The Mr B’s Team – where are they now?
To celebrate twenty years of Mr B’s, we’re taking a trip down memory lane – and popping in to say hi to some familiar faces along the way! Some of our former booksellers reflect on life at B’s, from funny memories and favourite experiences, to bizarre questions and brilliant encounters.
For our final Backlisted Booksellers, we’re hearing from Caroline – Mr B’s first ever employee! Caroline started working at Mr B’s in 2007 and left in 2011.
A funny memory from your time at Mr B’s?
I don’t really have any single funny memory that stands out, but used to love the interactions with customers, especially earlyish on a Saturday morning. Lots of good memories!
What have you been doing since leaving Mr B’s?
Ironically given Nic and Juliette’s backgrounds, I qualified as a lawyer… I now work as an environment and sustainability lawyer in Bristol.
What book did you love recommending the most to Mr B’s customers?
I remember there was some healthy competition around which of us could sell most books in the Christmas catalogue and I did very well one year although I can’t quite remember which book it was… I could never quite match Ed’s amazing book selling ability or his total recall for the smallest detail of every book he’d ever read, as far as I could tell!
What 3 books are currently on your TBR pile?
I was lucky enough to receive 40 books for my 40th birthday and am still working my way through those so the TBR pile is quite large!
Unfortunately I keep on adding to it… But to pick 3: Kick the Latch by Kathryn Scanlan, Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy and The Trio by Johanna Hefman
What was the most bizarre question you were ever asked by a customer?
There were too many to recall a particular one, but it generally involved very scant details and then embarking on a needle in a haystack search, often delving deep into the dusty corners of Abe Books, to try to find what they were after!
What was your favourite part about working at Mr B’s?
The team! Speaking about and being around books all day. The lovely customers.
