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Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)

Robin Sloan

Start date: May 22, 2013

Finish date: May 31, 2013

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What Members Thought

Jan 20, 2013 Michael rated it liked it

Shelves: read-in-2013, tower-team-challenge-b

When he's laid off from his web design job, Clay Jannon takes a job selling books at Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore.. No, it's not that kind of 24-hour bookstore.

Instead, it's a used book store that harbors a "super secret" section of books that feature no ISBN numbers, aren't in any catalog and that are only available to a mysterious set of patrons who check them out. Clay is required to keep exacting records of not only who has checked out which book but also the circumstances under which t ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2015 Nancy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary

I kept wavering between really liking this book and really not liking it. Yes, it was quirky. Yes it was an interesting look at the intersection between traditional books (or OK - Old Knowledge) and technology. But I just found the characters irritating. I think the intention was for them to be funny, but I found them all just that bit too self-absorbed. Perhaps that was just me though. So I didn't hate it, but it isn't a book I would necessarily return to in a hurry. And I am rather glad I read ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Aug 16, 2015 Catsalive rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015

4.5 ★s

Other people have reviewed this quite extensively, so I'll just say that I truly enjoyed this unusual book. Clay and his friends are likeable, & I enjoyed his hunt for the answers. What's it about? It's hard to say, but I think it's about friendship & finding your niche in the world - & books, of course. I don't just love the smell, I love the look & feel of them too, not to mention the contents - & I like to reorganise my shelves just to play with them.

Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon o ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 07, 2015 Trisha rated it it was ok

"Of course we will accept it. That's what you do on a quest. You listen to the old man's problem and then you promise to help him."

This one started out strong. An old mysterious bookstore, completely eccentric patrons who "rent" hidden strange tombs from the odd parts of the story and an equally old, mysterious store owner who wants you to keep a very precise journal about the store.

It worked out to a great little mystery and a book that, at first, was hard to put down.
But then it took a huge tu ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 26, 2016 Rachel N. rated it really liked it

Clay Jannon is an out of work art school graduate who gets hired to be night clerk at Mr. Penumbra's 24 hour book store. The book store attracts an interesting collection of people who mainly borrow books from "the waybacklist". Out of boredom and to impress a cute girl from google Clay stumbles upon the secret behind the bookstore. A fun book with lots of enjoyable characters. ...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Michelle rated it really liked it

Really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what was going to happen. Loved the way it was written and how everything intertwined. I guessed a few things from the get-go, but there was still lots to discover. Good quick read. Quite enjoyable! ...more

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Sep 09, 2019 Heather rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: magical-realism, knitting, books-about-books, fantasy, low-angst

4.5 stars

I've been wanting to listen to this for a while. It wasn't exactly what I suspected (I suspect more magical realism and less fantasy), but that just made it a bit more unexpected. I had a hard time connecting with it in the beginning and was a little concerned, but then I got caught up in it and enjoyed it immensely. And there's a knitting museum in it!

Cover: Interesting, whimsical, and modern. But I'm a bit disappointed that the cover designer didn't try to recreate the GarretZoon (?) ...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Tfalcone rated it really liked it

If you like ready Player One, you will like this one. A strange "quest" to figure out a codex from an old bookstore involves the service of the Grumble 2000 and help from our good friends at Google. Whimsical and yes, nerdy! ...more

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