Parisian Phoenix Publishing

Yesterday, my daughter and I made the 45-minute drive to Kutztown, Pa. (which took an hour because of a fatal accident) to meet a writer friend for a coffee and a visit to Firefly Bookstore. Now, I know Firefly is a local favorite, even for those of us in the Lehigh Valley. I have never visited Firefly, and I realized on the drive down that I have never been to Kutztown.

Around? Sure. Near? Absolutely. Known people who attended (or taught at) Kutztown University? Again, yes and yes. But in Kutztown proper? Nope.

We started our journey at the Bagel Bar Café which had an impressive collection of Monin syrup flavors and an equally impressive collection of macarons and biscotti.

From there we ventured to the end of the block to Firefly, where the set up allows for the maximum amount of books in a well organized space. The retail areas are divided into pockets– a pocket for summer reading topics up front, right inside the door you’ll find the new releases, off into the front corner by the register you’ll find local authors and local history. Rare books and signed editions are behind the register but still easy to browse. The children’s department, which doesn’t shy away from topics that could become controversial these days, sits straight ahead and to the left. The displays are styled with much color. The chairs look cozy and welcoming.

But to the right is an exhaustive and well-organized collection of used books, sorted into categories, neatly alphabetized and surprisingly dust-free.

We bought $80 in books– including a 1969 paperback copy of On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross which retailed for less than $2 when new and a novel I couldn’t resist about a house cleaner who works for a famous author and is tasked with completing the author’s final book after she dies. The title got me: The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick.