Three Stellar Summer 2014 Beach Reads from Skylight Books

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Welcome to Beach Reads, a new summer feature where we ask staffers from LA's best bookstores to pick three of the season's top page-turners.

Although scoring an approving purr from Franny the Cat is reason enough to visit Skylight Books, this Los Feliz essential bookshop offers more than just a ridiculously adorable mascot. Skylight's eclectic collection of both classic and hard-to-find titles always keeps us coming back for more, so we knew it'd be the perfect place to kick off our summer reading list.

See below for a roundup of Skylight staff-approved beach reads, ranging from downright hilarious to utterly thought-provoking. Don't forget to stop by the shop (open daily from 10am-10pm) to nab one or all three before you hit the sand.

The Vacationers: A Novel by Emma Straub:
"This may be the perfect summer read; a truthful, funny and well-written novel about a dysfunctional family on vacation in Mallorca. There are characters to love and characters to despise, and you will probably relate to both factions. A book with enough breeze to lull you in and enough punch to make it worth it."

The Stories of Jane Gardam by Jane Gardam:
"British writer Jane Gardam is a well known, award-winning author in her native country but less known in the States. Her Old Filth trilogy of novels has cemented her reputation as a modern classic. This new collection contains many of her most loved, devastating and perfectly-voiced tales of insightful and very real characters."

The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide:
"A beautiful and elusive yet tangible experience; an experience that helps you focalize time. Sometimes that experience can help you freeze time for moments, and sometimes it can help you appreciate its passing. And you miss it when it's gone. You look back fondly. Hiraide does all this and more."
· Skylight Books [Official Site]
· All Beach Reads Posts [Racked]
· Shop Indie & Grab Hipster Grub on Los Feliz's Vermont Ave [Racked]
· Franny at Skylight Books Has Her Paws In All the Top Reads [Racked]