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Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops | Jen Campbell
159 posts | 195 read | 307 to read
'Can books conduct electricity?' 'My children are just climbing your bookshelves: that's ok... isn't it?' A John Cleese Twitter question ['What is your pet peeve?'], first sparked the "Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops" blog, which grew over three years into one bookseller's collection of ridiculous conversations on the shop floor. From 'Did Beatrix Potter ever write a book about dinosaurs?' to the hunt for a paperback which could forecast the next year's weather; and from 'I've forgotten my glasses, please read me the first chapter' to 'Excuse me... is this book edible?' This full-length collection illustrated by the Brothers McLeod also includes top 'Weird Things' from bookshops around the world.
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LiteraryinPA
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It‘s getting realer every day! I‘ve moved to PA, my lease started on the storefront, and I‘m making decisions every day that are getting me closer to actually opening the bookstore. 😳😬😁 A few months ago I shared a different logo but this is the one I chose, designed by the lovely @BennettBookworm 💗. So around November, Bookish Notions will open in Media, PA and online! I‘ll post the link when it gets closer in case anyone wants to see!

Lesliereadsalot I love it! Really conveys the beauty and surprises of books. Well done! 2mo
Deblovestoread How exciting! 💜 2mo
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TheSpineView Lovely!💜💜💜 2mo
CoffeeK8 Very cool! Congrats! 2mo
BekaReid so exciting! Thanks for keeping us posted on the progress. I'll definitely find a time to mosey that way once you're open!! 2mo
BarbaraJean SO exciting!! This logo is lovely--and it's also my favorite color 💜 😊 2mo
Suet624 Wonderful!! 💕💕 2mo
Blerdgal_Fenix Congrats 🎊🎉 2mo
Librarybelle Yay! Congratulations! 2mo
BennettBookworm 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 2mo
mabell How pretty! Great job @BennettBookworm ! 2mo
BennettBookworm @mabell ❤️❤️ 2mo
MaureenMc 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
Meshell1313 Absolutely love it! Hope to take a road trip and visit it one day! 2mo
TieDyeDude Huzzah! 💪 2mo
TheLudicReader I am so excited for you! 2mo
candc320 That‘s amazing!!! 2mo
75 likes19 comments
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Cintia J
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Pickpick
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suvata
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Mehso-so

“What is your biggest pet peeve?' This simple Twitter question posed by John Cleese inspired bookseller Jen Campbell to start a blog collecting all the ridiculous conversations overheard in her bookstore. Everything from 'Did Beatrix Potter ever write a book about dinosaurs?' to 'Did Charles Dickens ever write anything fun?' Anyone who has ever worked in retail will nod knowingly at requests like those presented in this book. 3-Stars

LeeRHarry I love Jen Campbell‘s booktube channel 😊 1y
suvata @LeeRHarry I‘ll have to check that out. Thanks. (edited) 1y
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

OMG. Moments of hilarity, but also flashbacks to every aggravating customer service/retail interaction I ever had. Humanity can be charming and silly, but also incredibly tactless and entitled. The customer is NOT always right. 🤦🏼‍♂️

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Robotswithpersonality
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One stop shopping? 😳👀

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Robotswithpersonality
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Of all the scenarios! 😂

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LiseWorks
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Eggs Perfect 📚📚 2y
26 likes1 comment
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bio_chem06
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Another vacation, another random bookstore

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Pogue
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Nuff said

BookNAround Yup! My new title is now officially book liberator. (edited) 2y
AmyG Ha! 2y
29 likes4 comments
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CaramelLunacy
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Pickpick

Cute - a series of Not Always Right style conversations overheard/had in bookshops. I chuckled and shook my head at the nonsense that must be endured from clueless, entitled and/or bigoted customers the world over.

Most cringey: customer earnestly inquiring whether Anne Frank had written a sequel

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TheHeartlandBookFairy
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Pickpick

#14Books14Weeks2021 #6
Inspired by a simple Twitter question posed by John Cleese.. Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores by Jen Campbell is a fun collection of true comments & questions posed by bookstore customers. Some are almost unbelievable, many are laugh out loud funny, & a few are beyond puzzling 😅 This book was a recent donation to one of my LFLs & I knew I had to read it before lending. I loved this quick, fun read 👍👍📚❤😅

CoverToCoverGirl Ha! I was gifted this a few years ago, while working in a bookstore. I can attest to some interesting questions and reading quirks. 3y
36 likes2 comments
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everlocalwest
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Mehso-so

Some of these were funny but it was honestly more mean-spirited than I expected. I have the second book (More Weird Things...) on my nightstand but I'm not exactly looking forward to it.

DivineDiana That‘s too bad. 😕 3y
23 likes1 comment
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julesG
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Second hand #BookMail for the kids - will go on the "sometime in the not too distant future" shelf.

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Books88
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I ventured outside to go to a bookstore. I figured that people would actually wear a mask there and be socially distant and I was right! It was nice to shop for a book in person for a change.

Freespirit I love visiting bookshops! 4y
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limada
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This is adorable. People are weird.

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Chelseabillups30
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Covid has me missing this hardcore, but I remain hopeful we‘ll get it back someday.

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Patchshank
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/08/23/people-want-support...

The moral of the story is don't be a dick. The world doesn't revolve around you. Don't support small businesses just so you can pat yourself on the back. Support them because they need it. Especially right now.

Has anyone read the tagged book? I picked it at random, but it sounds funny.

Ruthiella “Don‘t be a dick” is a motto I try to live by. 4y
Scochrane26 I think many people are spoiled by amazon prime & think everything should be delivered in 2 days. 4y
Patchshank @Scochrane26 I'm a little guilty of that, but I also understand that Amazon can do that because they don't care about their workers or pay taxes. 4y
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Adventures_of_a_French_Reader
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Panpan

Quick read.

I wasn't seduced by this book. Only a very few made me smile, but nothing more...

Not my cup of tea...

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Leftcoastzen
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Shutdowns and quarantines make sense but this one is particularly poignant.☹️should add some are doing order online , curbside pickup. Website of course, open , ship to home.

Branwen 😭 5y
KristiAhlers This breaks my heart 5y
Hooked_on_books I really hope they are able to reopen most stores. 5y
45 likes4 comments
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Nevermore88
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Hi everyone! In a few months I will be traveling to Orlando Florida and I was wondering if anyone of my Litsy friends who knows or lives in Florida where can I shop for books. More like local book shops. I know there‘s Barnes and nobles and etc but I‘d like to check out more of the local bookshops route.

SW-T Try Writers Block. It‘s actually in Winter Park. I was there a few years ago and loved it. https://www.writersblockbookstore.com/ 5y
Nevermore88 Thank you! 5y
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LitDrivenGirl
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Juliwyant
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Such a cute book! I needed a good laugh and these customer quotes did the trick! Cute illustrations too. :)

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charl08
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Love this (from my local bookshop).

Butterfinger Oh my. 😃 5y
Bette 😆😂 5y
CarolynM 😂😂😂 5y
charl08 @Butterfinger @bette @CarolynM tempting me to pay a visit: the twitter is working! 5y
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booklover3258
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Pickpick

My book review is currently on my Youtube vlog at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3wuTspPiIs

Enjoy!

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BookishGirl06
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Pickpick

Well I finished that super quick lol. Went by very fast but I enjoyed it.

KathyWheeler There‘s supposed to be a second one but I haven‘t run across it yet. 5y
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BookishGirl06
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Currently reading

CoverToCoverGirl I have worked in an independent bookstore for 15 years.. I should have been keeping a journal all along.. readers are very interesting and inquisitive and everyone really does have a story. ❤️❤️ This book was gifted to me by one of my longtime readers and is nestled safely in my library. 5y
BookNAround This cover cracks me up. Back in 95, when I worked at an indie bookstore, I actually had someone ask me if Jane Austen had written anything new since they really liked the P&P adaptation. My manager and I looked at each other and had to look away fast. We did bust out laughing over it later at close though. 5y
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Patchshank
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Cailey_Mac This literally makes my heart so happy; a small town 15 minutes away from me is reopening their bookstore! 5y
Texreader Celebration!! 5y
Soubhiville great news! 5y
Freespirit I think the same is happening in Australia🤗 5y
55 likes4 comments
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Samplergal
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I‘m going with a Book about Books for this one. #nfNovember

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Samplergal
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Mehso-so

I was expecting a little more from this book. #nfNovember

Clwojick Awe shucks! It sounds like this one has so much potential to be hilarious too! 5y
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Samplergal
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A great plane book when you are sitting next to a chatty five year old who wants me to be his new best friend!

MicheleinPhilly I don‘t mind when it‘s kids; when it‘s adults, I want the closest emergency exit and a parachute. 5y
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Tove_Reads
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In three weeks I‘ll be at the biggest bookstore on the Southern Hemisphere; 8 stories high, more than 1 million books! OMG, take my money! Tomorrow I‘m heading to the big book fair in Helsinki. I ❤️ books!

MommyWantsToReadHerBook Where is the southern hemisphere one? Excuse my ignorance! 5y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook Which bookstore?? I'm in Pretoria and I've never heard of this 😱 5y
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MommyWantsToReadHerBook Plus, you're going to be in SA? That's so cool 5y
Tove_Reads Yeah, I‘ll come to Pretoria as well! What should I do there? It looks so pretty! I‘ll die in the heat though 😂 I think it‘s called Collectors Treasure or something @MommyWantsToReadHerBook (edited) 5y
Tove_Reads @MommyWantsToReadHerBook Hurry up going there! Due to their bday they give a 45% discount on all books in October. Just my luck... 🤷🏼‍♀️☹️ 5y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook @Tove_Reads would love to meet up! Uhm the typical spots like the Union Buildings, Voortrekker Monument and Church Square are well worth visiting, the Monument just very tiring. Yeah, it's hot now! Rietvlei Nature Reserve is beautiful and easily accessible if you want to go for a game drive or two. The Cultural Historical Museum (hmmm I'll check the English name) is awesome and would teach you a lot about South Africa. 5y
Tove_Reads @MommyWantsToReadHerBook Awesome, thanks! I should be there November 27 or 28. Coming from one of the coldest places on the planet it‘s for sure different! I‘m pretty much flying from the most Northern place to the most Southern place, yet I‘ll be in the same time zone, crazy! 5y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook How much time will you have here? That's so crazy! 5y
Tove_Reads @MommyWantsToReadHerBook I‘ll be in Jozi for one night November 15-16. Flying to Vic Falls 16th. Coming back down through Zimbabwe and Botswana. I‘ll be back in Jozi 25th. 5y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook Awesome. Do get in touch before you leave, let's try and get coffee or lunch or something! 5y
Tove_Reads @MommyWantsToReadHerBook My thing is wildlife, especially wildlife trade, so I‘ll be visiting rescue centers and going on safaris. I‘ll also visit microbreweries and naturally bookstores. Very interested in African history and politics. 5y
Tove_Reads @MommyWantsToReadHerBook I‘ll def get in touch! Let me know if you visit the bookstore before I get there! 5y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook @Tove_Reads sadly not likely, I'm so broke right now and it would be like a whole time-consuming outing and I have my kids with me as a rule. The area is super dodgy according to a friend... So better do the smart stuff like obviously no valuables, and like Uber there directly, don't walk around... It's sad, actually. 5y
Tove_Reads @MommyWantsToReadHerBook I‘m staying maybe 2 km away, and my hotel offers a free shuttle bus (within 5km), so I‘ll be using that one! Looked at the hotels there for a very long time! Also coming from the safest Western country it‘s so strange. Rietvlei is most def on my list. The public transport system seems to be quite bad, so trying to figure out how I can go places. 5y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook Yeah our public transport system sucks 😭 I called Rietvlei easily accessible but I guess to Uber would cost a small fortune. Where in Pretoria are you staying? Could you rent a car? I have a friend who does tours to the historic sites in Pretoria, and actually also Rietvlei, but I think that's normally when there is a whole group of foreign visitors that are traveling together... 5y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook Where are you from again, Norway? I forget! 5y
Tove_Reads @MommyWantsToReadHerBook Finland. I‘ve decided to stay in Jozi and move around. Easy to get to Pretoria for the day. I want to go to the cradle of humankind, but it‘s either a tour or drive. Insane! I don‘t want to drive in a strange big city. 5y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook @Tove_Reads ah I see. I wanted to suggest Cradle of Humankind too - the installation The Long March to Freedom is AMAZING. Yeah driving sounds stressful - especially on our roads 😜
5y
35 likes20 comments
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veritysalter
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Pickpick

I took a break last night from the spooky with a little humour. 😂

LeahBergen This one‘s a riot. 5y
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Ddzmini
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I completely agree Dee Mroz 📖😋🤣🤣🤣

Clwojick 😂😂😂😂 5y
Suet624 Perfect representation. 5y
Caroline2 😆 5y
Ddzmini @Clwojick @Suet624 and @Caroline feel like doing this all the time 🙌🏽😝📖😋 5y
74 likes4 comments
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Shadowfat
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Pickpick

This was a quick read but fun. It's pretty amazing what crazy things people will say. As someone who works in retail I could definitely relate to some of how people acted!

rather_be_reading stacked! 5y
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Mitch
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I‘ve been following the owners progress on this store on social media - so I had to visit today. She‘s only been open a few months. She moved from London to Margate to realise her dream of opening her own bookstore. She painted the shop herself and fitted all the shelves and has had a great opening few months. It has a lovely lovely vibe - it oozes booklove.

erzascarletbookgasm So lovely 💗 5y
alisiakae Very cool!
5y
Bookzombie Lovely! 5y
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Cathythoughts Lovely pics 5y
ValerieAndBooks I love the color of the shop exterior! 5y
AmyG Looks like a wonderful little bookstore. 5y
Ruthiella Looks very inviting! I hope she gets lots of business. 5y
Leftcoastzen Looks beautiful, I hope she thrives. 5y
scripturient Looks absolutely beautiful!! So book shopping in Edinburgh next weekend? 🤪 5y
catebutler Oh! This is lovely. I‘m always so happy to see more indie bookshops popping up. 📚 5y
SW-T Hope she and her shop thrive 😊 5y
104 likes11 comments
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Kayla.Adriena
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SOLD to the same company that owns Waterstones! Let's hope for positive change! May I suggest starting with removal of the toy section and the freaken rows of DVDs?!

KatieDid927 I agree about the DVDs, less so about the toys. I like them and they do help them boost sales. 5y
Birdsong28 Waterstones is a really good company, I like their stores and online presence. Customer service is wonderful. And they don't sell dvds!!! Lol📚📖 5y
Kayla.Adriena @KatieDid927 I like the puzzles and the funko pops lol 5y
Kayla.Adriena @Birdsong28 I'm hopeful they will turn it around! 5y
51 likes4 comments
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Mitch
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Thanks for the tag @wanderinglynn and @jenniferw88

Never have I ever...
.......written in a book or turned down the corners!
.......walked past a bookstore without going in!
.......read a horror or romance novel!
.......claimed I‘ll ever read all the books on my TBR!

Happy #humpdaypost

DebbieGrillo 🍷🍷🍷Thanks for playing! 5y
jenniferw88 🥛🥛🥛🥛 5y
Exbrarian 🥃🥃🥃🥃 5y
See All 15 Comments
eraderneely 🍷🍷🍷 5y
IndoorDame 🍷🍷 5y
shadowspeak17 🍷🍷🍷 5y
hes7 🍷🍷🍷 5y
wanderinglynn I need 1/2 🥃 for your first one because I have written in a book before. 5y
gibblr 🍷🍷🍷 I‘d never claim to read all the books on my neverending TBR lol 5y
ChasingOm 🍷🍷🍷 5y
LauraJ 🥃 🥃🥃 5y
JaclynW 🍷🍷 5y
sudi 🍸🍸 5y
gradcat 🍷🍷🍷 5y
JessClark78 🍷🍷 5y
55 likes15 comments
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Mitch
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Very cute little store in Edinburgh.... wins my vote for best shop front with potential for great displays ! 🏆

tpixie Awesomeness!! Great find!! 5y
tpixie Check out #StarfieldLibrary on Instagram it‘s an AMAZING library! 5y
Mitch @tpixie it looks amazing. I love whole walls of books as far as the eye can see. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 5y
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Sarah83 @scripturient do you know this one? 5y
charl08 Love Edinburgh for second hand bookshops. I always come away with a much heavier bag! 5y
wanderinglynn Lovely! 😍 5y
scripturient @Sarah83 Not yet. It‘s relatively new. But it‘s on my list for August. :) 5y
Sarah83 @scripturient 🤩😍🤩😍 Hope you will like it 😍 5y
teainthelibrary Edinburgh has some great bookstores - enjoy!! 5y
Leftcoastzen So cool!😎 5y
97 likes10 comments
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That-Bookish-Hiker
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Was so excited when I saw that there was a Half Prices bookstore here, we don‘t have them in Oregon. Got me a new book and some comics.

#exploringKansasCityMo

LoverofLit Hey this is my city! And that's my favorite HFB! 😍😍 5y
sammisho That's my favorite HFB!!! Me and @loveroflit have book n brunch dates there! Hope you are enjoying our city! 5y
54 likes2 comments
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Sarah83
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I am still feeling a bit ill and I wanted to treat myself with a book. Instead of buying a book I bought these two beauties. On the left is 'reading rat' called Liesel (it's from Steiff for the 100th birthday of a German bookshop company) and on the right is a bookish mug. The 'designer' is a famous German cartoonist and comedian called Loriot and the printing says 'You should read more' .... Mhmm... Maybe I should use this mug daily now??? 😂😂😂

rubyslippersreads I recognized Steiff by the button in the ear. 😊 6y
Sarah83 @rubyslippersreads I really love them😍 6y
65 likes3 comments
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wanderinglynn
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For Bloggess fans: Jenny Lawson will be opening a bookstore in/near San Antonio. Today she announced the name: Nowhere Bookstore, & has a poll to vote on the logo.

https://thebloggess.com/2019/04/24/going-nowhere-but-in-a-good-way-for-once/

#supportindiebookstores

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wanderinglynn
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Just visited my first independent bookstore in my new area—Liberty Bay Books In Poulsbo, WA. I just might have bought a couple things for the #mythsandlegendsswap 😉

LauraJ It‘s the best way to make a new city feel like home 🏡 6y
Reagan Beautiful store! 6y
diananissan3 I love it. What did you buy? 6y
127 likes3 comments
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Liatrek
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Pickpick

🤣🤣🤣 This book was hilarious!

Caroline2 😆 that‘s brilliant!!! 6y
Soozee 😆😆 6y
KimM This is great! Eventually that (probably young) reader will find that the brooding, flawed male is a requirement of most romance novels, vampire or not. (edited) 6y
93 likes6 stack adds3 comments
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Liatrek
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Providing a much needed good laugh at the end of a long week🤣 Happy Friday Littens 🎉

bookseller_cate Love that book. 6y
SW-T Loved it! 6y
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teebe
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Pickpick

Both of these are funny, delightful and alarming (the horrors of retail!). They‘re great for a quick and entertaining read.

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teebe
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Avoiding the snowstorm that isn‘t a storm by reading with this guy 📖

#Gambit #petsoflitsy #dogsoflitsy #bookdog

JoScho He is a cutie! 6y
IamIamIam Lol, I'm loving the fact that we got rain last night!!! Happy (non) storm reading, Toni! 💚 6y
tournevis He's adorable and the storm was lame. 6y
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teebe
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Some more of the books I ordered with the money from Christmas #bookhaul

44 likes1 stack add