Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan
Synopsis
In the recent recession, Clay Jannon is out of a job, until he stumbles across a 'Help Wanted' sign in the window of an unusual bookstore, owned by the kind yet mysterious Mr. Penumbra. Clay is hired for the nightshift in the store, and it's clear that it's a front for something else--strange customers come in to the store at all hours of the night, urgently requesting to check out some of the store's unique volumes. Clay decides to get to the bottom of what's going on. Enlisting the help of his friends, their investigation leads them on a wild adventure to solve a mystery that's hundreds of years old.
Review
The plot is extremely compelling, but lighthearted--it doesn't take itself too seriously. I really didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book--I had seen it was popular and looked interesting. But after the first couple pages I was hooked and in for a fun adventure. I loved it. Think Da Vinci Code in modern-day Silicon Valley, with a hilarious 20-something geek narrator and a secret cult of book-lovers.
The story is told from first-person perspective, and I loved getting inside Clay's head with his off-the-wall comments and thoughts. He had me literally laughing out loud for much of the book. Clay and his friends are all fun characters, each with their quirks and contributions to the story. Mr. Penumbra is a mysterious figure, and not at all how he first comes off. It was refreshing to see the mysterious veil aorund him drop away and for him to become a real person that works with Clay and his gang to solve the mystery.
I also enjoyed that the story is mainly set in Silicon Valley, my hometown. It's always fun to read about places that you've been or you're from. The story moves from San Francisco to the Google campus, and then jumping across the country to New York and back again.
This is a great book for any bibliophile, as the love of books is evident on every page. One theme this book explores is old vs new, especially when it comes to books and technology. I liked that Clay was able to balance the two, preserving the love for old printed books and the old ways, but showing how change and progress with modern technology is beneficial.
Highly recommend.
Rating
I give this book 5 stars
Details
Genre: I have no idea. Fiction? Fun? Humor?
Sex: A couple of the characters sleep together, but nothing graphic is ever described.
Violence: No violence.
Language: Some language throughout the book.
Synopsis
In the recent recession, Clay Jannon is out of a job, until he stumbles across a 'Help Wanted' sign in the window of an unusual bookstore, owned by the kind yet mysterious Mr. Penumbra. Clay is hired for the nightshift in the store, and it's clear that it's a front for something else--strange customers come in to the store at all hours of the night, urgently requesting to check out some of the store's unique volumes. Clay decides to get to the bottom of what's going on. Enlisting the help of his friends, their investigation leads them on a wild adventure to solve a mystery that's hundreds of years old.
Review
The plot is extremely compelling, but lighthearted--it doesn't take itself too seriously. I really didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book--I had seen it was popular and looked interesting. But after the first couple pages I was hooked and in for a fun adventure. I loved it. Think Da Vinci Code in modern-day Silicon Valley, with a hilarious 20-something geek narrator and a secret cult of book-lovers.
The story is told from first-person perspective, and I loved getting inside Clay's head with his off-the-wall comments and thoughts. He had me literally laughing out loud for much of the book. Clay and his friends are all fun characters, each with their quirks and contributions to the story. Mr. Penumbra is a mysterious figure, and not at all how he first comes off. It was refreshing to see the mysterious veil aorund him drop away and for him to become a real person that works with Clay and his gang to solve the mystery.
I also enjoyed that the story is mainly set in Silicon Valley, my hometown. It's always fun to read about places that you've been or you're from. The story moves from San Francisco to the Google campus, and then jumping across the country to New York and back again.
This is a great book for any bibliophile, as the love of books is evident on every page. One theme this book explores is old vs new, especially when it comes to books and technology. I liked that Clay was able to balance the two, preserving the love for old printed books and the old ways, but showing how change and progress with modern technology is beneficial.
Highly recommend.
Rating
I give this book 5 stars
Details
Genre: I have no idea. Fiction? Fun? Humor?
Sex: A couple of the characters sleep together, but nothing graphic is ever described.
Violence: No violence.
Language: Some language throughout the book.
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