Ask a Bookseller: Gary from Blackwell’s Holborn

Hello, and welcome to Ask a Bookseller, in which we at Turnaround ask a bunch of questions to various booksellers! Next up is Gary Wigglesworth from Blackwell’s in Holborn, London.

What do you get up to during a normal day at work?
I work mostly in the back office, in the CPI (Business to business) department, chained to my PC! But I often cover the shop floor in the morning & sometimes at lunch, selling our lovely books. Also I’m in charge of our twitter account @Blackwellshh so I keep an eye on that and tweet about our events, offers and competitions.

What are you reading right now?
The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon.

Name three books on your reading list?
Chop Chop by Simon Wroe
Anthropology by Dan Rhodes
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell

What is the one book you wish you could sell to everyone who walks in your shop?
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy By Douglas Adams.

Do you have a favourite publisher? If so, why are they your favourite?
Probably Penguin as they’re so iconic & have such a fantastic range.

What kind of books would you like to see more of, and what kind do you wish publishers would stop publishing?
I’d like to see more intelligent Sci-fi (such as that Gollancz publish), I could always do with less ‘true-crime’ and autobiographies of very young ‘celebrities’.

What’s the weirdest book-question you’ve ever been asked by a customer at work?
I should have an answer to this but I don’t.

Favourite book jacket OF ALL TIME?
Tough! The classic Clockwork Orange with the one eye and bowler hat – it’s such a striking image.

Thanks Gary!