Looked really exciting, and I’d been wanting to go for a while to check out the books. Went inside and started to look around, and the owner came in asking what I was looking for. I said I was ‘just looking around’, as I hadn’t come with a particular book in mind. He told me I ‘couldn’t do that here’ and said to go to library ‘if I wanted to look around’. He wasn’t outwardly rude, but it was clear he didn’t want me there. How he stays in business without allowing people to look around the packed store store is a mystery, even more so than the disappointment I felt at not being allowed to look around at the mountains of books.

This place is wild haha I love it, definitely one of the most unique experiences I’ve had in a book store. Found some sweet first edition 70s UFO book and a really awesome Shakespeare collection from the 50s a while back ago. Lots of cool treasures in here and definitely worth the visit if you’re not claustrophobic (the aisles tend to be pretty narrow). Don’t let the negative reviews scare you away, just don’t take any pictures inside and know what you want beforehand!

I came here looking for christian books had a great selection. He was kind to me. I bought 2 books. Didnt anyone watch grumpy old men. So what if hes grumpy one day the next time you come in he may not be. If you had a millon old books in a shop it would be musty. Its the charm of old books,and in todays world of internet books are becoming more and more valuable. Revisionism is on the rise. Cherish people like him Who value history and the ancient.I used to frequent a shop in salisbury right near double d donuts he sold bathing suits but if you unfolded them to look at them he would yell at you lol and he would kick us out but wed come back 😁😁 be resilient with people. Love as I have loved you.

There’s a lot of bad reviews on here and I’m so confused because we had a completely different experience. The owner was super nice and chatted with us and showed us some sections we might like and he was right. Yes the atmosphere is creepy and old and mildew-y but if your a true book lover you’d appreciate digging through the piles and stacks and mountains lol. Maybe not if you’re claustrophobic though... I scored an entire Agatha Christie leather bound set at an amazing deal!

Had a wonderful time here. Like others have said, the aisles are narrow, but I was finding treasures left and right. Give it a shot if you have a passion for old books!

Not sure what old review are talking about...that was not my experience. Yes it was an exquisitely organized hoarde, but the owner knows what he has, book conditions are amazing and prices fair. If you Re looking for something particular and enjoy used books, definitely stop by. He is pleasant and clearly an expert and bibliophile. Will def go back!

A quick google search of the owner reveals his extensive criminal history, consisting of both financial and physical offenses. His collection is terribly overpriced and there are many better stores in the area. Come here if you enjoy being swindled and smelling bad!

What an awesome treasure. Books galore, lots and lots and lots of books. Its like heaven. Every topic. Old, newer, everything. Very helpful owner. Thank you so much.

Dont let the negative reviews scare you, especially if you have an idea what you are looking for. I did not have to pay an entrance fee when I went. The occult section was a bit smaller than I was hoping for, but I still walked out with 4 books that day. Isles are small, yes, but it feels a little adventurous to me. The owner isnt the most affable but was still kind and helpful.

Any and everything book related you could want. Make sure to bring change

Wow! Please read the other comments! This place is crazy. I could write a page or two long, but just dont currently have the time. When we visited we were told that we were drunk, should go back to the bar to find free books because the owner doesnt give away books. We were told that we would end up on YouTube and be seen for the fools we were. When we pulled out and about to snap a photo of the picture on the dirt saying you have to pay $5 to look at the books, the owner met us with binoculars (which is creepy) saying that we would be arrested because NH law prohibits taking photos on private property.I totally want to go back with a hidden camera for the world to see just how angry this man is, I wont though.I would recommend a visit, just for the experience, but dont expect to get a free book, for that youll have to go to the bar!

An entrance fee? There is nothing in there that cannot be had somewhere else. There are two great used bookstores in Henniker that have bigger and better organized collections, along with pleasant service. Used bookstores that are a bit quirky and overstuffed can be charming. But having to pay to browse? No way.

Honestly, I wasnt sure I would make it out alive. Huge cavernous piles of books down long unlit aisles. Horrendous smell, still.with me for a few miles down the road. The fifth bookstore I went into in Portsmouth today but the only one that reminded me of a Stephen King novel. Strange old man asked what I wanted and when I said I was just looking, he told me he didnt allow that. If you like creepy, dangerous places and creepier people check this place out. Dont go alone. Dont bring the kids.

If you are serious about books and arent afraid to dig, you can definitely find some gems. I had a pleasant conversation with the owner and he showed me some new arrivals that he thought would interest me, and he was right. Im very happy with what I bought and will stop in again if Im in the area.

DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, THE ENTRANCE FEE IS WORTH IT.This bookstore is an EXPERIENCE. My friend and I were out at lunch and being book nerds, looked up the nearest bookstore and saw that this one had one and a half stars. Intrigued, we looked at the comments and reviews and noticed the $5 entry fee. Outraged, we thought, WHY NOT? After entering we were BLOWN AWAY. The entry fee is nothing compared to the sheet experience of this place. It’s book heaven, it’s book paradise. The owner may be a bit brazen at first but if you ask him a bit about the store and the books and get to know him a bit, he’s super sweet. It was magical. It was fun. I highly recommend this place.

Love this place. I can find pretty much anything about anything. Lots of cool books. Asked the clerk about specific books and he knew exactly what I was looking for and was able to produce pretty much anything I wanted. It was amazing.Ive been able to build my collection of hard to find books on woodworking and photography.

Don’t judge a book by the cover! The fee is simply because he is having no income because no one buys from him; not because he’s greedy! The reason is that it’s over 18 is because inside is full of wonderful first edition books. It truly has some golden treasures people are missing out on. Don’t go if you are claustrophobic, but have a small friend go in for you! There are books on anything and everything! You just have to have patience to look, which is with anything worth while.

Definitely worth a look if youre in the area. Ive never seen so many books in one place. The owner is super friendly and is very helpful in navigating the store.

Lately I have been looking for old herbals (books about herbal medicine) and when I saw this old bookstore I decided to go back and ask if they had any. I walked in and met who I assume is the owner, I asked him if he had any old herbals. He said yes, I asked if I could look at them, and he said if I was interested in buying. I said yes I was interested. He brought out three books (one of which he wanted $5,000 for and there was no way I could afford that). He laid out the books and I asked him if I could handle them. He said if you are going to buy. I was definitely interested in buying but I was not going to buy a book without even looking at it.Anyway, to make a long story short, he said I could have the one I was interested in for $90. When I asked him if he could take a card he said no, but I could go to the ATM. My bank was nowhere near this store, so I said that I would just come back next month (I travel through Portsmouth every month). I said Ill be back as I was heading for the door and he yells Bullshit! at me. So I stopped and asked him why he would be like that? He said because youre a con...you conned me. I must have stood there for five minutes attempting to explain to this old man that I was not trying to con him, I just did not want to get charged at the ATM and that I would be back. He was very rude and nasty. I said why would I come in here looking for such a random book to try to con you?. He just kept repeating himself, saying youre a bullshitter, you conned me, youve been found out. I was more stunned than offended. I said to him that him being rude does not make me want to come back and do business with him. He said you werent coming back anyway, but in fact, I was planning to come back until he started cursing at me. I said Im sorry youre having a bad day to which he replied Im sorry you exist! and he told me to leave.I just said thank you and left the building.I would have bought both of the smaller books from him, had he been a little more friendly. Instead he was very rude and offensive. I did not inconvenience him by asking him to look at these books which I was considering purchasing. The only thing I can imagine is that this old man has been burned so many times that he hates people now. Either that or he just hates life and takes it out on other people.I would not recommend going here ever due to the way I was treated.

I was greeted at the door by a portly unkempt man wearing a winter coat mended with black tape. The heat was barely discernable. Nonetheless I paid the man $5 for the opportunity to make a purchase. Books are stacked and 2 deep on the shelves. It takes some time to look through. After checking out the religion section, I asked for the art section. I was told it was unavailable. I stated that I should have mention that I wanted to see the art section before giving him $5. His response was you probably should have. I asked really?. Then he reminded me that I got to look at religious books for 30 minutes for my $5. Just shook my head and left.

The other reviews are a good reference for this store. The inside has books stacked so high that its almost hazardous. The owners car is literally stuffed with them. Im not sure I saw anything interesting or worth reading as I walked in. The owner WILL charge you five dollars to go inside, but is it worth it? If youre looking for a bookstore with lots of books, but a potential crushing hazard, this is the bookstore for you.

A real experience and adventure in book-shopping. *Maybe not for everyone*Tips & Warnings: READ BEFORE GOING1) Admission is $5, this can be applied to purchases of $25 or more. So have cash ready.2) Be prepared to spend a lot of time, there are a lot of books and many are pilled up. Sadly many are also inaccessible.3) Expect market values or higher, almost every book I found could be purchased on eBay cheaper. But doesn’t mean you can’t find some that aren’t overpriced4) Not for Children. The precariously stacked books make for a potential catastrophe and the adult content interspersed might make for a nasty surprise5) Bring a flash light, some aisles do not have lights.6) No photography, you’re just asking for trouble.7) Get ready for a squeeze, most aisles are less than 2ft across.8) The store is very musty, youll definitely leave smelling like an old book store. Maybe coughing too.9) Be prepared for insults, the owner is a swell enough guy so play along.10) Once you bring the books home they will need to be cleaned to remove mildew smell.It’s a place that will leave you with interesting stories for friends without a doubt. Although I probably won’t be back anytime soon, it’s still one of the most peculiar bookshops in the region.

I was a bit surprised by the $5.00 admission fee, but you get it back if you spend over $25.00. Books, books and more books! I looked at one section and came away with 7 books! Ive never seen so many books packed into such a small space. Im gonna have to lose weight to fit down some of the aisles. Ill go back.

1 for the assistance in locating tolkein books. -5 for everything else including not having change or being able to shop. Precariously stocked merchandise everywhere. First and last time.

It looks like it should be an episode of hoarders. The owner asked what we wanted, and when we said we didnt know, he threw us out.

$5 to get in? NO. The owner said he didnt know what sort of money I had, or if I was serious, so there was a five dollar charge. I said I didnt know, without looking, whether he had anything worth buying. You should not do this. Dont even think about it. This reminds me of Stephen Kings Needful Things.

Guy wanted 5 bucks to browse, thought he was joking. When I realized he wasnt I walked out, stopped at the next bookstore I saw, and bought a book.

I scoffed at the misguided owner when he charged me 5 dollars to view his collection. I just handed him one of the 100 dollar bills I had roaming around.His collection was mediocre at best and my wife was struck by falling books and cut by their nimble pages.1/5 Overall as the owner tried to show us his talking gnome that he said was behind the 3rd row of books. I know a con man when I see one and my library is much larger!- Doc Gumby

$5.00 admission fee. Its written on the door what an idiot...just lost maybe the biggest sale of his year. I was planning to fill a small library. Looking for 60 antique books and I was in the area. Ill do Buisness with people that deserve it.

Are you kidding me!! $5.00 entry fee!! This bookstore is a trash bin that you cant browse do to the mounds of books piled every where.The place smells of water damage.You really need to evaluate what you are offering for an entry price.If you clean the place up, have some areas to read in .... Maybe but that trash heap ... No!

This is unquestionably the WORST book store I have ever been to. Its more a book warehouse, with books stacked to the rafters and inaccessible, and aisles so narrow I was afraid to go down them. I suspect that one day the owner will be found below a pile of his own books. Im astonished that the fire marshal hasnt shut this place down. The smell of mold and mildew stayed with me for miles after I left.

Avoid this absurd place at all costs. The psychotic owner delights in insulting customers and has less than a quarter of the books actually available. The rest are obscured by stacked junk and porn. Beware! This is a pack-rat horror-show.

When I saw a sign saying Old Books from the road I figured Id stop in and have a look. The owner was waiting in his car out front, not actually in the store, presumably because there is no heat in the building, and asked for a $5 fee to browse. Seeing books stacked to the ceiling, I figured hey, why not, Im bound to find something.Well, I would probably have been able to find something, however:-The books were stacked 2-3 deep, so only the outer layer was visible.-The walking spaces were a foot and a half wide, narrowing to a foot in some places. I had to shuffle into the aisles sideways and couldnt turn around. Being unable to bend over or lean back without hitting the opposite shelf, examining anything more than a foot or two above or below eye level was impossible.-Many stacks of books had notes saying not to disturb them, and with stacks reaching up to the ceiling (some buttressed against the aisles with wooden boards), retrieving one would be impossible.-There were paper notes everywhere indicating that the books were in a certain order. What that means is anybodys guess, since it wasnt alphabetical, by author, or by subject beyond occasional clusters of similar books.After eventually finding a paperback worth buying, I asked the owner if he could make change for a $20 bill, to which he gave a curt no. The owners running a business, even charging admission, yet cant make change? Im now convinced that this is not actually a bookstore, but some kind of tax loophole for a hoarding addiction.Read the other reviews, and consider buying from eBay instead. Unless youre looking for 80s porn VHSes and Hustler magazines with the pages stuck together (I wish this were a joke), in which case youve found Mecca.

Just go. Tell someone first

This is a dumpy little place on the side of the highway, the owner was nice to us but only because we paid the 5 bucks admission fee to come in. Hes a skeezy old pervert who way overcharged us for things we could get much cheaper online. Also the place is really old and musty and I started feeling nauseated from all the dust and mildew. Also there are parts where the floorboards are missing and my foot sank through the carpet. The books are stacked so high they are held up with sticks propped from wall to wall. It is a total deathtrap if it ever caught fire.Having said all that, its such a dump that its kind of awesome, also there are some really unusual and rare finds buried underneath the piles. Also a huge stack of porn from the 80s. Im glad I went, just dont buy anything unless you are 100% sure you cant get it cheaper online.

Awesome found some great stuff

I dont pay, nor should anyone have to pay, to enter a bookstore. would have spent well over the 25.00 to get my 5.00 back but, sorry, not the way the real world works. I hate seeing bookstores go out of business but look forward to this one going under. Greedy, arrogant and a waste of time and effort.

Bizarre charged me to come in too look at the books . Searched history on this guy it is interesting!!!!

A cover charge for a book store, what the hell. The man was rude. Dont waist your time.

Have to agree with all the other posters. Wish the town or BBB would check out this fire hazard.

My experience was nuts! he tried to sell me pictures of his cats!????

Rude, never going back.