I had the great pleasure of visiting a couple of REAL 2nd hand bookshops during my recent visit, one in Portland Maine and the other in Montclair, New Jersey both were run by Booklovers and they were polite and helpful and knowledgeable about their stock. The lady in Maine was acerbic, dry and truly delightful, and had a small collection of soft toys behind the counter all of whom had names, including a rather ratty looking stoat, she regaled us with tales of them and their origins, and that they were NOT for sale, and we gave her some about Mudcat Jack and his adventures. Thats what we need , a few more eccentrics!!
Graham Greene created one of the NASTIEST and most repellent villians in all literature, Pinkie (played by Richard Attenborough in the movie) in Brighton Rock