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    Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore
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    Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore
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    Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore
    Ebook312 pages5 hours

    Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore

    By Robin Sloan

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    A New York Times bestseller, Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore is an entirely charming and lovable first novel of mysterious books and dusty bookshops; it is a witty and delightful love-letter to both the old book world and the new.

    Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone - and serendipity, coupled with sheer curiosity, has landed him a new job working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything, instead they simply borrow impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he's embarked on a complex analysis of the customers' behaviour and roped his friends into helping to figure out just what's going on. But once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, it turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore...

    'The pages swell with Mr Sloan's nerdy affection and youthful enthusiasm for both tangible books and new media... [but] the ties that bind the story are friendship and vitality for life. This is a clever and whimsical tale with a big heart' The Economist

    Shortlisted for the LA Times Book Award for First Fiction.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAtlantic Books
    Release dateDec 20, 2012
    ISBN9781782391203
    Unavailable
    Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore
    Author

    Robin Sloan

    Robin Sloan grew up in Michigan and now splits his time between San Francisco and the internet. He is the author of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore and Sourdough.

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    Reviews for Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore

    4/5

    3,313 ratings390 reviews

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    • 5/5
      “All the secrets in the world worth knowing are hiding in plain sight.” (Pos. 3901)

      Content:
      Clay Jannon, web-designer in San Francisco has lost his job and he finds a new one, working at Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, but only the night shifts from 10 to 6. The shop looks quite small and offers a wide range of SF books, but deep in the background are huge shelves with very old, strange looking books. Clay notes that most clients do not buy books, but borrow one of these special books, bring it back and borrow another one. Therefore, this must be more than a normal bookstore. Together with his friends Mat and Neel, he begins with researches to reveal the story behind the bookshop that seems to be more a library, and its customers. However, not everybody likes these investigations and the organization in the background is powerful and dangerous.

      Theme and genre:
      This novel is not only about books and bookstores, but also about important knowledge and mysteries, hidden in books. IT market players like Google, the people and researches behind is also a topic.

      Characters:
      Clay Jannon is more than a book-nerd and he definitely changes, his self-confidence growing with the dangers. He and his friends are witty, likeable specialists.

      Plot and writing:
      The novel is written in the first-person point of view, told by Clay Jannon. The language is enjoyable and humorous. The story is interesting and thrilling and there is some magic and mystery woven into the plot. This together makes the book a real page-turner.
      The author has also written a short prequel pf 112 pages about how Mr. Penumbra came to the bookstore: “Ajax Penumbra: 1969”, Kindle Edition, which I have read first.

      Conclusion:
      A gripping story for booklovers, with mysteries and exciting turns and likeable protagonists. Perfect for a weekend lost in a book.
    • 5/5
      The mystery in the giant shelves.
    • 3/5
      This book had the potential to be really good, but I think some areas were hit-and-miss with me. I can see how this type of book would appeal to those who are computer-savvy. It gets technical at times.

      What I didn't like:
      1) There are two run-on sentences on page 81 of this book. It drives me bonkers. I can't decide if it's deliberately supposed to be that way because Clay Jannon is talking fast due to his sudden surge of anxiety or if the editing crew just skipped both sentences. No matter the reason, it bugs me!
      2) All the talk about "boob physics" and "anatomix" on page 118 was a little off-putting.
      3) There were times in the book I felt like the writer was "off" because I was losing interest. I wanted to be glued, and I just didn't have the stick-to-it feeling.

      What I did like:
      1) It's about books! And bookstores!
      2) Who doesn't love a good mystery? So trying to decode or unlock secrets usually makes a good book.

      Would I want to continue the series? No. I don't think I will. I'm glad that I borrowed the book from the library. I can at least make a note to myself to avoid this series.
    • 2/5
      It is not at all what I expected. I didn't enjoy it, but I couldn't put it down. Something about it grabbed ahold of me and I HAD to know the solution to the puzzle. I can't recommend it, but I don't want to give it a terrible rating, either.
    • 4/5
      This book pushes all my buttons in all the right ways. A book about a secret society of readers, who read a sequence of obscure texts in order to solve a mystery. Much of the action takes place in a book store, which is great.

      Clay Jannon is an unemployed 20-something living in San Francisco. One day he spots a help wanted sign in the window of a book store, and walks in. He is hired to work the graveyard shift at the 24-hour book store. Clay soon learns that this is not an ordinary book store. They hardly sell any books, and most of the customers come in to "borrow" the extremely old books that line the shelves. Clay becomes curious and with the help of some friends, begins to investigate what is actually going on at the store.

      For the purpose of this story, the author has created an imaginary trilogy called The Dragon-Song Chronicles. This series is a tale of an epic quest, and holds a lot of importance in the book. In his search for answers, Clay Jannon must go on his own epic quest, in some ways paralleling the action in The Dragon-Song Chronicles.

      This novel is a book lovers dream. If you love books, bookstores or libraries, you should really enjoy this one. At times, it feels like Clay's success in his endeavors comes a little too easy. But I like the way current technology, like the internet, is utilized to solve the ancient mystery of the books. After a slower beginning, to set up all the characters, the book begins to move at a steady pace and is very entertaining. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
    • 5/5
      A great story and a wonderful audiobook.
    • 4/5
      I listened to the audiobook, read by Ari Fliakos, who did the most wonderful audio recording I've ever heard. I don't usually pick audiobooks based on who's reading them, but now I will be on the look out for Ari Fliakos' readings.As for the book itself, I was completely engrossed at first. And then less so. It was all good, but not as good as the set up led me to expect.
    • 3/5
      Category:A book you chose for the cover (mmdchallenge)Quote: Walking the stacks in a library, dragging your fingers across the spines -- it's hard not to feel the presence of sleeping spirits.The cover of this book caught my eye with it's simple design and colors, the word, "bookstore", and...Bonus! It glows in the dark! I had high hopes for this one, but it was kind of a letdown. It has all the right ingredients for a great story, but I found the writing to be sub par, and the characters weren't engaging me. The plot was entertaining, and it did have a few humourous and witty moments. C- 2A- 3W- 3P- 5I- 6L- 4E- 4Avg= 3.9= ⭐⭐
    • 4/5
      Fun easy read (except for the details about coding, skimmed!). Great airplane or beach book!Happy endings for everyone!
    • 5/5
      1 Vote

      “Tell me,” Penumbra said, “about a book you love.”

      The answer unemployed marketer Clay Jannon gives to this simple question starts a journey of discovery, mystery, and adventure that leads from a dusty, unremarkable San Francisco bookstore to the whitewashed walls of Google to a hidden library beneath New York City.

      Clay is at first amused, then intrigued by the strict instructions given him by bookstore owner Mr. Penumbra, paramount of which is do not read any of the books located in the soaring stacks of the store. His curiosity piqued by the odd customers who show up at all hours of the night looking for a new book, and, compounded by the boredom of working the night shift in a 24-hour bookstore, Clay eventually turns to his computer to pass the time. His first inelegant attempt at charting the use of the books turns into an algorithm that predicts use, ultimately helping him solve a part of a larger mystery hidden in the encoded books.

      Throw in a romantic love interest in the form of a spunky, eccentric girl genius who works for Google, concern for the suddenly missing Mr. Penumbra, and a wealthy, eccentric best friend, and Clay finds himself winging his way to NYC, where he traces Penumbra to an underground library full of readers devoted to cracking a code devised by a 15th century printer, believed by the First Reader and his followers to be “the key to everything.” What Clay and his friends discover, however, is not immortality, but something much more precious.

      On the surface, this is a typical adventure story – the unlikely hero, the smart-than-everyone quirky girl, the eccentric best friend, the quest for knowledge. Underneath, however, there is so much more. In one regard, this is a cautionary tale addressing the current rush to “googlize” everything. What will happen to the way we gather and retain knowledge when everything is in Google? Will we forget how to think in favor of being told?

      And on an even deeper level, why do we read? Does the very act of reading set us each on a personal journey? Is our reading connected to something bigger? The First Reader tells his followers: “It is the text that matters, brothers and sisters. Remember this. Everything we need is already here in the text. As long as we have that, and as long as we have our minds, we don’t need anything else.”

      An interesting perspective in the print vs. digital debate of 2013. Does the container matter as long as we have the text? Can we separate the physical act of holding a book from the act of reading the text? Do we read print and digital text differently? There is some emerging research that suggests physiological differences in how we retain information read in digital format versus traditional print. How will those differences affect the way we learn and the way we record information?

      Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is, in itself, perhaps an allegory for the shift in how we obtain text. The internet has become our 24-hour bookstore; is there still a place for physical repositories of text?

      This is a multi-layered book that begs to be re-read, and I expect that I will find even more to think about the second time through. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book that resonated quite like this one, and I will be thinking about it for a long time.
    • 5/5
      This was just lovely! I loved the characters, the pacing of the story. I was tempted to race through it, but I didn't feel like I HAD to just to get to the end. I loved the mystery of the whole story; it was intriguing and kept me interested without being overdone. I enjoyed going on the adventure with Clay. It was fun meeting his new friends and allies and seeing him rely on allies from his past (and present).I was a bit disappointed in Kate and how quickly she changed once she got what she wanted. And I hated how cold and sort of rigid--or disbelieving she was once the truth of the puzzle was revealed, even though it was right there in black in white for all to see. And it was almost as if she was jealous that Clay figured it out without her technology--without her! I was hurt on Clay's behalf by her treatment of him.But what I loved most was Clay's loyalty to Penumbra and solving the puzzle. And that after all the help, the technology and gadgets, he was able to solve it without his huge group of helpers, all on his own and very simply.I've seen where some people were upset with the ending, or the revelation of the mystery was underwhelming. I thought the simplicity of it all was what made it so perfect, so wonderful. After all that work, reading, scheming, programming, computing, etc., the answer was simple and immortality was achieved in a way.
    • 4/5
      Lots of fun. Lots of inside humor although it kinda betrays its origins as a freebee Internet e-book giveaway. Good on Google and cults and other West Coast silliness. Not quite the sum of its parts, but an amusing enough distraction.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audiobook borrowed from Overdrive on a long trip a couple weeks ago and it kept me entranced for six hours straight. Not what I was expecting but still excellently done. I enjoyed the mystery feel combined with the general bookish love. Great read.
    • 4/5
      Like The Da Vinci Code and other coded codex mysteries, this book’s charms lie in the search for clues. However, as each of the two stages of discovery conclude, each result doesn’t make sense for the customers of the bookstore, considering how the data is derived (I’m struggling not to give anything away.) Nevertheless, the search is fun, so although the effort fails logically, it succeeds as a mystery, hence the 3½ stars.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this book very much. I don't know the author Robin Sloan at all, and the novel was a departure to me -- in many ways it seems like a Young Adult novel, but I, aged 74, enjoyed looking into another generation's mindset and the novel looks out from that mindset. There was a lot of cyber tech involved, but a real love of books; there was science fiction, fantasy, and the theme was about finding out the mystery of codex vitae, the book of life, the meaning of life, and life everlasting. As a Christian, I was vastly disappointed to think of all those bright minds, young and old, in the book seeking immortality, when the church, the Bible, the faith has offered the truths about eternal life for millennia. But the resolution at the end was a little reassuring anyway.
    • 5/5
      A Book Lover's Romp!
      Intriguing,mysterious and humourous! ENJOYABLE. Read this book in 2 days. I just enjoyed this book. I'm not into techno themes at all, but even that was enjoyable to read about. This was DaVinci Code meets Big Bang Theory (tv) meets Harry Potter! Fun read! This has to be the "coolest" book I've ever read.

      SPOLIER ALERT:

      While I was reading this book,I kept looking at the cover,it intrigued me, I thought maybe there was a code there too. Never did find anything other than a repeat of the pattern of books. I had this book on my table and getting ready to return it to the library. I turned the tv off and then the lights and there was the fun! The books on the cover glow in the dark!
    • 5/5
      Great book. Dan Brown with books and fifteenth century fonts.
    • 3/5
      Vividly written and interesting premise, but the story itself didn't interest me enough.
    • 2/5
      Tale of a young man, adrift in his life, that goes to work in an unusual bookstore. Developed into a story of searching for a mysterious connection to knowledge with several of his techie friends. Kind of hard to follow, open to many different interpretations of the story. Don't know if I'd read another by this author or not.
    • 3/5
      Entertaining, interesting. Decently written, but the too-trite epilogue ruins it a bit.
    • 4/5
      This was a book club book. I loved the portrayal of friendship and the power of the written word.
    • 4/5
      I had read the short story version of this earlier, corresponding to the first 20% or so. It was a fun read, with some sympathetic characters. The antagonists were were maybe a little on the thin side when it came to their characterization perhaps so the book maintained a light tone throughout.

      The plot was engaging and inventive, though I thought it had a few clunky elements, such as the way the subsidiary character experiences the novel's one devastating moment of failure without really redeeming herself in the end, while the main character sails through all his scrapes and questionable decisions basically unscathed. I'd like to see the character earn that victory in the end more. Also, I am not completely sure the mystery of Gerritszoon actually holds together in the end. The thread running through about the fictional children's fantasy series written by Clark Moffat had me thinking about the very similar plot device used by Lev Grossmann in his book The Magicians, which I am pretty sure was coincidental. From the way it ends, it doesn't seem like it points toward any kind of sequel in the works.

      From what I'd read before, I knew there were going to be references to the wonders of Google but it got to be a little much by the later part of the book, which I am sure are more wince-inducing for readers who are fans of that company's tech rivals. I'm willing to give the book a pass on the details of cryptography, which felt far-fetched but were at least entertaining.
    • 5/5
      This was a thoroughly enjoyable book. I put it on my "fantasy" shelf although the fantasy element is not as strong as it might seem at first. Clay, the protagonist, is a young San Franciscan enjoying his steady climb as a website designer at an upstart bagel company. Then, 2008 happens and Clay finds himself looking for a job. He wanders into Mr.Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore and is hired on the spot. But Mr. Penumbra's is not exactly an ordinary used bookstore. Along with a quirky collection of high quality recent and classic used books, Mr. Penumbra's store features towering murky shelves of books in code which can only be accessed by members of a shadowy group of special customers. These customers come in late at night, show their ID card and check out these coded books for "research." Encouraged by his set designer roommate and his friend Cat, who works at Google,Clay begins to explore the code, looking for a way in to the mysteries of the coded volumes. What he finds may endanger the books themselves, the bookstore, and possibly the life's work of Mr. Penumbra and his "special" customers. The narrative weaves cutting edge tech strategies with a true reverence for books and engaging characters. The writing finds just the right combination of rounded but understandable characters, the impetuosity of youth and the gentle patience of age. No new lessons hear, just a great story well-told. Lovely.
    • 4/5
      I loved this book, plain and simple. The moment Clay climbs the ladder, his arm outstretched, looking for the for the right book, I was hooked. This is a story that talks about the smell of books, the bound versus the electronic, the way the right book can hook you and never let you go- for Clay it was the The Dragon Song Chronicles. Clay is on a quest to discover the secrets of Mr. Penumbra’s bookstore. Why do odd people come in at all hours of the night? Why is there a special section of encoded books? Why don’t they stock normal books-no Harry Potters in sight?!? What Clay discovers sends him on a mission that leads him into the true meaning of what books are really about. This is a book lover’s book.
    • 3/5
      A charming, lighthearted novel that was a delightful snack if not too substantial. It's got that feeling of a Knights-of-the-Templar ancient cult mystery but with a playful tone. Sloan sets up an old-world versus new-world vibe and the primary thematic subject is around technology versus humanity, how they work together, and what our values should be.The plot revolves around a Millennial slacker/nice-guy who worked as a designer at a failed start-up then lands a job at an odd, unprofitable and quirky bookstore. He stumbles into a strange conspiracy that involves analyzing ancient mysterious texts carried at the bookstore, which may or may not be magical if properly decoded. Despite being somewhat hapless, he manages to develop a relationship with an attractive and quintessential Google employee...who drinks the Kool-Aid and believes technology will provide a brilliant future for humanity and can help unravel all the mysteries. If anything, the battle between human relationships and technology is rather soft here. The author seems to say...technology is good....just not quite as good as the believer's believe.In fact, the battle behind the scenes of the story seems to be between believers in technology and believers in mysticism. A cute narrative if a bit wishy-washy.
    • 5/5
      With its title, readers anticipate a lively tale about many, many books. Books do form the focus, yet it is more the story of computer expertise and, oddly, GOOGLE. Interwoven are lovely scenes of the art of a miniaturist.Told in first person real life, we follow the increasingly complex adventures of newly hired bookstore clerk, Clay Jannon, as he navigates a lot of strangeness. The book overflows with memorable quotes, beginning with "What do you seek...."Romance is not keenly developed, notably from Kat's perspective.
    • 5/5
      An epic tale of mystery, technology, secret societies, musty bookstores, Google, and pretty much everything else I love. Fun, funny, inspired and well worth your time.
    • 4/5
      Loved, loved, loved my time spent with this entertaining novel, with the world's most unique bookstore and these so very interesting characters. Wish a bookstore like this existed, a group like these people belonged to with their strange quest really existed. Loved that this author imagined the old, the best of print and research, working hand in hand with the new media, electronics and compatible with what came before and how one can enhance the other. Quirky, winsome and oh so insightful.
    • 4/5
      Clay starts out as a young man just looking for a job after being let go after his work shut down. After much newspaper browsing and window shopping, he finds Mr. Penumbra's store and applies. After a few days on the job, he finds the place more curious than he at first thought. What follows is a fun, quirky, not-too-serious adventure that spans from San Francisco to New York.

      I enjoyed the side characters more than I did the main character, Clay. I liked his roommate, Mat, who works as a set designer at a studio, and his billionaire friend, Neel Shah who he has known since sixth grade, when the series, The Dragon-Song Chronicles, brought them together. They had quirks to them that made them interesting.

      I enjoyed reading this book. It was a fun mysterious, sarcastic read about secret societies and bookstores. It was a sort of a commentary on the evolution of books from the printing press to the modern age and Google. It was a nice, light read that did not (to me at least) take itself too seriously.The writing was done in such a way, that it was a little hard to connect with the characters, though it did not fail to keep me reading to the end.
    • 4/5
      The author combines perfectly the tradition with the modern technology. A book for the books. Books and accumulate knowledge through centuries. A travel through knowledge to understand the secret of immortality, the eternal dream of humanity. At the end of the journey the heroe discovers the simple truth that immortality is achieved only in the memory of people, who will remember you as friendship, as solidarity, as integrity of character and as an offer to those you love