CONFESSIONS OF A BOOKSELLER

Wigtown—Scotland's officially designated “Book Town”—comes to listeners through author and shopkeeper Shaun Bythell and narrator Peter Kenny. Interweaving his personal life, observations of Wigtown's residents and bookshop visitors, and daily sales figures, Bythell's diary forms an engaging composite of his and his community's life throughout 2015. Kenny communicates the social interactions, as well as Bythell's often ironic declarations, with judicious pacing, incorporating the few footnotes without distracting listeners. A few of the people Bythell observes—a shop clerk, potential customers, those he visits to buy book stock—are given unique voices. Anyone who has been to Wigtown will find this listen thoroughly accurate; anyone who likes books will find it a pleasing virtual visit. F.M.R.G. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2021]