January 2016 Update: the store in Bantam is sadly closed. Bob is looking for a new home and I hope he finds one soon. I will update this page when new information is available. 

Dickens Books is a lovingly curated store combining gently used and new books with selected art supplies in the first floor of an old factory building.  Huge windows look out over the gently flowing river at the back of the store adding to the overall feeling of calm and wellbeing.  Bob, who runs the store, told us a little about the place, recommended a great lunch spot and a couple of other local places for us to check out.  He didn’t even mind too much when I squeaked loudly and did a triumphant happy dance at finally finding a copy of Basil Rathbone’s autobiography ‘In And Out Of Character’; a book I’ve been looking for for years (yes I know, I could have bought it online, but that wouldn’t have felt anywhere near as good as discovering it in this lovely bookshop). The drive takes an hour from Middletown, but this place is worth the effort.  If I gave stars, it would get 5.

Update: July 2015  Bob’s wife was so pleased with my blog post on Dickens Books that she printed it out and stuck it up in the store!