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Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller
Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller | Oliver Darkshire
One morning, Oliver Darkshire stepped into the hushed interior of Henry Sotheran Ltd. in London to interview for what he thought would be a year-long bookselling apprenticeship. Captivated by the smell of old books and the temptation of a management-approved afternoon nap, Darkshire was soon unteetering stacks of first editions and fending off overeager collectors while placating the store's resident ghost (the late Mr. Sotheran, hit by a tram). By turns unhinged and earnest, Once Upon a Tome is a hilarious coming-of-age story that brings us into a strange and fascinating profession.Darkshire describes Sotheran's customs and customers and shares delicious trivia about ancient editions and the dark art of selling old things to the curious characters that covet them. A love letter to the benign, unruly world of antiquarian bookselling, Once Upon a Tome is the colorful story of working at a hallowed bookshop, where to be uncommon or strange is the best possible compliment.
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

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/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/3 I think the key to the book's success is that as posh as the narrating voice appears, at least to North American ears, the journey related is a humble, occasionally self-deprecatory one. While ridiculous and unreasonable customers are rightfully described as such, Oliver is quick to point his own fumblings as he learned the trade. Which does not prevent him from being warm and sentimental and appreciative when the moment calls for it. 3mo
Robotswithpersonality 3/3 Truly, a lovely time. 3mo
6 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Allthebookclubs
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Pickpick

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

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

Kaylaapps 😬😬😬 10mo
TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 9mo
13 likes2 comments
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Born.A.Reader
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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'.

23 likes2 stack adds
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Born.A.Reader
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My cozy view while at lunch today. 🌧 📖

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 10mo
13 likes1 comment
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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

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

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NotCool
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“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.”

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Andrea313
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So true, so unfortunate, so completely funny. I've been very excited to start this, and even the dedication doesn't disappoint. #CurrentlyReading

26 likes3 stack adds
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MonicaLoves2Read
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Pickpick

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

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y
16 likes1 comment
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MonicaLoves2Read
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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.😊

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GidgetsTreasures75
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Pickpick

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

22 likes1 stack add
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Amie
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Pickpick

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

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Sapphire
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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

TheHeartlandBookFairy Nice stack, thanks for joining us!Happy summer, happy reading 📚😎👍 2y
jlhammar I‘m really looking forward to reading Birnam Wood next month. Hopefully I‘ll be able to get to Once Upon a Tome soon! 2y
Andrew65 Best of luck 😁 2y
33 likes3 comments
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Aims42
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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

peanutnine Each month just keeps getting harder to choose!! 2y
Aims42 @peanutnine Seriously!! 😳🫣 2y
monalyisha Oooo. Looks tricky! 1y
33 likes3 comments
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Aims42
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Pickpick

“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 ♥️

BethM This sounds amazing! 2y
Aims42 @BethM It really was, it was amazing and charming 😊 2y
mabell Your description sold me! 2y
See All 7 Comments
Aims42 @mabell I hope I didn‘t oversell it, but it was honestly such a great read 😅😍 2y
JoyBlue How did this escape my radar? It sounds delightful! Now it's on my TBR. Thanks! 2y
Aims42 @JoyBlue LOL, you are welcome!! 😁 2y
50 likes4 stack adds7 comments
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Bookishlie
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Pickpick

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

CollapsingLibrary What a gorgeous book! 2y
30 likes1 comment
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K.Wielechowski
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Pickpick

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

15 likes1 stack add
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K.Wielechowski
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This book has me shipping Milton and Shakespeare, and no, I won‘t be explaining myself.
#stranglingsbookclub

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Leftcoastzen
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Pickpick

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.

RowReads1 🤤it‘s a beautiful book 2y
Leftcoastzen @RowReads1 I thought so too! Definitely a vintage look! 2y
Aims42 I‘m over here (im)patiently waiting for my hold at the library for this delightful sounding book 🫠🫠🫠 2y
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LeahBergen I‘m still saving this one for the right moment. 😆 2y
CarolynM That cover is so much nicer than the one I got☹️ 2y
Leftcoastzen @CarolynM I think it‘s one of the few times U.S. cover is the better one. 2y
59 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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K.Wielechowski
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“It is my belief that anyone worth knowing enjoys spending time in a bookshop.”

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LeahBergen
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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.

Leftcoastzen I just saw this on B&N site ! I want to take a peek at that! 2y
ShelleyBooksie Stacked! This sounds so good and the cover is beautiful. 2y
rubyslippersreads I think I need this. #blameitonleahbergen 😄 2y
See All 23 Comments
LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen It might be your cup of tea! 2y
LeahBergen @ShelleyBooksie This is one of the rare occasions where the North American cover is better than the UK. 2y
gossamerchild This was so fun and quirky. I got the finished copy, too, and it's so beautiful! I loved it. 2y
jlhammar That is one gorgeous book! Can‘t wait to get myself a copy. 2y
squirrelbrain So pretty! ❤️ 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 🤍💚 2y
Leftcoastzen @LeahBergen I love coffee, I love tea, I love the Java jive & it loves me!🎵🎶 2y
Aimeesue Oh, that‘s lovely. 2y
CarolynM I ordered a copy of this last week. It‘s a present for my husband‘s birthday but I think I‘ll be reading it too😆 2y
Ruthiella I just heard about this book from a Canadian Booktuber today. I recognize that beautiful cover immediately! 😍 2y
LeahBergen @gossamerchild Oh, good to hear! 👏 2y
LeahBergen @jlhammar @squirrelbrain @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Aimeesue Definitely inspired book design for this edition. 👍 2y
LeahBergen @CarolynM How convenient. 😉😆😆 2y
LeahBergen @Ruthiella It‘s such a striking cover! 2y
batsy Gorgeous book. Yes, the twitter account is perfection isn't it 😁 2y
LeahBergen @batsy It‘s quite weird and hilarious. 😆 2y
Jess_Read_This Well, I‘ve stacked this lovely sounding book from your post.. hopped over to a book selling site and it‘s the first book “recommended for you” . A sign or an incredibly swift algorithm update? Either way, 💸😆 2y
LeahBergen @Jess_Read_This 😆😆 It was meant to be. 2y
77 likes6 stack adds23 comments
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K.Wielechowski
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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

Chelsea.Poole Agreed! That‘s so pretty! 2y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Bookishlie
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Just delivered……book cover love can‘t wait to open it!!

jlhammar So pretty! 2y
27 likes1 comment
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PatriciaU
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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….

Aims42 Nice 🙌 I‘m number 20 on my library‘s waitlist, this sounds delightful 😁 2y
TheBookgeekFrau 🙏🏼for you and your brother 2y
Lindy Best wishes to you and your brother 🌻 2y
See All 9 Comments
Librarybelle I keep eyeing this book. Thinking of you and your brother. 2y
DivineDiana Sending healing wishes to your brother and you. ❤️ 2y
Fortifiedbybooks I just ordered it because that is one beautiful book! 2y
PatriciaU Thanks for the good wishes. No change today. @Fortifiedbybooks this book is so light in weight! 2y
Fortifiedbybooks @PatriciaU It really is! I've got paperbacks heavier than this book 😆 I got it in the mail today, and it's just as beautiful as in your picture, so I'm thrilled 😁 2y
Leftcoastzen Just saw your post , hope your brother improves. 2y
36 likes1 stack add9 comments
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Mybookcafelife
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Pickpick

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.

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gossamerchild
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Pickpick

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.

24 likes1 stack add
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Leniverse
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From one fairytale inspired title to another - I came home to book mail!

squirrelbrain Ooh, this sounds good! 2y
Leniverse @squirrelbrain He runs Sotheran's Twitter account too, and it's amazing. Worth being on Twitter just for that. 2y
LeahBergen I have this one on my “to buy” list. 👍 2y
36 likes2 stack adds3 comments