The Spiral Bookcase Shares Summer 14's Top Page-Turners

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Welcome to Beach Reads, a recurring feature that delivers page-turning picks for the dog days of summer.

Image credit: The Spiral Bookcase

For this edition of Beach Reads, we turned to Ann Tetreault and Brittany Brown of Manayunk's The Spiral Bookcase to tell us which books they're toting around in their beach bags this summer. The answer? Three gripping page-turners—one penned by a local author—replete with twists and turns, "dreamy descriptions of faraway places," and deals with the Devil.

Beach Read #1) The Weirdness by Jeremy Bushnell ($8 used, $16.95 new)
This wild and hilariously dark book is the perfect entertaining read for your beach getaway. The Weirdness is the strange and captivating tale of Billy Ridgeway, an average guy living in Brooklyn as a writer, who is beckoned by the Devil to save the world through unexpected twists and turns. This whimsical and laugh-out-loud adventure will keep you turning pages until you reach the end. The original storyline, combined with a healthy dose of quirk and suspense, is perfect for anyone who is seeking out an unusual and fun beach read.

​Beach Read #2) Collages ​by Anais Nin ($7 used, $11.95 new)
An absolutely dazzling book that is perfect for a lazy, hot day on the beach. Dreamy descriptions of faraway places told through the heady and articulate prose of Anais Nin, this book encompasses the rich colors, sounds, and smells of long summer days. Collages is a fluid kaleidoscope of images that etch the story of Renate, an Austrian painter, into being. The reader follows Renate as she seamlessly moves through new places and meets new people, merging art and life into surreal stories told from her experiences. Daydreamers and travelers will enjoy this lovely little book.

Beach #3) Life Drawing by local author Robin Black ($25)
At the end of your day at the beach, turn to this taut and exquisitely rendered read. The story follows Owen and Augusta, a writer and a painter, who leave the city and their fractured past to begin a new life in the countryside. Enter in Alison and her daughter, unexpected neighbors, inviting disruption into their chosen solitude. Drawn together, an inescapable tension forms; born of grief, betrayal, and the hope of atonement. This gripping read will have you reeling long after you finish the last page. (Signed copies of Life Drawing will be available at the shop; contact shop to pre-order.)
· The Spiral Bookcase [Official Site]
· Beach Reads [Racked Philly]

The Spiral Bookcase

112 Cotton St. Philadelphia, PA