Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
New York : Picador/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. Thriller. HTML: A gleeful and exhilarating tale of global conspiracy, complex code-breaking, high-tech data visualization, young love, rollicking adventure, and the secret to eternal life�??mostly set in a hole-in-the-wall San Francisco bookstore The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone�??and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, 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 "checking out" 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' behavior 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. With irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan has crafted a literary adventure story for the twenty-first century, evoking both the fairy-tale charm of Haruki Murakami and the enthusiastic novel-of-ideas wizardry of Neal Stephenson or a young Umberto Eco, but with a unique and feisty sensibility that's rare to the world of literary fiction. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave, a modern-day cabinet of wonders ready to give a jolt of energy to every curious reader, no matter the time of day… (more)
Media reviews
Mr. Penumbra’s 24 hour Bookstore flourishes in the nebulous terrain between super-powered digital information and the text warriors of yore. It rocks in terms of crazy imaginative leaps and is so optimistic about the longevity of books in print that it makes bibliophiles like me positively clap
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with glee. It does have its share of shortcomings though, but more on that later. Show Less
And if, in the end, the plot doesn’t entirely satisfy – the love story is a little weak, the 500-year old mystery rather too neatly solved – this novel’s ideas will linger long in the mind.
“Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore” is eminently enjoyable, full of warmth and intelligence. Sloan balances a strong plot with philosophical questions about technology and books and the power both contain. The prose maintains an engaging pace as Clay, Mr. Penumbra and the quirky constellation
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of people around them try to determine what matters more — the solution to a problem or how that solution is achieved. Show Less
"In the end, though, the book works fine as an engrossing mystery — and as an intelligent meditation on technology’s trajectory and limits."https://www.librarything.com/work/12661675/book/132262683#
I loved diving into the world that Sloan created, both the high-tech fantasyland of Google and the ancient analog society. It’s packed full of geeky allusions and wonderful characters, and is a celebration of books, whether they’re made of dead trees or digits.
This winning literary adventure, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, has all the elements of geek hipsterdom: fantasy novels, role-playing games, computer coding, and classic typography.
Whether your hero is Steve Jobs or Stephen Crane, we're all just in love with information and the power of the word — and that's the point Robin Sloan attempts to make in his debut novel, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, one of the most thoughtful and fun reading experiences you're likely to
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have this year. Show Less
This is a book about systems, both secret and overt, exploring codes, filing, programming and designing. Storytelling has its operating systems, too, and though the author creates a splendid opening and an acceptable resolution, he runs out of steam for the great engine system of the middle. The
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weakness may be in the development of character. Clay is hardly changed by his experience; and for a book making a large statement about friendship, his friends always come in and out of the story on the basis of utility rather than affection or humanity.
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Though there’s a code to be cracked in these pages, the real treat of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is Sloan’s energetic storytelling—and the many, many lines that you will surely want to share on Facebook and tweet to the masses.
Even though this book is familiar in ways, it is pleasurable, too. Sloan's ultimate answer to the mystery of what keeps people solving Penumbra's puzzle is worth turning pages to find out.
"From the shadows of Penumbra’s bookshelves to the brightly lit constellation of cyberspace to the depths of a subterranean library, Sloan deftly wields the magicks (definitely with a “k”) of the electronic and the literary in this intricate mystery."
User reviews
LibraryThing member mckait
Clay is a quiet, unemployed geeky ex NewBagel employee. His job involved computers and it made him happy. And then it didn't because it faded away, as so many jobs do. So in order to make a living he tried ( but not too hard) to find new employment. His heart wasn't really in it.. and his mind kept
The bookshop was tall and narrow. It was unlike any bookstore Clay had ever seen. And it was indeed unlike any other bookstore, anywhere. It was even unlike any bookstore anywhen. But it suited Clay, both the hours and the slightly ( slightly? ) weird atmosphere. The store was staffed by one other hired clerk, Oliver. Oliver was a student of archeology and The store suited him as well. It was hardly arduous being a clerk for Penumbra. Some nights, Most nights, as clay worked the 10 pm to 6 am shift he would only see one so called customer. So called because most of the people who came through the doors never bought a book, they borrowed them. They borrowed them from the Wayback part of the long, tall store. Sometimes He was climbing a ladder and reaching, reaching to bring a book to a usually older man or woman who had a name, and a number that were to be recorded in a logbook Penumbra kept under the counter. The name, the number and a description of the reader were carefully logged, as well as their manner of dress and their demeanor. Clay was intrigued.
During the long hours of the night, Clay was moved to create listing for the store on Google, and targeted local people, or those who might for some reason find themselves in the neighborhood. This too, was to have an interesting affect on Clays life. Funny how a small thing can have such a large impact. And so Clay found himself liking his unusual employer, and the more than slightly unusual little shop. It's a good thing, too considering what was to happen next.
I can't tell you any more. I really want you to read this book. It's quirky, it's techie, its mysterious and even funny. You don't want to miss it. Like the bookstore itself, something like this book is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity. So.... what are you waiting for? This book can be in your hands in no time at all.. the internet is magic like that. In fact, the internet is magic beyond your wildest dreams.... go.. hurry... buy this book. You will be glad you did, I am pretty sure.
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tking him in other direction. But some things are meant to be, and in that spirit, we see him going through the door of Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore. And he finds himself face to face with sparkling blue eyes and an older man who asked him "What do you seek in these shelves". As it turns out, those words were to begin a journey that would change his life. For that matter, They would also change the life of Penumbra, the man who spoke them.The bookshop was tall and narrow. It was unlike any bookstore Clay had ever seen. And it was indeed unlike any other bookstore, anywhere. It was even unlike any bookstore anywhen. But it suited Clay, both the hours and the slightly ( slightly? ) weird atmosphere. The store was staffed by one other hired clerk, Oliver. Oliver was a student of archeology and The store suited him as well. It was hardly arduous being a clerk for Penumbra. Some nights, Most nights, as clay worked the 10 pm to 6 am shift he would only see one so called customer. So called because most of the people who came through the doors never bought a book, they borrowed them. They borrowed them from the Wayback part of the long, tall store. Sometimes He was climbing a ladder and reaching, reaching to bring a book to a usually older man or woman who had a name, and a number that were to be recorded in a logbook Penumbra kept under the counter. The name, the number and a description of the reader were carefully logged, as well as their manner of dress and their demeanor. Clay was intrigued.
During the long hours of the night, Clay was moved to create listing for the store on Google, and targeted local people, or those who might for some reason find themselves in the neighborhood. This too, was to have an interesting affect on Clays life. Funny how a small thing can have such a large impact. And so Clay found himself liking his unusual employer, and the more than slightly unusual little shop. It's a good thing, too considering what was to happen next.
I can't tell you any more. I really want you to read this book. It's quirky, it's techie, its mysterious and even funny. You don't want to miss it. Like the bookstore itself, something like this book is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity. So.... what are you waiting for? This book can be in your hands in no time at all.. the internet is magic like that. In fact, the internet is magic beyond your wildest dreams.... go.. hurry... buy this book. You will be glad you did, I am pretty sure.
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LibraryThing member richardderus
Rating: 3.9* of five
The Book Description: A gleeful and exhilarating tale of global conspiracy, complex code-breaking, high-tech data visualization, young love, rollicking adventure, and the secret to eternal life—mostly set in a hole-in-the-wall San Francisco bookstore
The Great Recession has
With irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan has crafted a literary adventure story for the twenty-first century, evoking both the fairy-tale charm of Haruki Murakami and the enthusiastic novel-of-ideas wizardry of Neal Stephenson or a young Umberto Eco, but with a unique and feisty sensibility that’s rare to the world of literary fiction. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave, a modern-day cabinet of wonders ready to give a jolt of energy to every curious reader, no matter the time of day.
My Review: A bookstore with no customers wanted. A secret society called “The Unbroken Spine.” A library of books in a code that even Google boffins have trouble breaking. In the end, a resolution to the seemingly mortal combat between tree books and ebooks that will leave the true-hearted reader smiling.
Escapist fun. Rollicking silliness. Eccentric amusement. All on offer in heaping helpings, with a garnish of goofy grins.
Election season has me on Outrage Overload, and my antidote to any ill is reading a good book. Short of terminal disease, I believe a good read will cure any ailment of mind, body, or spirit. I stopped frothing hysterically about Bain Capital owning an interest in a voting-machine contractor in Ohio for almost an hour while reading this book. Watching the evil-bastard GOP set up for another election steal like 2000 causes me to scream imprecations loudly, so Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore hath wrought a miracle!
Take a break from your cares. Read this enjoyable, entertaining book about improbable people doing implausible things to solve an impossible, absurd problem. It will leave you refreshed!
The Book Description: A gleeful and exhilarating tale of global conspiracy, complex code-breaking, high-tech data visualization, young love, rollicking adventure, and the secret to eternal life—mostly set in a hole-in-the-wall San Francisco bookstore
The Great Recession has
Show More
shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone—and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, 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 “checking out” 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’ behavior 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.With irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan has crafted a literary adventure story for the twenty-first century, evoking both the fairy-tale charm of Haruki Murakami and the enthusiastic novel-of-ideas wizardry of Neal Stephenson or a young Umberto Eco, but with a unique and feisty sensibility that’s rare to the world of literary fiction. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave, a modern-day cabinet of wonders ready to give a jolt of energy to every curious reader, no matter the time of day.
My Review: A bookstore with no customers wanted. A secret society called “The Unbroken Spine.” A library of books in a code that even Google boffins have trouble breaking. In the end, a resolution to the seemingly mortal combat between tree books and ebooks that will leave the true-hearted reader smiling.
Escapist fun. Rollicking silliness. Eccentric amusement. All on offer in heaping helpings, with a garnish of goofy grins.
Election season has me on Outrage Overload, and my antidote to any ill is reading a good book. Short of terminal disease, I believe a good read will cure any ailment of mind, body, or spirit. I stopped frothing hysterically about Bain Capital owning an interest in a voting-machine contractor in Ohio for almost an hour while reading this book. Watching the evil-bastard GOP set up for another election steal like 2000 causes me to scream imprecations loudly, so Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore hath wrought a miracle!
Take a break from your cares. Read this enjoyable, entertaining book about improbable people doing implausible things to solve an impossible, absurd problem. It will leave you refreshed!
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LibraryThing member msf59
“What do you seek in these shelves?”
Clay Jannon is an unemployed web-designer. One day, while trudging the steep hills of San Francisco, he stumbles on to a shabby building, that houses Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. He enters and like tumbling into a rabbit-hole, his life changes
Clay is quickly immersed and mesmerized by these narrow and impossibly high bookshelves, as Mr. Penumbra shows him around and then offers him a job. The graveyard shift, seven days a week. Clay gladly accepts and after just a couple of days, he begins to realize that there is something very very strange happening in this store and he starts to investigate…
This novel is a joy to read: filled with literary references, high-tech gadgetry, mysteries, shadowy organizations, puzzles and yes, more mysteries. The prose is fresh, clear and fast-moving, carrying you along downstream from one breathless adventure to another.
“...this is exactly the kind of store that makes you want to buy a book about a teenage wizard. This is the kind of store that makes you want to be a teenage wizard.”
"Her home is the burrow of a bibliophile hobbit--low-ceilinged, close-walled, and brimming over with books."
Clay Jannon is an unemployed web-designer. One day, while trudging the steep hills of San Francisco, he stumbles on to a shabby building, that houses Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. He enters and like tumbling into a rabbit-hole, his life changes
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forever.Clay is quickly immersed and mesmerized by these narrow and impossibly high bookshelves, as Mr. Penumbra shows him around and then offers him a job. The graveyard shift, seven days a week. Clay gladly accepts and after just a couple of days, he begins to realize that there is something very very strange happening in this store and he starts to investigate…
This novel is a joy to read: filled with literary references, high-tech gadgetry, mysteries, shadowy organizations, puzzles and yes, more mysteries. The prose is fresh, clear and fast-moving, carrying you along downstream from one breathless adventure to another.
“...this is exactly the kind of store that makes you want to buy a book about a teenage wizard. This is the kind of store that makes you want to be a teenage wizard.”
"Her home is the burrow of a bibliophile hobbit--low-ceilinged, close-walled, and brimming over with books."
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LibraryThing member bell7
Out of a job during the recession, Clay Jannon happens upon a 24-hour book store that needs a clerk on the night shift. Clay really knows coding and the internet a lot better than books, but he can climb a ladder and help the few people who frequent the store. The regular customers turn out to be
I tried to think of what I might compare this to, and the best I can come up with is it's like [Ready Player One] for book lovers. There's a mystery surrounding books, a delightful bookstore that is open all day (who wouldn't love that?), and a wisecracking clerk all wrapped up in an homage to the delights of reading. As much as I can try to describe it, however, there's really nothing that I can say to describe the pleasure I felt every time I opened up the pages. I had a smile on my face to the very last sentence.
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eccentrics who borrow obscure tomes from what Clay terms the "Waybacklist," and he soon becomes convinced that the bookstore is merely a front for something else...I tried to think of what I might compare this to, and the best I can come up with is it's like [Ready Player One] for book lovers. There's a mystery surrounding books, a delightful bookstore that is open all day (who wouldn't love that?), and a wisecracking clerk all wrapped up in an homage to the delights of reading. As much as I can try to describe it, however, there's really nothing that I can say to describe the pleasure I felt every time I opened up the pages. I had a smile on my face to the very last sentence.
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LibraryThing member porch_reader
What an enchanting book! It's got bookstores and secret societies, visits to Google and ancient puzzles, romance and friendship, and some interesting and distinct characters who I wanted to spend more time with. The story begins normally enough. Clay Jannon has lost his job as a web designer during
It's hard for me to articulate exactly why I liked this book so much. It had many of the elements that make up a great read for me - interesting characters, dry humor, a mysterious plot. But I think it stood out because it is just so clever. The intersection between books and technology are explored in a way that emphasizes the promise of both. This is a big tent book, with room for young professionals and old mystics to come together with their unique talents and appreciate the distinctive wisdom that each person brings. It was captivating!
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the economic downturn and is looking for some sort of gainful employment. Job searching on the Internet is too distracting, so he takes off walking through San Francisco and stumbles upon a help wanted sign in the front window of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store. He gets a job working the night shift and soon finds out that things aren't quite what they seem. Odd characters come and go at all hours checking out books that are shelved in a special section. At this point, the book takes a turn toward fantasy, as ancient books and modern-day technology are leveraged to solve the mystery of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store. It's hard for me to articulate exactly why I liked this book so much. It had many of the elements that make up a great read for me - interesting characters, dry humor, a mysterious plot. But I think it stood out because it is just so clever. The intersection between books and technology are explored in a way that emphasizes the promise of both. This is a big tent book, with room for young professionals and old mystics to come together with their unique talents and appreciate the distinctive wisdom that each person brings. It was captivating!
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LibraryThing member RandyMetcalfe
Loads of fun. This is a romp through the geeky, backlit world of MacBooks, e-Books, and Google’s Big Box in pursuit of a truth entombed in a coded book of life more than 500 years old. If that sounds a bit far-fetched, then you may not be ready for the silly delights of D&D questors grown to
Do you need to know how to program in Ruby in order to fully enjoy this book? Or how to interface with Hadoop in the world of big data? Or even the arcane mysteries of museum accession classification? No. But won’t you feel especially clever if you do? No need to fear, there is plenty more out there that will support your cleverness self-image. (But honestly, just how cool does Robin Sloan think working at Google really is? Answer: really cool!)
Recommended for a fun, light read and a smile.
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manhood who find themselves still on quests but for real this time, even if, sometimes, that quest is only the retrieval of a book on a bookshelf thirty feet up by means of a ladder on wheels and a fair degree of good faith. And as with any good quest, the ultimate prize turns out to have been the quest itself, for that is where all the good stuff resides in Robin Sloan’s cheery tale.Do you need to know how to program in Ruby in order to fully enjoy this book? Or how to interface with Hadoop in the world of big data? Or even the arcane mysteries of museum accession classification? No. But won’t you feel especially clever if you do? No need to fear, there is plenty more out there that will support your cleverness self-image. (But honestly, just how cool does Robin Sloan think working at Google really is? Answer: really cool!)
Recommended for a fun, light read and a smile.
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LibraryThing member csayban
Web designer Clay Jannon finds himself unemployed in San Francisco thanks to the recession. Desperate to find any job that will pay the bills, Clay takes a night job at the ubiquitous Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. Finding there are few customers and wanting to help his employer do more
“You know, I'm really starting to think the whole world is just a patchwork quilt of crazy little cults, all with their own secret spaces, their own records, their own rules.”
You would think that a story of an unemployed young man finding a job at a 24-hour bookstore filled with cryptic volumes on shelves three-stories high frequented by even more cryptic patrons would lead a bookish romp. You would think that given the eccentric Mr. Penumbra and a secret society around the world it would become just the sort of mystery any bibliophile would devour. Add to that a 500 year old quest being potentially solved by an aged man with the help of his young clerk and you would think you have the perfect story. With Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore…you would be wrong.
Instead, what I ended up reading in Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore was about a bunch of twenty-something year-olds who always know just what to do and just who to call at any moment to put the next piece of the puzzle in place. Remember the campy 70’s-era James Bond films where Q would give Bond just the right gizmo at the beginning of the film to ensure his survival at the end of the film? Yes, it was kind of like that – only with nerds.
Worse, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore was also a non-stop public relations campaign for Google. Yes, I said Google. Really, the book should have been titled “Google is Awesome and Everything Else Sucks.” Frankly, I’m surprised that Google wasn’t listed on the front cover. Then we get an ending that completely fizzles, resolving virtually nothing. Top it all off with an epilogue where everyone’s fate is listed out providing a summary of what happened to each character. Shockingly they each became exactly what they dreamed of being. Yawn. Really? It was like a bad Fantasy Island episode.
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore could have been something really special. It wasn’t. Frankly it prayed on the bibliomania of hardcore readers only to pull a bit of a bait-and-switch. I can’t say this book was bad. Frankly, it really wasn’t anything. In fact, I’ll probably forget all about it before I even finish writing this re…
What was I saying??
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business, Clay takes it upon himself to analyze the vast inventory of obscure books checked out by a small group of bizarre patrons. But as Clay and his friends find out that the secrets of this bookstore extend far beyond its walls.“You know, I'm really starting to think the whole world is just a patchwork quilt of crazy little cults, all with their own secret spaces, their own records, their own rules.”
You would think that a story of an unemployed young man finding a job at a 24-hour bookstore filled with cryptic volumes on shelves three-stories high frequented by even more cryptic patrons would lead a bookish romp. You would think that given the eccentric Mr. Penumbra and a secret society around the world it would become just the sort of mystery any bibliophile would devour. Add to that a 500 year old quest being potentially solved by an aged man with the help of his young clerk and you would think you have the perfect story. With Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore…you would be wrong.
Instead, what I ended up reading in Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore was about a bunch of twenty-something year-olds who always know just what to do and just who to call at any moment to put the next piece of the puzzle in place. Remember the campy 70’s-era James Bond films where Q would give Bond just the right gizmo at the beginning of the film to ensure his survival at the end of the film? Yes, it was kind of like that – only with nerds.
Worse, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore was also a non-stop public relations campaign for Google. Yes, I said Google. Really, the book should have been titled “Google is Awesome and Everything Else Sucks.” Frankly, I’m surprised that Google wasn’t listed on the front cover. Then we get an ending that completely fizzles, resolving virtually nothing. Top it all off with an epilogue where everyone’s fate is listed out providing a summary of what happened to each character. Shockingly they each became exactly what they dreamed of being. Yawn. Really? It was like a bad Fantasy Island episode.
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore could have been something really special. It wasn’t. Frankly it prayed on the bibliomania of hardcore readers only to pull a bit of a bait-and-switch. I can’t say this book was bad. Frankly, it really wasn’t anything. In fact, I’ll probably forget all about it before I even finish writing this re…
What was I saying??
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LibraryThing member JBD1
Ingredients pretty much guaranteed to get me to read a book: a mysterious secret society of bibliophiles, a curious bookstore, a gorgeous subterranean reading room, secret codes, the intersection of technology and the world of books, Aldus Manutius. Robin Sloan's Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Yes, the plot may be a little bit boilerplate, and yes, some of the characters aren't exactly drawn in any great depth. But Sloan's fascination with books and their makers, and how technology is (and is not) reshaping the biblioverse comes through loud and clear. His quick wit and ability to slip with ease from describing programming languages to typography to data visualization make this book thoroughly enjoyable. I don't want to give away much of the plot: just go read it.
The book itself is also a lovely object, designed by Abby Kagan with a glow-in-the-dark dust jacket by Rodrigo Corral.
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(FSG, 2012) has all those bases covered and more. Sloan, who describes himself as a "media inventor," and who, like many of us, is interested in both books and computers and how the two can play together, has crafted a fun, quest-type story that's sure to find a wide audience.Yes, the plot may be a little bit boilerplate, and yes, some of the characters aren't exactly drawn in any great depth. But Sloan's fascination with books and their makers, and how technology is (and is not) reshaping the biblioverse comes through loud and clear. His quick wit and ability to slip with ease from describing programming languages to typography to data visualization make this book thoroughly enjoyable. I don't want to give away much of the plot: just go read it.
The book itself is also a lovely object, designed by Abby Kagan with a glow-in-the-dark dust jacket by Rodrigo Corral.
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LibraryThing member icolford
Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan comes loaded with plenty of hype and accolades. The story revolves around the mysteries and curiosities that narrator Clay Jannon encounters after taking a job in an all-night bookstore, employment of last resort after losing his job as a web
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designer when the economy goes bust. The store is operated by the shadowy and evasive Mr Penumbra and occupies an unusually tall, narrow space in a building in downtown San Francisco. During his first few night shifts Clay cannot help but notice the procession of odd characters who visit the store and the strange books they ask to borrow (nobody buys much of anything). Clay’s duties include writing descriptions of each transaction in a log book, and when he examines older log books he finds records of transactions going back decades. It all adds up to a mystery he can’t resist, and he is soon embroiled in an elaborate quest involving ancient tomes, a secret (and highly secretive) society, 500-year-old clues, an underground library and an unbreakable code that has baffled scholars for centuries. The story unfolds at a frantic pace and presents the reader with plenty of action and lots of descriptions of things happening on computer screens. Robin Sloan has written a novel for the digital age in which the final outcome depends as much on computers analyzing cryptic sequences of symbols as it does on the actions and decisions of the characters. For the most part it is compelling and sometimes even intriguing. Where Sloan fails is characterization. Clay and his friends—including Mr Penumbra—come across as cyphers kept busy doing the author’s bidding without much reflection. Sloan gives token effort to making his characters distinctive and individual, but in the end each is hardly more than the sum of his or her eccentricities. As a result, the novel lacks an emotional core and the reader struggles to care what happens. Plot-wise the story is kept moving briskly along because every time Clay encounters an obstacle, the author conjures up a friend or friend of a friend who knows someone who can be counted upon to solve exactly that kind of problem. One suspects the movie rights for Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore sold even before the book hit the shelves—the novel includes some stunning visuals. Ironically, the pages of a book don’t do this story justice. The big screen is where it belongs. In the right hands Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore will make a spectacular film. Show Less
LibraryThing member jnwelch
Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan is a relaxed ramble through the overlap between "Old Knowledge" (aka books) and rapidly evolving new technology. Our hero is Clay Jannon, who was once "the voice of @NewBagel on Twitter, and attracted a few hundred followers with a mix of breakfast
He loves books in part because, as a boy, he and his closest friend were enraptured by "The Dragonsong Chronicles" trilogy. Although there are no dragons in this book, that series will turn out to have more significance than he ever would have guessed. Clay begins to suspect something unusual is going on when a certain subscribing clientele are the only ones allowed to read the dusty, hard to get to volumes in the back, which have odd names and seemingly indecipherable contents.
There are engaging side characters, like his roommate Mat, who by day works on special effects for Industrial Light and Magic, making props and movie sets, and at night labors on his "Matropolis", on multiple card tables in the apartment, "a scaled-down dreamscape, a bright glittering hyper-city made with scraps of the familiar." I enjoyed imagining it from Sloan's description, and Mat's skill set will prove critical as events unfold. The same is true with Clay's romantic interest Kat, who works at Google and loves to wear a vibrant "BAM!" t-shirt. The spoofing of Google is a standout in the enjoyment of this book, including the company's attempts to build "renewable energy that runs on hubris."
Inevitably the Old Knowledge book world clashes with, or maybe is subsumed by, the ever optimistic tech world, and Google's well-known book project becomes involved. There's a riddle to be solved, and lessons to be learned. At one point Clay tries to imagine life in 3012. "I can't come up with an even half-way decent scene. Will people live in buildings? Will they wear clothes? My imagination is almost physically straining. Fingers of thought are raking the space behind the cushions, looking for loose ideas, finding nothing." One hope of mine, both at the end of the book and for 3012, is that somewhere there will be a Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore.
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trivia and digital coupons.” In a down economy, he somehow ends up working as a clerk in Mr. Penumbra's extremely vertical bookstore, where adeptness at climbing ladders is essential.He loves books in part because, as a boy, he and his closest friend were enraptured by "The Dragonsong Chronicles" trilogy. Although there are no dragons in this book, that series will turn out to have more significance than he ever would have guessed. Clay begins to suspect something unusual is going on when a certain subscribing clientele are the only ones allowed to read the dusty, hard to get to volumes in the back, which have odd names and seemingly indecipherable contents.
There are engaging side characters, like his roommate Mat, who by day works on special effects for Industrial Light and Magic, making props and movie sets, and at night labors on his "Matropolis", on multiple card tables in the apartment, "a scaled-down dreamscape, a bright glittering hyper-city made with scraps of the familiar." I enjoyed imagining it from Sloan's description, and Mat's skill set will prove critical as events unfold. The same is true with Clay's romantic interest Kat, who works at Google and loves to wear a vibrant "BAM!" t-shirt. The spoofing of Google is a standout in the enjoyment of this book, including the company's attempts to build "renewable energy that runs on hubris."
Inevitably the Old Knowledge book world clashes with, or maybe is subsumed by, the ever optimistic tech world, and Google's well-known book project becomes involved. There's a riddle to be solved, and lessons to be learned. At one point Clay tries to imagine life in 3012. "I can't come up with an even half-way decent scene. Will people live in buildings? Will they wear clothes? My imagination is almost physically straining. Fingers of thought are raking the space behind the cushions, looking for loose ideas, finding nothing." One hope of mine, both at the end of the book and for 3012, is that somewhere there will be a Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore.
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LibraryThing member bookmagic
This book caught me by surprise because I had never heard of it before and it showed up on my Amazon recommended books. I read the sample and immediately bought the book. I could have read it in a couple of sittings but I wanted to savor it.
It's not an easy book to summarize but I'll try. Clay
The author uses the love of old books and history and the powerful technology of Google and computers to create a story that is exciting, meaningful, and incredibly enjoyable.
It is just one of those books that you want to tell people "Read it, you'll love it". So yes, just read it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
It's not an easy book to summarize but I'll try. Clay
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Jannon has been working as a programmer for a Bagel Company that goes under. He has a hard time getting a job and comes across a bookstore looking for a clerk for the night shift. Clay is intrigued by this huge bookstore, it's eccentric owner, and the customers who come in late. but not to buy books, they take books out from the Wayback Books as Clay calls them, books he has never heard of that cover several stories of shelves, and they exchange them after they are finished. Clay eventually takes a look at these books even though he isn't supposed to and discovers they are all in code. To tell more is to give spoilers that you might not want though are easily available in other reviews. I read this without knowing anything and I want others to have that option.The author uses the love of old books and history and the powerful technology of Google and computers to create a story that is exciting, meaningful, and incredibly enjoyable.
It is just one of those books that you want to tell people "Read it, you'll love it". So yes, just read it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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LibraryThing member cameling
Just when you thought the days of wizards, warriors and evil overlords were a thing of medieval fantasy comes along a book that brings them back to life again ...but with a modern twist. Spell casting comes in the form of computer programs with wizards working in Google and Hadoob, and warriors are
There's a secret club called the Unbound Spine with the goal of members being to solve the puzzle around the Founder's codex vitae which is believed to contain the essence of immortality. The club is currently controlled by a man who believes the quest must only be conducted through years of study and code breaking without the use of modern technology. So no computers are to be used, even if it means they may be able to get to the secret today rather than perhaps in 50 years.
But along comes our warrior, Clay Jannon, a nighttime book clerk at Mr Penumbra's bookstore, who stumbles upon the secret in logs stored at the bookstore, and the members who come in to borrow certain books in sequence. When Mr Penumbra closes his bookstore and disappears as a result of an unprecedented act by Clay, Clay rounds up his band of warriors to search for him and save him from the 'burning'.
It starts off a little slow, but gathers a momentum before long. Woven into the story is also a look at how Google operates as a company and explanations into what big data applications like Hadoop allow us to achieve and how. It's an interesting blend of diminishing the cloud that sometimes covers today's technology and keeping with the more traditional quest that fantasy readers are familiar with.
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bookstore clerks and start up CEOs. There's a secret club called the Unbound Spine with the goal of members being to solve the puzzle around the Founder's codex vitae which is believed to contain the essence of immortality. The club is currently controlled by a man who believes the quest must only be conducted through years of study and code breaking without the use of modern technology. So no computers are to be used, even if it means they may be able to get to the secret today rather than perhaps in 50 years.
But along comes our warrior, Clay Jannon, a nighttime book clerk at Mr Penumbra's bookstore, who stumbles upon the secret in logs stored at the bookstore, and the members who come in to borrow certain books in sequence. When Mr Penumbra closes his bookstore and disappears as a result of an unprecedented act by Clay, Clay rounds up his band of warriors to search for him and save him from the 'burning'.
It starts off a little slow, but gathers a momentum before long. Woven into the story is also a look at how Google operates as a company and explanations into what big data applications like Hadoop allow us to achieve and how. It's an interesting blend of diminishing the cloud that sometimes covers today's technology and keeping with the more traditional quest that fantasy readers are familiar with.
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LibraryThing member varwenea
A fanciful bookstore, beautiful physical books, San Francisco, Manhattan, quirky characters, techy nerddom – all things found in this book, all things I like, and yet, they sum up to a book that I don’t like. It’s theoretically promising, yet it’s all wrong. Even a fantasy should have
I suppose I should say a couple of good things. The book has a proper story-telling layout. The background, the build-up, a couple of highs and lows, and the resolution. Yay, someone knows how to do a plot structure. Lastly, the book surprised me with a glow in the dark cover. “What is that glow?”, says I, in the middle of the night. Oh hey, this book yielded some affinity after all. :P
One quote on the brain – thinking about things differently overtime:
“We have the same hardware, but not the same software. Did you know the concept of privacy is, like, totally recent? And so is the idea of romance, of course.”
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warmth and build affinity. Sorry, but I’ve got nothing here. It’s preposterous too often. I couldn’t even get over the premise of only 3 people working at a bookstore that never closes; permanent overtime? It has too much Google-ness, and even this ‘reality’ is grabbing at straws. It’s exaggerated without enough gain. I suppose I should say a couple of good things. The book has a proper story-telling layout. The background, the build-up, a couple of highs and lows, and the resolution. Yay, someone knows how to do a plot structure. Lastly, the book surprised me with a glow in the dark cover. “What is that glow?”, says I, in the middle of the night. Oh hey, this book yielded some affinity after all. :P
One quote on the brain – thinking about things differently overtime:
“We have the same hardware, but not the same software. Did you know the concept of privacy is, like, totally recent? And so is the idea of romance, of course.”
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LibraryThing member Beamis12
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
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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. Show Less
LibraryThing member Bodagirl
A quirky conspiracy story about a long dead printer, a secret society of cryptographers, googlers, and the quest for immortality. A great insight into the power of and the limits of computers. Plus, the cover glows in the dark!
LibraryThing member ltcl
Kim's Bookstack
a few seconds ago
I truly will search for Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore for the rest of my days. Someday, somewhere, I will find a door with a warm light glowing above it to look for the perfect book at the perfect time. This book is a treasure! It is l
ike falling into the Alice in
a few seconds ago
I truly will search for Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore for the rest of my days. Someday, somewhere, I will find a door with a warm light glowing above it to look for the perfect book at the perfect time. This book is a treasure! It is l
ike falling into the Alice in
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Wonderland between the ancients studying the great works of time and all those caffeine-driven crazies of technology who are trying to solve everything instantly. A young man in need of a job finds himself a night clerk in a most unusual bookstore. It is in a quiet spot on a nothing street, appears to run without selling anything, never advertises its wares and seems to have exactly the book that its patrons need. When Clay begins to enlist the help of his friends to solve an age old riddle of what exactly is going on in the bookstore, they all fall down the rabbit hole and become embroiled in the store's mysteries. You will ponder about the future of books, you will become nostalgic about those books you loved as a child and you might question if using all this technology isn't taking something away from our lives. A giant high-five to Robin Sloan who I hope is busy at work with his next book. This will appeal to many markets and I can see the book clubs lining up as I write this. Show Less
LibraryThing member ethel55
Recent grad Clay Jannon finds himself out of a job after his design gig with NewBagel goes under. Easily distracted by pop-ups and games while checking Craigslist for jobs, Clay begins to do searching the old fashioned way, with some paper. A sign in a window actually leads to employment at a used
"You know, I'm really starting to think the whole world is just a patchwork quilt of crazy little cults, all with their own secret spaces, their own records, their own rules." p. 253
"A clerk and a ladder and warm golden light, and then: the right book exactly, at exactly the right time." p. 288
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bookstore. The mysterious Mr. Penumbra offers night employment to Clay, dependent upon his dexterity on a ladder and willingness to not ask too many questions. Puzzles and mysteries ensue as the few customers who repeatedly stop in, seem to belong to some sort of club. They only come to return and borrow new tomes from within far reaches of the skinny bookstore. Friendship, codes, quests and books, it's hard to articulate the many twists and turns this story takes without giving too much away. Suffice to say, I was absolutely taken with this exceptional book and would run away to work at Penumbra's in a heartbeat. If you are a fan of books like The Night Circus, The Magicians or Ready Player One, you will be in for a fantastic read."You know, I'm really starting to think the whole world is just a patchwork quilt of crazy little cults, all with their own secret spaces, their own records, their own rules." p. 253
"A clerk and a ladder and warm golden light, and then: the right book exactly, at exactly the right time." p. 288
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LibraryThing member thatpirategirl
If watching characters struggle with elaborate puzzles makes you think, "wouldn't it be faster to solve that with a computer?", this may be the book for you. It's the story of an unemployed programmer who finds a job at a bookstore that barely sells any books, except to eccentric types who show up
The plot relies so much on current technology trends, it will probably look more outdated with each passing year, but right now it's a fun tech-adventure for anybody who thinks nothing is impossible if you're a curious person with a computer.
The characters are relatably geeky, but in a flawless genius sort of way that's borderline irritating. They also have a real-world mentality that grounds the story a little too solidly, so situations that should have tension seem to have none. Some things you just take for granted in fiction, like that the protagonist probably can't solve their problem by getting outside help -- in this story he just calls in a favor from one of his many expert friends, or alerts the media in a way that would surely get his plans foiled by the antagonists in any other book.
But there are other appealing aspects, like the mysterious bookstore setting, the mix of old and new technology, a realistically low-key romance, and a finale that's both clever and endearingly silly. (As a graphic designer, I laughed out loud at how specifically it pandered to me.) Its tone is quite similar to Ready Player One -- maybe there will be a new genre starring young geeks whose plethora of random skills and love of fantasy quests finally lead them to excel at a real world adventure.
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in the dead of night. When he attempts to use his tech skills to crack the secrets of the shop, things escalate quickly. The plot relies so much on current technology trends, it will probably look more outdated with each passing year, but right now it's a fun tech-adventure for anybody who thinks nothing is impossible if you're a curious person with a computer.
The characters are relatably geeky, but in a flawless genius sort of way that's borderline irritating. They also have a real-world mentality that grounds the story a little too solidly, so situations that should have tension seem to have none. Some things you just take for granted in fiction, like that the protagonist probably can't solve their problem by getting outside help -- in this story he just calls in a favor from one of his many expert friends, or alerts the media in a way that would surely get his plans foiled by the antagonists in any other book.
But there are other appealing aspects, like the mysterious bookstore setting, the mix of old and new technology, a realistically low-key romance, and a finale that's both clever and endearingly silly. (As a graphic designer, I laughed out loud at how specifically it pandered to me.) Its tone is quite similar to Ready Player One -- maybe there will be a new genre starring young geeks whose plethora of random skills and love of fantasy quests finally lead them to excel at a real world adventure.
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LibraryThing member Literate.Ninja
I picked this book up at my library after reading a funny review of it online, and I was very excited to get it home. It has so many of my favorite things: books, bookstores, eccentric old people, eccentric young people, secrets, cults, typography... man, the hits just keep coming. I will spare you
Also... that strange cover with the eye-bending yellow books... it glows in the dark. Just in case you needed another reason to go get the book. ^_^
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the long, drawn-out fawning... basically all I need to say is GO READ THIS!!Also... that strange cover with the eye-bending yellow books... it glows in the dark. Just in case you needed another reason to go get the book. ^_^
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LibraryThing member pw0327
This is a fun and riveting read. combining the ancient world of letters and the latest and greatest in technology with a dash of fantasy and science fiction thrown in. The juxtaposition of the two worlds works well in this mystery/adventure. The premise is that the author, an out of work web
The plot and the narrative moves along at a pretty good clip but Sloan does an excellent job of educating the reader about the necessary background facts, making the world of old world printing and new world web based technology accessible and at least understandable enough to keep the reader's interest. I do think he could have gone a little more in depth on some of the concepts he introduces.
In a way, the denouement of the book was somewhat disappointing, he opted for the omniscient voice telling the final bits of the story instead of going into more depth and describing what happens to all the characters. That approach made the ending feel rushed and made me feel like I was being hustled through a museum because it was almost closing time, but the ending itself redeemed any flaws in the execution that I perceived.
Overall, I enjoyed the romp through time and history. I am hoping for another book from Robin Sloan, hopefully sometime soon.
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designer begins working in a mysterious 24 hour bookstore, which rarely if ever gets any business. The story then flows from this interesting premise. The old and new world of communicating starts from there, as the author's voice begins to map out the book store and the goings on in the store. I won't go into details about the story here because I don't want to void the joy of discovery from the readers. Suffice it to say that Robin Sloan has done a very good job of researching and mixing the two very different worlds in a pretty convincing way. The plot, though somewhat slight, was complex enough to keep my attention. His description of the characters were good enough to keep me riveted. The plot and the narrative moves along at a pretty good clip but Sloan does an excellent job of educating the reader about the necessary background facts, making the world of old world printing and new world web based technology accessible and at least understandable enough to keep the reader's interest. I do think he could have gone a little more in depth on some of the concepts he introduces.
In a way, the denouement of the book was somewhat disappointing, he opted for the omniscient voice telling the final bits of the story instead of going into more depth and describing what happens to all the characters. That approach made the ending feel rushed and made me feel like I was being hustled through a museum because it was almost closing time, but the ending itself redeemed any flaws in the execution that I perceived.
Overall, I enjoyed the romp through time and history. I am hoping for another book from Robin Sloan, hopefully sometime soon.
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LibraryThing member MillieHennessy
Clay, an unemployed graphic designer and all-around nerd, walks into any book lover's dream job when he stumbles upon Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore and becomes the new night clerk. His job is simple, climb ladders to retrieve books for (mostly eccentric) customers and then log their visit in
From there, the adventure unfolds. It's best if you just read it. Clay is an excellent main character, both curious and caring. His friends are strange and loveable, and the pace of the book moved right along. To me it was more of a modern day fairy tale and it made the idea of magic seem possible, despite no magic really happening. The adventure Clay and his friends embark on has a wonderful mix of modern, digital resources, as well as "old-school" techniques. I really loved this book!
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detail (what they are wearing, if they seem rushed, frantic, etc). That all changes when his friend Mat visits one night and climbs a ladder himself to look inside the forbidden books. The two discover that the books are written in some kind of code and Clay begins to realize that these late night customers are more than that--they're part of some sort of cult.From there, the adventure unfolds. It's best if you just read it. Clay is an excellent main character, both curious and caring. His friends are strange and loveable, and the pace of the book moved right along. To me it was more of a modern day fairy tale and it made the idea of magic seem possible, despite no magic really happening. The adventure Clay and his friends embark on has a wonderful mix of modern, digital resources, as well as "old-school" techniques. I really loved this book!
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LibraryThing member mhollingsworth
There's so much in this slim volume that I'm not sure where to start. Here's the TLDR version: it's an utter delight, and you should buy it immediately.
Our hero is a graphic designer with some meager programming skills who is left jobless by the recession. He finds new work as a bookstore clerk,
The "I love the smell of glue" crowd is represented, as are the "print is already dead" folks. Neither are wrong, because the book as object *and* the book as text are important in different ways. The vast power of the Internet is harnessed, often to great effect, but human handcraft is also vital.
That would be plenty, but there's so much more. For instance, consider the idea -- so casually tossed off -- that the world is simply filled with secret societies, the only hitch being that most of them don't realize that they're secret. Or ponder how the standard adventuring party from role-playing games, when the roles are translated into modern terms, actually is a fine combination of human resources for accomplishing a goal quickly. Or think on how movable-type presses were, in their day, the equivalent of a young Internet -- a new technology with limitless and thrilling potential to open vistas theretofore undreamed-of.
It's missing a few things, most notably combat and sex. I didn't miss them. I didn't even really notice their lack until I sat down to write this review. There's no need for faux excitement when there's so much genuine excitement. The book is so full of *story,* not to mention ideas, that the pages very nearly turn of their own accord.
Buy it. Read it. Rethink parts of your world.
Our hero is a graphic designer with some meager programming skills who is left jobless by the recession. He finds new work as a bookstore clerk,
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and soon discovers that the store is much more than it seems. His quest to uncover its secrets leads only to mysteries, eventually sending him not only across the country but (figuratively) back in time to when the technology to make books widely accessible first became available.The "I love the smell of glue" crowd is represented, as are the "print is already dead" folks. Neither are wrong, because the book as object *and* the book as text are important in different ways. The vast power of the Internet is harnessed, often to great effect, but human handcraft is also vital.
That would be plenty, but there's so much more. For instance, consider the idea -- so casually tossed off -- that the world is simply filled with secret societies, the only hitch being that most of them don't realize that they're secret. Or ponder how the standard adventuring party from role-playing games, when the roles are translated into modern terms, actually is a fine combination of human resources for accomplishing a goal quickly. Or think on how movable-type presses were, in their day, the equivalent of a young Internet -- a new technology with limitless and thrilling potential to open vistas theretofore undreamed-of.
It's missing a few things, most notably combat and sex. I didn't miss them. I didn't even really notice their lack until I sat down to write this review. There's no need for faux excitement when there's so much genuine excitement. The book is so full of *story,* not to mention ideas, that the pages very nearly turn of their own accord.
Buy it. Read it. Rethink parts of your world.
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LibraryThing member tututhefirst
This is a weird book. I'd say it's "Harry Potter meets the DaVinci Code" weird. I read the whole thing. I kept reading to see if somewhere along the line I'd get it. But I didn't. I think it's the story of a young man, Clay Jannon, recently laid off from his advertising job, who starts out working
Coming from a web design and advertising background, Clay decides that Mr. Penumbra isn't getting enough business and trys to find ways to attract more customers. Having grabbed one of his "e coupons" while she was waiting for a bus at the corner, geek girl Ashley enters his life. By then Clay and another friend have also taken an illicit peek at the contents of this multi-storied - accessible only by ladder- book collection and decided there is something secret and coded going on with the "members" of the book store and the strange volumes with only roman numerals on the spine. Ashley works for Google, and together with an entire cast of "today" characters, and secret forays into the code busting capabilities of Google's machines, they set out to discover Mr. Penumbra's secrets, and help him.
I wish I knew what they were helping him with. It was at this point I got lost. I suspect that readers who are into Google, Microsoft, code, web pages, and secrets will love this book. I suspect that it's one you either get or you don't. The writing is fun, clear and if you understand the plot, you won't have trouble with it. If you enjoy fantasy, and perhaps some contemporary science writing, you'll love this. There appear to be several layers, focusing somehow on the war between digital and print publishing, between paper and ebooks. I suspect it may take some of us more than one read to get everything out of it, and I intend to give it another try sometime in the future. For now, I'll let others delve into the story and perhaps explain it to me.
Did I mention that the cover glows in the dark?
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the 10PM to 6AM shift in Mr. Penumbra's book store. When he is hired, he is told that under no circumstances may he open or look into any of the books. He must keep a journal/log of EVERYTHING that happens while he is there. And borrowers (not buyers???) must have a membership card. Nights are long, alternating between boredom and absolute lunacy.Coming from a web design and advertising background, Clay decides that Mr. Penumbra isn't getting enough business and trys to find ways to attract more customers. Having grabbed one of his "e coupons" while she was waiting for a bus at the corner, geek girl Ashley enters his life. By then Clay and another friend have also taken an illicit peek at the contents of this multi-storied - accessible only by ladder- book collection and decided there is something secret and coded going on with the "members" of the book store and the strange volumes with only roman numerals on the spine. Ashley works for Google, and together with an entire cast of "today" characters, and secret forays into the code busting capabilities of Google's machines, they set out to discover Mr. Penumbra's secrets, and help him.
I wish I knew what they were helping him with. It was at this point I got lost. I suspect that readers who are into Google, Microsoft, code, web pages, and secrets will love this book. I suspect that it's one you either get or you don't. The writing is fun, clear and if you understand the plot, you won't have trouble with it. If you enjoy fantasy, and perhaps some contemporary science writing, you'll love this. There appear to be several layers, focusing somehow on the war between digital and print publishing, between paper and ebooks. I suspect it may take some of us more than one read to get everything out of it, and I intend to give it another try sometime in the future. For now, I'll let others delve into the story and perhaps explain it to me.
Did I mention that the cover glows in the dark?
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LibraryThing member ctpress
I will not venture into a summary of this story. Its a really weird plot - it centers around a bookshop where something very mystical is going on - a “riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma” - a code puzzle with the potential of solving the secret of life itself.
It’s old technology
If you’re a bookgeek or a computernerd you will love this even more.
It’s old technology
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(the book) vs. or combining new technology (the internet). Its very funny and clever - I have to admit that near the end I found myself dizzy with the puzzle - but there’s so many surprising plot-twists that you just can’t put it down. You have to find out whats going on. Plus some nerdy characters. If you’re a bookgeek or a computernerd you will love this even more.
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LibraryThing member VioletBramble
Clay is an out of work, twenty-something, web designer living in San Fransisco. While job hunting he wanders into Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. The ceilings, and therefore the bookshelves, are extremely high. They remind Clay of a forest. Mr. Penumbra is a very old man. Clay is hired for the
A fairly quick read, the action is kept at a steady pace and never drags. The mystery was interesting. I found most of the characters one- dimensional. While the story was good overall it's not a book that I would re-read.
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late shift, 10pm - 6am. After awhile Clay notices that something is strange with the store. Most of the people that come in have membership cards with a special number and ask to borrow books that have no words, just symbols. Clay keeps track of all transactions in a log book. Clay eventually discovers that the strange customers are members of the fellowship of The Unbroken Spine. They borrow the books in an attempt to decipher a secret message left by their founder, Aldus Manutius. Of course Clay decides that he needs to crack the code and decipher the message. Clay and his network of techies, creatives and book lovers will use all the technology at their disposal - both ancient and contemporary- to make this happen. Unless the leader of The Unbroken Spine can stop them.A fairly quick read, the action is kept at a steady pace and never drags. The mystery was interesting. I found most of the characters one- dimensional. While the story was good overall it's not a book that I would re-read.
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Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2014)
LA Times Book Prize (Finalist — 2012)
Alex Award (2013)
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2015)
Maine Readers' Choice Award (Longlist — 2013)
The Kitschies (Finalist — 2013)
San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year (Fiction/Poetry — 2012)
Reading Across Rhode Island (2014)
RUSA CODES Listen List (Selection — 2013)
Language
Original publication date
2012
Physical description
288 p.; 21 cm
ISBN
9781250037756
Local notes
Mr. Penumbra, 1
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Sloan |