At 11 North US Rt. 15 in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, there is a small bookstore that looks inconspicuous on the outside, but like any location steeped in magic, it is bigger on the inside than the outside. Its aisles teem with books and if you are like me—a person of substance—it is difficult to walk through the aisles without leaving spilled books in your wake.
And that is not a complaint. The Book House was invented for browsing and you will spend many hours exploring its depths contemplating treasures you never knew existed. Joanne Klase with her husband, Larry, first opened The Book House in 1976. Since 2019 with the passing of Larry, Joanne has continued to operate the store to the delight of bibliophiles who wander the store's narrow aisles lost in contemplative wonder.
Of all the bookstores I visit The Book House is my favorite and I have modeled my fictional bookstores (Strange Streets and The City of Sarkomand: A Guide for the Traveler) on the store's reality:
It started with the discovery of a new bookstore. I’m not talking about one of the modern ones that have all the latest drivel from the major publishing houses; not the ones that publish books so banal you forget them seconds after reading the last page. I refer to the more uncommon type of bookstore that has its books stacked willy-nilly about the place pungent with that delightful aroma of old tomes, those small shops blessed with histories and personalities. (The City of Sarkomand: A Guide for the Traveler)
I would encourage you to allow yourself a number of hours when you make your pilgrimage to Dillsburg. It's an investment of time you will not regret. The store does have regular hours, and is closed on Sunday and Monday. As Joanne runs the store herself, sometimes life's realities may force her to temporarily change the store's hours so best to call her at (717) 432-2720 to make sure the store is open. If you have any questions about the stock or are looking for a certain work, you can email her at ljsbookhouse AT earthlink DOT net.
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| Tell me this isn't Heaven! |
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| You will spend a lot of time here |
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| A very small sample of their classics |
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| They have thousands of paperbacks |
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| Just one of their aisles teeming with treasures |
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| Classic SF and fantasy |
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| Comics, pulp fiction, and RPGs |
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| And they have the odd treasure other than books |
How I love that place. They have books there you just can't find anywhere else these days.
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