Skylight Books

This much-cherished, cozy neighborhood bookstore in Los Feliz strikes a neat balance between intellectual crowd-pleasers and more unusual fare, including a large selection of local zines. Open since the mid '90s, it bucked book-industry trends by expanding into neighboring premises a few years ago. It now houses readings, signings and some of LA's best book clubs, including one called "Child of the '80s," and another dedicated solely to philosophy and critical theory. Tip: If you miss a reading, check their website for a podcast version.

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