This Sunday Times Bestseller is a miscellany of hilarious and peculiar bookshop moments:
'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.






The only problem I had with this book is that it's not long enough. I've had this Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops on my TBR for ages now, and I decided to finally buy it. 

I'm so glad I did.

This book is hilarious!

I've always wanted to work in a bookshop, and this definitely makes me want to work in one even more. We're told that 'there's no such thing as a stupid question' but.....really? Some of these things said in a bookshop are just plain ridiculous, and it's absolutely brilliant. Some are even wondering what a bookshop is, and you can't help but sigh.

A few people don't even know much about books, authors or....well, anything. One person in this book thought Hitler was an american jew. I mean, really.

I laughed from cover to cover, and although it's a very short book, it cheered me right up. It's one I can pick up over and over again when I'm feeling down, and I'm definitely lending this to my friends who read as much as I do.

Here are some of my favourites:

'Do you have any books by Jane Eyre?' 

'Do you have this childrens book I've heard about? Its supposed to be very good. It's called "Lionel Ritchie and the Wardrobe"' 

'(holds up a book about knitting) do you think I  could knit my own hair?' 

 'CUSTOMER: Hi, I just wanted to ask: did Anne Frank ever write a sequel?BOOKSELLER: ........
CUSTOMER: I really enjoyed her first book.BOOKSELLER: Her diary?CUSTOMER: Yes, the diary.BOOKSELLER: Her diary wasn’t fictional.CUSTOMER: Really?BOOKSELLER: Yes... She really dies at the end – that’s why the diary finishes. She was taken to a concentration camp.CUSTOMER: Oh... that’s terrible.BOOKSELLER: Yes, it was awful -CUSTOMER: I mean, it’s such a shame, you know? She was such a good writer.' 

'CUSTOMER: I read a book in the sixties. I don’t remember the author, or the title. But it was green, and it made me laugh. Do you know which one I mean?'

You can't make this stuff up. I think anyone who loves bookshops and reading should read this. Even non-book readers will find this absolute comedy gold. Also, included in this book, are some wonderful and really cute illustrations which relate to the silliness of the customer queries, including a crucified rabbit. 
A definite 5 stars. I'm going to get book two and laugh some more. It does makes me wonder if I've ever asked anything stupid at the bookshop.....I hope not! 





Thoughts? Let us know if you've ever said anything embarrassing, heard another customer ask a silly question, or what you think of any of these. I'm still laughing at some of them. Brilliant.
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