The Pope's Bookbinder: A Memoir by David Mason

The Pope’s Bookbinder: A Memoir by David Mason

After reading the Washington Post’s review of this book, I decided to get it from our local library. Flush with a gift card, I bought my own copy. I wish I had waited to get it from the library, and also wish that the library had lost it before I got to pick it up. I found that David Mason’s memoir had some very good advice and some fun stories, but these were outweighed by his arrogance, sexism and elitism. While reviewing my notes before writing this review, I felt a little bad at having given the book two stars. But, by the time I finished, I am happy with my choosing the “It’s ok” level.

To start with the positives, Mason absolutely nailed it with a quote from British novelist J. Cowper Powys: “Wisest are they who read old books– drink old wine– converse with old friends– and let the rest of the world go.” So true. Mason also has a special place in his heart for librarians, who started him on his path at a very young age. Also, as someone who has personally collected Modern Library editions, I was pleased that the first two books he bought with money he earned were Modern Library books. His memoir is filled with stories of his career, from a young reader, apprenticing in various bookstores, to finally owning his own stores. There are stories that make you smile, cry and laugh, sometimes all at the same time.

But then, many of the stories and his actions are replete with sexism, sleaziness, elitism and egotism. If I had to summarize his memoir in one sentence, it could be: ‘if everyone would just do as I say, all will be well.’ He mocks or deprecates anyone who doesn’t see things his way.

He refers to a woman’s place as being in the home, or at the minimum, doing all the household chores. He relates a story when he and a friend pulled into a self-serve gas station. Mason hadn’t learned to drive at the time and his friend asked if he knew how to work the pump. His reply: “No, I don’t, Reg. But we’re grown men, surely we can figure it out. I see women doing it all the time.” Seriously?

Turning to sleaze, he talks about how he’s had great finds. He haughtily told off a competitor how much money the competitor lost by marking a book Mason bought too low. He often finds books from friends, fellow booksellers and even a mentor that are priced far below their value. Instead of informing his friends, he buys them and then pats himself on the back. You could say that’s business, and he does, but, to me, it seems sleazy, especially to one’s friends or someone who taught you the business. He often says booksellers are a community and they need to help each other out. He seems to like that advice when they’re helping him, but it goes away when he wants to help himself.

At auctions, he said he decides what price a book lot will go for, even if he isn’t interested in it. “I cross out [from his notes] any book I don’t want at any price and, using my code, I note the minimum under which I will not allow anyone else to buy that lot.” He even says he has and will continue to drive up a price against a perceived enemy, just out of spite.

Mason writes that sometimes people store cash in books or use a bill as a bookmark. Mason has purchased libraries that have such books. In one instance, he bought the library of a deceased woman from her son. He despised this son, thinking him uncouth and not deserving of anything gained from the sale of the books. Interesting, Mason dissed this person’s appearance, after noting in previous chapters that he was thankful he wasn’t discriminated against as a young bookseller in jeans and sometimes ratty clothes. But, back to the story. Going through the books back at his shop, he found this woman’s stash of cash, $200 worth of it. Mason kept the money, justifying it by saying the son didn’t deserve it. Remember, this is a person he only met once.

In conclusion, I should say that the book read quickly and the topic was interesting. As a story teller, Mason succeeded. But as a human being, I couldn’t find him sympathetic.