The King's English: Adventures of an Independent Bookseller

by Betsy Burton

Betsy Burton, owner of The King's English bookstore in Salt Lake City, has been a bookseller for nearly thirty years, and a passionate book lover all her life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Writing, Business, History

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jensownzoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter has a theme and each chapter ends with a list of recommended books from the independent bookshop, The King's English, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Running throughout each chapter is the biography of the bookshop, the authors hosted, events planned, and all the things that go into owning and operating an independent bookshop.

I absolutely love books about books. They seem so homey and cozy to me that normally I pull them out to read when the wind is howling and the snow is piling up outside. Today, even though the sun is shining and the temps are in the 90s, I needed a little cozy. This book fit the bill nicely. It also served to massively increase my TBR list. A must read for the bibliophile.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is hard to rate. There were some things that I loved about this book -- I loved the author's personal story: how she struggled with her bookstore, the people she met, the lessons she learned, the people whose lives she affected. What I didn't love were the long side trips that would take me away from the story -- sometimes it was telling about a book or author or sometimes it was going off on a tangent about anything from environmental issues to religious fundamentalism. I wasn't annoyed that she included these, just how LONG she spent on some of these topics or describing in great detail the plot of this author or that author's book (again, I liked being introduced to authors, but I didn't need a 3 paragraphs book review of the author's latest book and the 2 books before that). I kept thinking....get me back to the story! I also would have loved for the narrative to move more chronological instead of by topic. A personal choice, but it bugged me when she was telling this anecdote or that, I often had no idea what decade we were in. Now another thing I did love about this book was being introduced to lots of new authors and books. I couldn't help but start a list of books that sounded interesting to me. I also enjoyed learning about the issues of independent booksellers -- something I have NEVER thought of before.
We read this book for book club and are going on our annual Book Club Retreat next week to visit this bookstore (among other things). I am really excited to see the store and hopefully meet the author.

[Brent Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betsy Burton is co owner and co founder of The Kings English bookstore in Salt Lake City Utah, a unique store in a older upscale residential area, established in 1977.

People who open bookstores and often restaurants do so because they have always yearned to do just that. Burton fits that mold and she says she enjoys dealing with wonderful employees, authors and customers but she also includes in her story challenges in dealing with partners, authors and others. The book includes her stores low points.

Burton is a talented author herself as the book will show. She says of her writing that she does best when she concentrates three subjects: her private struggle dealing with a handicapped child, the tendency of some people to try to censor or ban books which upset them, and the growth of the super chain bookstores and the dot-coms which have threatened her business over the years.

For those of us that live near her community and have watched the story since it opened, we still are surprised by her perception of those years compared to our own experiences.

A great store and important part of the community. For more on this book see
https://connectedeventsmatter.com/blo...

[Judy Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

You'll read this memoir to get the inside scoop on running an independent bookstore. Lots of great stories about the authors we all know and love. An added bonus are the numerous lists of memorable books in various categories -- some from different bookstores around the country. Highly enjoyable read.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more in the way of entertaining, even funny, anecdotes, but there was little that was amusing. It's heavy on author visits and booklists that are of course now out of date, and the bookselling business has also changed since the book was published.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think there are two reasons why I wanted to read this book: 1) I've met Betsy Burton and 2) it was on sale. I'm an (extremely) infrequent reader of nonfiction, but when I do find a nonfiction book I like, I devour it. That was the case with this book, a memoir (?) of Betsy's experiences starting and managing The King's English bookshop in SLC. I can't quite pinpoint why I enjoyed it so much. Perhaps it was Betsy's refreshing honesty about EVERYTHING (something I barely see in the polite company I'm usually surrounded by). But as frank as she was about living as a non-Mormon in a Mormon state, or the perils of owning an independent bookstore in a field of big box superstores, or the problems that arise between co-owners, I felt that Betsy made an equally honest effort to temper her strongest opinions with the "view from the other side." I enjoyed reading her book in part because I felt that I was reading someone's ACTUAL view of the world, undiluted by the need to please all of her readers; and yet, even though she said many things in opposition to beliefs that I personally cherish, I was never offended. It seemed like she was trying to understand my point of view too. Beyond all of that, I also enjoyed this book because it's a celebration of reading. At the end of each chapter is a booklist (or several) pertinent to the chapter. I'm putting several of them on my "to-read" list here on GR.

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's quite a bit of detail here about the joys and woes of owning an independent bookstore. Some very interesting, some merely scanworthy unless you are yourself a bookstore owner. The best thing for me about the book was the book lists. Burton requested a variety of "best of" lists from other bookstore owners and compiled them for our enjoyment at the back of the book. I've since found many a gem from these lists. And clunkers, too, of course, but it's all about preferences.

I loved what Betsy had to say about the Bush administration's fearmongering tactics:

"When fear (whatever its cause) is used to override civil liberties, the very fabric of our nation can be threatened, arguably dong more damage than any outside enemy possibly could."

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. Didn't give it a four simply because I was able to put it down, and finishing it felt a bit like a homework assignment. The writing is good, albeit a bit florid at times. Burton gushes over most of the authors that have visited her store making her reviews a tiny bit suspect. She includes anecdotes of some bad author visits, but rarely reveals their identities. The best reasons to read the book (for me) were the book lists at the end of each chapter providing many new "to-reads" and the stories about the authors. I do have to add that Burton's writing had a humorous self-deprecating tone which helped keep the book light, and she has convinced me to be a supporter of the independent bookstore.

[Renea · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I found this book interesting and the book lists valuable, I was appalled by the number of author's names that were misspelled! The worst example is Tomie DePaola. First of all, his first name was spelled Tomi throughout the book, and in one paragraph, his last name is spelled DePaola in the first sentence and DePaolo in the last sentence. I can't believe a book about books contains errors like that.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Burton is a bit full of herself (I find book snobs annoying) and some of the references are now dated, but loving independent bookstores as I do, this was enjoyable. I will definitely seek out The King's English if I ever end up in Salt Lake City.

[SusanwithaGoodBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like I said in my review of The Bookshop Book, when we travel I like to find the best local indie bookseller in the area and explore it. I normally ask them what local authors they carry and buy at least one book. Most of the time that's a local fiction author, but at The King's English in Salt Lake City, they were a bit different. When we walked in they immediately showed interest in me, "Can we help you?" the group of ladies (I think there were three) at the front desk asked. Intimidated a bit by all the attention (introvert that I am), I hurriedly said, "No, just browsing" and hurried off to a different part of the store to begin exploring. Happily, they had an extensive collection of unique items, so after picking out a cute edition of Jane Austen's Juvenilia I headed back to the cash register. At this point, the ladies again turned their attention toward me. When I opened my mouth again so say, "yes, I found something and it's a lovely store." They immediately asked where I was from and what brought me into the store that day. (It's obvious the minute I open my mouth that I'm not from there.) I answered that I just love bookstores and that this bookstore had made it onto my list of "must-see" bookstores of the world. That's when they gave me this book…which brings me to my review.

The King's English is a unique indie bookstore, and this is a unique book. It's a history of the store, yes, but it's much more than that. It's also about Utah, bookselling, and books and how they impact our lives.

Ms. Burton charmed me with her lovely prose and open, honest style. I loved the overall humor and, especially, the funny stories of authors and their book signings. I also really appreciated the lists of books at the end of each chapter and in the appendix. I don't need suggestions at all, but I still managed to add a few to my "want to read" list based on her recommendations. I think my favorite bit was her argument with a possible partner over feminist literature. I completely agree with Burton's philosophy that "literature, like life, should be a place of equality; that men shouldn't get top billing, but neither should women; that an artist is an artist regardless of gender or color; that to imagine otherwise was to do a disservice to women as well as to men." (page 118) With this statement alone she made me a fan.

I enjoyed most of the chapters thoroughly, but I will admit that there were a few where she seemed to get a bit bogged down and I disagreed with her politically and philosophically on a few things. Still, overall this was a good read, and, should anyone I know be going to Salt Lake City, I'll highly recommend a visit. The store is adorable, the people friendly and helpful, and you know you'll find a book to love. Those things a great bookstore make.

[Jeslyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read...Burton comes across at many points as a major fangirl over authors, but that's sort of the point, right? I was more impressed with her honesty in relating multiple self-inflicted disasters at book events - good grief, this gal can't get out of her own way! The Victorian funeral garb incident was the best, especially since she provided a photo - what were they thinking??? This was a good counterweight to the commentary on Mormons that pops up throughout the book - yes, she'll make judgmental comments about others, but she shows herself as rather unsophisticated, stubborn, uninformed, etc. at times too, and I appreciated her willingness to admit to blunders. It was also great to read of the difficulties of independent booksellers in the age of Internet commerce and chain stores, and I was reminded of the lovely extras that independents provide that online can never match.

Burton's love of parentheticals is not shared by me. The constancy was distracting for me, particularly since frequently they contributed little or no substance to what she was relating in the sentence. They read like an annoying friend who keeps butting into a conversation to embellish an experience. Ugh.

I liked the format of the lists of recommended books found throughout the book, these were great summations of the preceding chapters, with additional authors and titles added. The one curiosity was the chapter where she discussed quite heavily the book event for Jon Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven - having given him/the book so much space in the chapter, and seemingly a fan of the book, I was surprised that it didn't appear in the list of "recommendeds" at the end. In fact, it only showed up on one list in the entire book, a list provided by another bookstore. I couldn't figure out why the book dominated the chapter, but wasn't considered good enough to recommend?

The final few chapters feel as if Burton is running out of steam, and consist of paragraphs packed with author names, and not much else. The names are frequently repeated multiple times, but not to flesh out their initial mention.

This book is still very worth reading, and there are definitely authors I've added to my list to read as a result of reading her book, particularly the poetry chapter. I am interested in visiting The King's English, and if I lived in Salt Lake City, I would absolutely support this business.

[Dvora Treisman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm all for books and independent booksellers so I thought I would like this book more than I did. There are some interesting stories about some of the writers who have come to Burton's bookshop to read, there are lots of shorter tidbits about a variety of writers, which I found useful for considering new writers to read. And especially useful is the list Burton provides at the end of each chapter with recommended titles, which she expands on at the end with recommended titles by an assortment of other independent bookshops across the country. I was reminded of writers I read years ago, like Ivan Doig and Wallace Stegner whom I'd like to read again, and others, such as Tony Hillerman and Walter Satterthwaite whom I've never read but will soon. But there was something about Burton, maybe it's her writing style, that didn't agree with me. For one thing, too many parenthetical comments; for another, the use of expressions such as "fast forward two years" to change the time of a story she's telling -- a clumsy method, in my opinion, and finally many instances of too many words when fewer would do.

[Sandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this delightful memoir, Betsy Burton talks about starting a bookstore in Salt Lake City and the years of running it. She and a friend were both authors and had rented space in which to write. Talking one day, they decided to expand their goals and start a bookstore. That started Burton's life work and she shares it with the reader.

Running an independent bookstore is not a career for everyone. Burton tells about the financial challenges, partners who weren't a good match in plans, the rise of online booksellers, and her personal challenges. But she also shares her pleasure in hosting and meeting authors, telling about some of the most prominent. She delights as does the staff in matching each patron with the perfect book (or two or three) for them.

This is an older book and may not be easy to find but it is a joy that readers will enjoy from the first page to the last. At the end of each chapter, Burton lists books that she personally recommends in the topic of the chapter. These lists also make the book a reader's dream. I've purchased several already and plan to buy many more. This book is recommended for readers.

[Sara Planz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I travel, I make a point to visit the local bookstores in the area and knew when I was in SLC that I had to stop at The King's English. Featured in Publisher's Weekly, this store has been a fixture in the literary scene since 1977, and their longevity is one to be admired. I was immediately impressed with the layout of the bookshop as well as the excellent selection of local history, bestsellers, classics and gifts. I had a wonderful conversation about one of the local authors and was truly treated like a valued customer.

I really enjoyed reading this book about the history of this store. I appreciated the inside scoop of what it is like to run a small, indie bookstore for nearly 50 years now, plus the lists of books that are included means that I will be going back to this to read from their recs.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye-opening and enthralling

Somewhere in the book she alludes to her disorganized ways and it shows in the framework of the memoir,skipping from here to there and back again. I found I didn’t mind, however, because (with few exceptions) she kept me riveted to the unwinding tale.

As a prospective bookseller, I took lots of notes. There was much to glean, but I’d love to see a sequel covering this last decade and a half. Amazon hardly reared it’s head between these pages.

Though at times she tries a little too hard, she writes quite well and you can tell she has a gift for prose.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything that is good with the world. It is the nesting doll of all my fantasies. Because you see, it is a book... about a bookseller... in her bookstore... talking about books...within a book! But let us not forget the best part of all! Contained within these magical pages are lists and lists of book recommendations! My reading list will grow by hundreds I have no doubt. And while a few chapters wandered off the path a little and I don't agree with everything she has to say, I enjoyed her stories and respect her beliefs however they may differ from my own. Now on to the more pressing matter of getting myself to this bookstore ASAP.

[Megan Gery · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun read for a bibliophile. It’s even better if you’re a local bibliophile, as I am. It’s a bit indulgent and whiny at times... “whoa unto the independent bookstore in this world of chains”, and all that... but the inside stories about authors, customers, and the unique market that is Salt Lake City make up for it. The book lists are intriguing and incredibly dangerous— that’s why it took so long to read: I had to look up every single recommended book. My “To Read” shelf is now a couple hundred books longer. Maybe I’ll have to pop into TKE and stock up...

[Tri Le · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and enthusiastically written memoir of the The King's English bookstore of Salt Lake City, Utah. Betsy Burton gives us a glimpse into the life of an independent bookstore owner through her amusing anecdotes, painful life lessons, and moments with known and little known authors. Her passion for books and the people she serves are clear through her words. She writes so vividly of her partners, employees, book reps, authors, customers, and the many experiences with them. Bookselling drove her life, and you can understand why by reading this book.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might be willing to bump the book to 3.5 stars but it wasn’t always a book I wanted to pick up again. I loved the stories of how they struggled, events they held, authors and their peculiar requests, and successes but intermingled was political viewpoints and other tangents. I loved the book lists and suggestions! Those will be great for future reference. If you’re an avid book reader, you would enjoy this book. If you’re more into light and gooey (you know, guilty pleasure/ fluff type books) then you won’t enjoy it.

[Beth E · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked some of the stories in this book, especially about authors.
However, I felt that the author was claiming that independent bookstores are the only places that do certain things, like promoting authors, and it really rubbed me the wrong way, because libraries do that too. Obviously, she was writing in support of independent bookstores. I understand that. It just felt a bit too brazen a piece of self promotion for my tastes.
Ultimately, I did not finish reading this book.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really readable collection with plenty of stories about author visits, coworker complications, and surviving the arrival of box stores in Utah. Interesting to read about bookselling in the early 00s, especially the fears of becoming obsolete. Glad indies are still around!

Also enjoyed the lists of suggested readings at the end as a means to make the chapter themes more complete.

[Debra Schoenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made my brain hurt - in the best possible way. I had never thought about what it would take to open a book store, a really good one with good books. Betsy Burton’s honest and humorous account of the growing pains and unexpected joys she experienced by becoming an independent bookseller made me want to become a better reader and writer.

[Shannon White · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever been to this great independent bookstore in Salt Lake City or are familiar with the area, this book is for you. I loved hearing the history of a store I love and am so grateful this independent bookstore is still going after 41 years.

[Lynne Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though my mother owned and ran a bookstore with great panache, and even though I am a passionate book publisher, Betsy Burton quite expanded my understanding of bookstores and the life of her beloved Salt Lake City bookshop. She is also a delightful writer.

[Abby Reddig Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy that they made it thru the storm, my favorite bookstore in Utah.

[Taryn Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

[Doni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me laugh out loud which is a rare thing in a book. Her descriptions of her ineptitude made me feel more solidarity with her.

[Elstirling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful view of independent book store. I could never read all the wonderful books mentioned. It did bring back great memories of Tomie de Paola coming to son’s elementary school.

[Rebecca Russavage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very defined by the era in which it was written (early 2000s) but fascinating nonetheless.