The Odd Book is a rare book store and secondhand bookstore at 112 Front Street, Unit 118, in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Although it may appear in searches for Halifax-area bookshops, the shop itself is in Wolfville, a small university town in the centre of a rural community. It has been part of the local book scene since July 1977, when Jim Tillotson, Wayne Swift, and Dick Gifford founded it. James Gow, known as Jim 2.0, bought the business in 2017. The store is also a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of Canada, with an affiliation to the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers.
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The main attraction is the range of books rather than a single speciality. The inventory is arranged across more than 100 genres, including 18th-century books, Agriculture, Americana, Canadian Maritimes history, Chess, Nautical books, and Signed books. Only a small part of the stock is listed online, so browsing in person is important. If you are looking for something specific, you can use the shop’s offline search form, and the store also buys books. The selection includes affordable regional titles as well as collectible volumes costing several hundred or several thousand dollars. Examples listed by the shop include The Harbourville Connection at C$47.25, Métis / Acadian Heritage 1604 to 2004 at C$67.50, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess at C$2,025, and The Complete Works of Shakspere at C$3,375. Prices vary widely, so it helps to have a clear idea of your budget.
Customer reviews give a consistent picture of a well-organized shop with an owner who is friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to explain the books. Several people say they could spend hours browsing, while others point out that some prices are high but reflect books that are difficult to find elsewhere. One review recalls Jim refusing payment for a book given to the customer’s mother upon her retirement in 1996, which says something about the personal side of the business. As of August 13, 2026, the listed hours are Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4:00 p.m. You can confirm details at www.theoddbook.ca or by calling 902-542-9491 before heading to 112 Front Street.
Published Date
14 August 2026
