was the best bit? What was the worst?

23 comments:

  1. I would love to work at a bookstore, but I think I would spend too much time reading and not enough time selling.

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  2. Wonderful B word. I always wanted when younger wanted to work in a record shop, got my wish then after a year or so it closed.

    Look forward to your next post.
    Yvonne.

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  3. I'd love to be a bookseller, just because there would be so much choice of books to read! I'd always know the new ones coming out too...

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  4. I think I'd get so engrossed in the books that I'd forget the customers . . .

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  5. Would be amazing!
    I'm going to work as a part-time librarian for my university soon and I'm super excited..

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  6. Yes you should definitely be a bookseller! I would love to own a litle book store but would probably have to shut it constantly because I'd be reading all of the books!

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  7. I, in particular, love USED book stores--old books with histories of their own. But I would be lousy at selling them. I would get so sucked into reading that I would be an inattentive seller.

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  8. I've never worked in a book shop, but like you, I love used book stores. I just bought a book at one last Friday.

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  9. Great Post, Kate!
    Oh I would LOVE to work in a booksore. But then I'd end up being dismissed 'cause I have a feeling I'll huddle in a corner and read.

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  10. I would love to own a bookstore!

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  11. No, I never worked in a bookstore and I do not think I would like to work there... I love reading way to much!

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  12. Hi All,

    It seems I am not alone in my desire to surround myself with books and pretend that I am working by calling it a bookstore!

    Bookstore flash mob anyone? lol

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  13. Where I used to live, on the Isle of Wight (UK), there was a secondhand bookshop over four floors, connected with rickety stairs. There were wonderful musty corners, where you could fight with the silverfish for some old book, then when you went to pay for it, the owner would try to stop you buying it. He'd suggest it was out in paperback, he had a better copy somewhere, or couldn't find the price.

    That would be me. I would suck as a bookseller.

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  14. I always wanted to work in a bookstore or be a librarian. Both seem to be going the way of the dodo, but hopefully not anytime soon. On a positive note, we've just had a new used bookstore open in our town. We local writers try to support the used bookstores as much as we can, and in turn, they support us when we have a book coming out, and by carrying books from local authors. Very cool!

    Aside from that, I'm your co-host for the A-to-Z! If you didn't get an email from me the other day, it may have gone in your spam box. Please feel free to contact me via my profile or reply to that email if you need anything or have any questions.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z

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  15. the thought of endless books to read makes me go "yes!! Great job!" Previous customer service experience makes me go "Oh, god no!" Great theme, I will be back to see what other careers you contemplate!

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  16. I love books as well and spend way too much time browsing book stores. Great A-Z Challenge subject!!



    Patricia, Sugar & Spice & All Things ? Nice

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  17. New follower *waves*. My dream is to someday own a indie bookstore/cafe that will be a hangout for book lovers.

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  18. Hi

    Reb: Wow - four floors of books! Sounds dreamy.

    Shannon: Thats good to hear! and thanks for co-hosting such a great challenge.

    thepinkrachel: hmmm..customer service..*shivers*..

    Patricia: Hi and glad to hear it, I think its one of the few shops you can browse in without being asked if they can help you, which is odd because you might listen to someones opinion about books as opposed to clothing, shoes etc.

    Leslie Rose: Hi! *waves back* When your indie bookstore/cafe opens dont forget to let us know where it is :)

    Thank you all for your comments.

    Kate

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  19. I love going to a bookstore. I love the fact you can touch and looks and see and feel them before you buy!

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  20. I worked briefly at a bookstore and it was a strange experience; people would ask the name of a book (or recording artist as this store also sold music) with the most vague descriptions, then would just stare at you until you figured it out. "The song says something about God is love and was recorded in the 70s." Wow, yeah let me pull up google and search that for you!

    I like the IDEA of working in a bookstore, but retail is very unrewarding work and I'd be hard pressed to return to it. But I love books.

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  21. Totally hitting nerves with these! How cool would it be to be surrounded by books all day! Save me a FORTUNE in buying them!!

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  22. Other than being paid to read, I think working in a bookstore would be my dream job. I enjoy talking about and recommending books almost as much as I love reading them. :)

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  23. Ok, so I was a fool and it took me till the letter E to realise, but thanks to Ach lieber Jayne i now know this condition is to be an edutard!

    So a quick recap and...

    Dina: Me too! The smells get me everytime though.

    Stephsco: I think I am in love with the IDEA too as opposed to the reality.

    Keebles: It would, it would.

    iliadfan: Ooh! thats a good idea, being paid to read, I could handle that.

    Thanks everyone for commenting!

    Kate

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