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Once Upon a Tome, by Oliver Darkshire (2022)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Premise: A memoir about a young man‘s apprenticeship at an esteemed London antiquarian book dealer.

Review: I discovered the author through his recent novel and was intrigued to learn that he first became known for his unique and humorous takes on a notoriously staid trade. ⬇️

I must confess, I borrowed this from Libby under the impression that it was going to be a cozy fantasy novel (I was looking for Isabelle Nagg and the pot of basil) BUT in some respects this worked out very well because this was completely delightful and I probably would have passed it by if I‘d stopped to read the blurb.

This is a collection of anecdotes from Oliver‘s time working as a antiquarian bookseller in London.

This one was also hard to choose. I liked multiple nonfiction books this month.
#ReadingBracket #ReadingBracket2025
#BookBracket2025 #Nonfiction #OliverDarkshire #OnceUponATome

This is a love letter to rare books and the people who sell them. This is a wonderful collection of tales from the author‘s time working at a rare bookshop. The book is quite humorous and wonderful to read. It‘s a quick read. I was actually a bit sad when it ended. I‘m sure there are plenty of takes he still has to tell, and I would love to hear them.
#OliverDarkshire #OnceUponATome #audiobook #readbytheauthor #books #rarebooks #bookseller

I love the discussion of sensitive books only going to buyers or institutions that are going to keep the necessary context, that racists, nazis, homophobes, etc are going to find a book store that can‘t seem to find the book they‘re looking for, or they don‘t have any books on a topic a bookshelf they‘re keeping you far away from is dedicated to. 🤣😂🤣
#OliverDarkshire #OnceUponATome #audiobook #books #rarebooks #bookseller

Everyone needs a Richard in their lives.
#OliverDarkshire #OnceUponATome #audiobook #books #rarebooks #bookseller

This sounds like academia! 🤣😂🤣
#OliverDarkshire #OnceUponATome #audiobook #books #rarebooks #bookseller

I have got to get out of this strange run of romance novels and smut… so here we go.
#OliverDarkshire #OnceUponATome #audiobook #ReadByTheAuthor #nonfiction #HereWeGo

A humorous look at the world of an antiquarian book shop and the people who work there. This one is a quick read, broken into anecdotes from the author's time at the shop. I bought it mostly for the beautiful cover a few years ago and finally got it read for my December #Doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

A marvelous experience. If reading 84, Charing Cross Road left you fiending for more charming non-fiction about bookstore people, this is the book for you. I'm very glad the audiobook was read by the author because I think his dry, almost desultory humour shines through best in his own voice. That being said, there are some lovely quotes that I wish I'd had a physical copy handy to capture. 1/?

The cover of this book lured me in and I enjoyed this easy little memoir. Full of tales about strange people, humorous antics, quirky coworkers, and funny anecdotes about how he became a fixture in the rare books bookshop. Book #62 in 2024

❄️ The tagged book. Adorable, witty and one every bookworm should read.
❄️ ❄️ Crescent City 3. It just arrived today!!🤩
#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView
@Kaylaapps play and share 😊

Fellow bibliophiles! This is a book everyone needs to at least read, if not own! I'm only halfway through, but the wit and wordplay of this author have me cackling or smiling at nearly every page. A Titanic mention, a LOTR quote (from Bilbo, if you're curious), and a subtle Beauty & the Beast reference, have sprung out of the pages like old friends. It's a fantastic read about Sotheran's, on Sackville Street, the 'Oldest Bookshop in the World'.

My cozy view while at lunch today. 🌧 📖

A conversational style of humorous tales regarding narcolepsy, strange folks, and a rare book store. Come for the books, stay for the fun.

“I didn‘t grow up around a great deal money, and spending all day being responsible for a host of books collectively worth more then I would make in my entire career was initially nerve wracking…the notion that I might accidentally slip and move the decimal point one way or the other still causes me to wake up in the dead of night and reach for my emotional support folio.”

So true, so unfortunate, so completely funny. I've been very excited to start this, and even the dedication doesn't disappoint. #CurrentlyReading

Amusing look at the life of a rare bookseller. I laughed out loud reading about some of his antics. Darkshire wrote a memoir on his time working at Sotheran's. I think all book lovers should read this for no other reason than the love of books.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Ugh! My husband asked me to come help him load hay. I didn't bring my Kindle bc I didn't think I would just be setting. My father-in-law came where we could go to another field, so now I am sitting in Air conditioned truck, waiting on them to load other truck. I just drive the truck in the field. Luckily, I have the Kindle app on my phone.😊

6-16-23: My 67th finished book of 2023! A short tale about becoming the apprentice at an antiquarian bookshop. Funny and insightful, Oliver tells stories about how he became an apprentice at Sotheran‘s in London, his quirky coworkers, his very strange clientele, and the ins and outs of working in the beautiful world of rare books. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣6️⃣7️⃣

This was a nice, light read. The author tells amusing anecdotes about his career as a rare/antiquarian book seller.

Summer reading (in print anyway) set with #14books14weeks. Looking forward to this boost in my #serieslove as well. I decided to primarily finish the titles I own for Copenhagen and Frensh countryside with a little Cornwall& California thrown in for variety and mood. Also some London and NYRB recently recommended by Amor Towles twitter. #14books14weeks2023

I had to do some major thinking on this month‘s pick, it was a tough one! AND THEN I had to pick even more 😫 So much hemming and hawing, but I did it! I love this #2023ReadingBracket challenge

“Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller” by Oliver Darkshire is a delight!! A perfect palate cleanser that had me laughing out loud. Fans of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams will appreciate the perfect mixture of humor and heart ♥️

My last book finished this month. 5/5 stars. This will be a re-read for me:)

I think this is one of the best books I‘ve ever read.
It‘s a memoir about the author‘s time working in a rare bookstore in London and it is both hilarious and touching and the most beautiful love letter to antique books and those who love them.
#strangelingsbookclub

This book has me shipping Milton and Shakespeare, and no, I won‘t be explaining myself.
#stranglingsbookclub

Not sure if Oliver knew what he was getting into when he applied to an apprenticeship in the Antiquarian book trade,but his keen eye for the characters & intricacies of the people & the job are delightful! I‘m a bit under the weather, it gave me some downtime to savor this book. I love the scent of an antiquarian bookstore more than just about anything. I am by no means a high level collector, but mostly find dealers generous with their knowledge.

“It is my belief that anyone worth knowing enjoys spending time in a bookshop.”

Book mail!

I‘ve been looking forward to the release of this memoir for ages. Oliver Darkshire applied for what he thought would be a year-long apprenticeship in rare bookselling at Sotheran‘s (one of the oldest bookshops in the world) but he somehow never left.

I follow him on Twitter and he‘s quirky and hilarious.

I can‘t get over how beautiful this book is! Or how much it sounds like dark academia/fantasy and not the memoir it is. Cannot wait to start!
#strangelingsbookclub

Just delivered……book cover love can‘t wait to open it!!

This came in the mail today and oh do I need it tonight! Have spent the last 3 days in hospital with brother who has had 2 strokes since Saturday. Need to lose myself in a good book….

This was a delightful book. Who wouldn't enjoy a book about booksellers, particularly antiquarian booksellers? This memoir describes how the author became an apprentice bookseller at an old bookshop in London. It was a clever and interesting look into the antiquarian book trade. Well written and packed with intriguing book-related information.

This was so much fun. I'm always intrigued by what it's like to work with books from perspectives other than mine (as a public librarian), and this was so flippin' charming. I'm not being condescending, it was simply lovely. Highly recommend.

Thanks to #wwnorton for the #arc.

From one fairytale inspired title to another - I came home to book mail!