Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell - Revoew

Book details

Paperback: 208 pages

Publisher: The Overlook Press; 1 edition (July 26, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1468308939

ISBN-13: 978-1468308938

Book description

This irresistible collection is proof positive that booksellers everywhere are heroes

A simple Twitter question posed by John Cleese―“What is your biggest pet peeve?”―inspired Jen Campbell to start a blog collecting all the ridiculous conversations overheard in her bookstore.

“Did Beatrix Potter ever write a book about dinosaurs?”

“Did Charles Dickens ever write anything fun?”

“I’ve forgotten my glasses, can you read me the first chapter?”

“Excuse me . . . is this book edible?”

Filled with fun and quirky illustrations by the award-winning Brothers McLeod and featuring contributions from booksellers across the United States and Canada, as well as the author’s native UK, Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores is a celebration of bookstores, large and small, and of the brilliant booksellers who toil in those literary fields, as well as the myriad of colorful characters that walk through the doors everyday.

60 b&w illustrations

Meet the author - Jen Campbell

Jen Campbell is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling 'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops' series, the first of which was published in 2012. Its sequel, 'More Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops', was released in 2013. 'Weird Things...' is available in ten languages, and was a finalist in the Goodreads Choice Awards

Her new non-fiction book 'The Bookshop Book' is the official book of the Books Are My Bag campaign.

Jen is also an award-winning poet and short story writer. Her poetry pamphlet 'The Hungry Ghost Festival' is published by The Rialto, and she is currently writing a short story collection.

Jen grew up in a small village by the sea in the north-east of England. After studying English Literature at Edinburgh University, she moved to north London to sell books and write stories. She works part-time at an antiquarian bookshop and runs a Booktube channel at www.youtube.com/jenvcampbell.

She is represented by Charlie Campbell at Kingsford Campbell.

My thoughts

This was a funny book that made me laugh out loud, which by the way I do not normally do. I was able to read this book in one day it was so good and easy to read. I just can't imagine all the dumb things or weird things that people say to booksellers - oh but wait yes I can. Some of my favorites were I loved the "Diary of Anne Frank" did she write a sequel? Where is your true fiction section? This "Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter" book is the more historically accurate fiction book I have read. There were many more like Are ebooks paperback or hardback? Are books edible? This book was well worth the time I took to read and made my day. 

Spending the Holidays with People I want to Punch in the Throat by Jen Mann - Review

Published: October 13, 2015

Number of pages: 224

Genre: Humor

Synopsis:

For fans of Laurie Notaro and Jenny Lawson comes an uproarious and oddly endearing essay collection for anyone trying to survive the holidays in one piece.

When it comes to time-honored holiday traditions, Jen Mann pulls no punches

In this hilariously irreverent collection of essays, Jen Mann, nationally bestselling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat, turns her mordant wit on the holidays. On Mann’s naughty list: mothers who go way overboard with their Elf on the Shelf, overzealous carolers who can’t take a hint, and people who write their Christmas cards in the third person (“Joyce is enjoying Bunko. Yeah, Joyce, we know you wrote this letter.”). And on her nice list . . . well, she’s working on that one. Here, no celebration is off-limits. The essays include:

• You Can Keep Your Cookies, I’m Just Here for the Booze
• Nice Halloween Costume. Was Skank Sold Out?
• Why You Won’t Be Invited to Our Chinese New Year Party

From hosting an ill-fated Chinese New Year party, to receiving horrible gifts from her husband on Mother’s Day, to reluctantly telling her son the truth about the Easter Bunny, Mann knows the challenge of navigating the holidays while keeping her sanity intact. And even if she can’t get out of attending another Christmas cookie exchange, at least she can try again next year.

What did I think of this book:

This book was everybit as good as the original People I Want to Punch in the Throat book. It is very fitting to be reading it at this time of the year. We all  have people we know are over acheivers that we want to just punch and Jen just says what we all wish we had the guts to say. Just like the last book I read parts of this out load to my husband as he laughs and says I like this lady. There are still a couple of her books I have not read yet but trust me I will be reading them as well. Her feelings on things are exactly as I feel i.e. the cookie Christmas exchange. Who likes doing those and why do they try to say it is so easy. NOT. You have to make a million cookies and then you end up getting back not very many that anyone in your family will even eat. I look forward to seeing what else Jen has in store for us. 

About the author:

Jen Mann is the nationally bestselling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat, based on her popular blog of the same name. She has also written for The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, NickMom, Babble, Circle of Moms, and CNN Headline News. Her blog received a 2014 Bloggie Award for Best Parenting Weblog. She lives in Overland Park, Kansas, and is married to “the Hubs” and is the mother of two children whom she calls Gomer and Adolpha on her blog. She swears their real names are actually worse.

People I Want to Punch in the Throat by Jen Mann

Published: September 9, 2014

Number of pages: 224

Gnere: Humor

Synopsis:

A debut collection of witty, biting essays laced with a surprising warmth, from Jen Mann, the writer behind the popular blog People I Want to Punch in the Throat

People I want to punch in the throat:
• anyone who feels the need to bling her washer and dryer
• humblebraggers
• people who treat their pets like children

Jen Mann doesn’t have a filter, which sometimes gets her in trouble with her neighbors, her fellow PTA moms, and that one woman who tried to sell her sex toys at a home shopping party. Known for her hilariously acerbic observations on her blog, People I Want to Punch in the Throat, Mann now brings her sharp wit to bear on suburban life, marriage, and motherhood in this laugh-out-loud collection of essays. From the politics of joining a play group, to the thrill of mothers’ night out at the gun range, to the rewards of your most meaningful relationship (the one you have with your cleaning lady), nothing is sacred or off-limits. So the next time you find yourself wearing fuzzy bunny pajamas in the school carpool line or accidentally stuck at a co-worker’s swingers party, just think, What would Jen Mann do? Or better yet, buy her book.

What did I think of this book:

While looking for a book in the bookstore I ran across the sequel to this book first and bought it (review for it to come next month) so then I had to find this book so I could read it first. The title is what caught my attention as I can tell you I have felt this way at times. From page one I was hooked and found myself laughing and agreeing with Jen. I even read some of the stories to my husband and he laughed as well. All the stories are so good that I don't know if I can pick a favorite. One of my favorites though is Who needs Dr. Phil when we have Adolpha?, the things her daughter comes up with. I can't wait to read the holiday version of this book next month. I give this book five stars and will be recommending to everyone. The only disclaimer is if you do not like swearing then you might not want to read it as there is cursing in it. 

About the author:

In addition to her blog, People I Want to Punch in the Throat, Jen Mann has also written for The Huffington Post, Babble, Circle of Moms, and CNN Headline News. She was voted one of Circle of Moms Top 25 Funniest Mom Blogs for 2012 and 2013 and chosen by the same site as one of the “Most Influential” bloggers. She was a BlogHer Voice of the Year in 2012 and 2013 and was a finalist for two Bloggies in 2013 (Weblog of the Year and Best Parenting Weblog). In 2012 she self-published a debut collection of essays, Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat. She lives in the suburbs of Kansas with her husband (aka “the Hubs”) and is the mother of two children, whom she calls Gomer and Adolpha on her blog. She swears their real names are actually worse.

Cute Emergency by Tony Heally

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Published: October 6, 2015

Number of pages: 176

Genre: Non-fiction, humor

Synopsis:

Are you having a bad day? Is life getting you down? Do you wish you could go back to bed? Sounds like you've got a cute emergency on your hands!

With over a million followers, the Cute Emergency Twitter feed brings sunshine into people's lives every day. Cute Emergency is dedicated to trawling the internet and rooting out the sweetest animal photos in existence: from sleeping kittens, to tiny piglets, to heart-melting puppies. Now, for the first time, this charming book gathers together the very best of its collection.

It's guaranteed - there's an animal picture within these pages to thaw even the frostiest of hearts.

What did I think of this book:

This is one of the cutest books I have seen for awhile. If you are having a bad day and want to look at some cute animals pictures with fun sayings to brigten your day then this is the book for you. I like how it has different levels of the cute emergency that you are in need of. The quality of the pictures is very good. This is a book that you can look at again and again. A fun book for when you are feeling down. 

Eat This! 365 Reasons to Stop Dieting by Mary McHugh

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Eat This! 365 Reasons to Stop Dieting by Mary McHugh

Parperback

Synopsis: Eat This! is the anti-diet guide, the perfect pick-me-up for anyone with the diet blues. It's packed with 365 humorous musings on why diets are no fun, don't work, and will never compare with the pleasures of a chocolate eclair. Author Mary McHugh brings a much-needed dose of common sense to the world of dieting, extolling both the pleasures of homemade macaroni and cheese, as well as the satisfaction of burning 353 calories learning to salsa dance. Eat This! celebrates the woman who's sassy, sexy, and who'd be a lot happier if she stopped worrying about her weight. Shaped like a miniature refrigerator, Eat This! is the perfect gift for a friend or sister who's fed up with diets.

My review: This is another tongue in cheek book by Mary that I could not put down. These are great little books for a quick read or to give as a gift. Let me share a few of Mary's reasons to stop dieting: dieting makes your breath stink, you need those marshmallows when you have PMS, and one of my favorites - your can't doesn't care if you are fat or thin.  I can't say enough good things about these little books by Mary because I love them and would recommend you read them for a good laugh. 

Clean This! 320 Reasons to Stop Cleaning by Mary McHugh

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Clean This! by Mary McHugh

ISBN: 9780740757204

Paperback

Synopsis: While surely most of us have survived some sort of cleaning in our lifetime, why take chances any longer? Pick up Clean This! 320 Reasons to Stop Cleaning by author Mary McHugh and revel in hundreds of tips on how to avoid cleaning. Things you could be doing instead of cleaning, and if you must clean, ways to get it down with the least amount of effort. 

So put down the broom and let the dust bunnies multiply. Remember, no one has ever changed the world by cleaning a bathroom!

My review: What a funny little book this was to read. I loved the tips on reasons not to clean. One of my favorites was Persuade some TV producer to do a reality show in your house. Then they'll have to clean it. Who is not looking for ways to get out of cleaning pick up this amusing book and Mary will give you 320 reasons why you should stop. Here are a few more reasons to wet your whistle - brooms are for witches and the only reason to clean is to put off doing something else. This is a fun little book you could read in one sitting. I can't wait to read all of Mary's books.