April Group Read Discussion: Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

[Nadine in NY]

Discussion is open for Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Please use spoiler tags if you are sharing any plot related surprises.

Posts should be exclusively about this book.

When you've finished, be sure to post in the April Challenge - I finished! thread.

[Tara]

Hi all! I’ll be moderating this group read so looking forward to reading with you all! My copy should be here Tuesday, I made a mistake putting it in for the 30th because it always takes 24 hours after the request date but I hadn’t noticed it was a Saturday and the library is closed Sunday and Monday.

[Mike]

I read this book in 2014 and enjoyed it for the most part. I've copied my review here, and had one big gripe:

(view spoiler)[I was hooked for 95% of this book, but found the ending to be unsatisfying. Also, too much use of Deus Ex Persona, which is a term I coined for Deus Ex Machina with people substituted for machines or devices. The protagonist was always fortunate to know or meet exactly who would be able to help with whatever needed to be done to solve the next piece of the puzzle. Too much coincidence in play throughout. (hide spoiler)]

Agree? Disagree? Let me know if you noticed this too or if I'm the weird one.

[Jackie]

Mike wrote: "I read this book in 2014 and enjoyed it for the most part. I've copied my review here, and had one big gripe:

[spoilers removed]

Agree? Disagree? Let me know if you noticed this too or if I'm the..."

Yeah, I see what you're saying, but I think that's kind of just a part of the style/genre of the book. It has a little bit of that "National Treasure" type vibe.

[Mike]

Jackie wrote: "Mike wrote: "I read this book in 2014 and enjoyed it for the most part. I've copied my review here, and had one big gripe:

[spoilers removed]

Agree? Disagree? Let me know if you noticed this too ...

Yeah, I see what you're saying, but I think that's kind of just a part of the style/genre of the book. It has a little bit of that "National Treasure" type vibe. "

I think I get that now that I've read Sourdough. It seems to be the author's thing, but since he only had the one book at the time I didn't realize it. Hard to connect the dots when there's only one dot.

[cvtherin]

Yes, Sourdough does very much the same thing. It didn't really bother me too much (I also noticed that), I'm not sure if it didn't bother me as much because I listened to it vs reading it.

I did find the end a little unsatisfying, mainly because I felt like there was a set-up for a sequel and not a stand alone book. I don't like obvious hook/cliffhanger-type endings.

[Lu]

Cat wrote: "I did find the end a little unsatisfying, mainly because I felt like there was a set-up for a sequel and not a stand alone book. I don't like obvious hook/cliffhanger-type endings. "

I didn't feel that a sequel is necessary, the epilogue pretty much tells everything that happens next and there's no cliffhanger there, in my opinion. I'd like to read the prequel, tho (Ajax Penumbra 1969) just to see what's that about.

(view spoiler)[I understand what you say about the protagonist knowing just the right people, but I think we can all relate in some measure. Don't we all know someone who knows a lot about a specific subject? I know I do, maybe that's why I didn't mind it. (hide spoiler)]

What I didn't like much was that the book was "sponsored" by Google and Apple. I can understand the Google part, being one of the biggest software companies in the world, but c'mon, there are other phones besides iPhones, and PCs are more popular than Macs.

Did anyone else had troubles with the ethnicity of the characters? (view spoiler)[I was picturing Neel and Kat as white until Clay said they're black near the end. Although I'm not sure about Kat, he sais "her golden skin" and I don't know if he means black, asian or what. I also asumed that Clay himself was black because of Cassius Clay, if that makes any sense at all...
I don't care what race characters are, it just really bothers me picturing a face in my head and have it changed at the end. (hide spoiler)]

[Heather]

Yes, the whole "sponsored" by Google thing really frustrated me. (view spoiler)[In the end, I liked that two people cracked the code on their own. It's a positive message about human ingenuity, hard work, and delayed gratification. But I really hated the part where they dump the codex into the Google Box, and when Google couldn't solve it, everyone gave up. I had a hard time liking them after that. (hide spoiler)]

Somehow I missed that reference to Kat's ethnicity entirely. I thought Neel was Middle Eastern because of his name. It was pretty ambiguous. (Is a character's ethnicity a spoiler? My opinion is that it's not.)

[Lu]

Heather wrote: "Yes, the whole "sponsored" by Google thing really frustrated me. [spoilers removed]

Somehow I missed that reference to Kat's ethnicity entirely. I thought Neel was Middle Eastern because of his na..."

Since it's something mentioned at the end and it might be a sensitive issue to some people, I preferred play on the safe side and tag it as spoiler :P
In my country there aren't many foreigners, so all my knowledge about names and ethnicity comes from Hollywood, which is to say little to none.

[Gabi]

@Mike The "Deux ex Persona" bugged me to. If this is part of the genre, then probably this genre is not for me :S

@Luciana @Heather I too was annoyed by the constant plugging of Google and other companies. It's a shame, because the theme of digital vs analog was so intriguing.

[Fannie]

I agree with you Mike about the Deus Ex Persona also, but it didn't bother me. I was reading the book and finding him very fortunate to know all those people.

(view spoiler)[After all, it connected very well with the ending of the book. (hide spoiler)]

I liked it very much and will read Surdough.

At time it made me laugh also. One part he is decribing how he code the virtual library and I was impressed, the next sentence was something like: ''If you are impressed, it's because you are over 30''. Hard not to laugh, even more when it's true.

[Kim]

I feel I sort of cheated for this one. I read the next book in a series I'd started, based on the title, Library of Souls, by Ransom Riggs, from the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series. I listened to the book on Overdrive audio, while looking through the hardcover copy that I bought my husband last year. (You've GOT to see the found photographs that inspired the book(s)!

So, although my book was about a library, it wasn't really a library of books! I also have Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore on my reading list (I sometimes read a couple of books for some prompts and never get around to others), but, based on the recommendation of another Goodreads reader, I want to SEE the book, so I thought I'd look for it in my brick and mortar library or bookstore, rather than on Overdrive (I haven't got an up-to-date device for viewing extras).

[Lu]

One thing I'd like to comment about this book is that one of my dreams is to have my own bookstore. I can afford it though, so I left it aside. After reading this book I was soooooo hyped that now I want to start reselling books online, bought straight from the publishing companies and save the profits to fund my bookstore <3 I really liked all the marketing strategies that Clay uses, I will use them for my store once I have it :D

[Jessica]

I enjoyed the book.I wasn't as bothered by the advertising for Google and Apple as much as that the book series and typeface weren't real.

The "Deus Ex Persona" didn't bother me quite as much, maybe I've read a lot of books that have that so I almost don't notice it.

I do plan on reading Sourdough too, the excerpt at the end of my kindle version seemed good.

[Tara]

I’ve read about a quarter and I’d love to hear people’s thoughts who haven’t finished (so it’s guesses or speculations rather than spoilers) about what the mysterious customers are seeking, what is this puzzle?

[Lauren]

I was hoping to like this book, and it wasn't bad, just not really my preferred style of writing. It kind of reminded me of "The Da Vinci Code" books with just so much action, and the "deus ex persona" thing people are talking about in this discussion. And the frequent Google references were a bit annoying. I kind of liked the epilogue though, since I tend to enjoy those "this is where everyone ended up" summaries (especially in movies based on true stories). There were some clever lines, and I appreciated the analog vs. digital theme.

[Megan]

I was hoping to read this for the group read, but despite requesting it from my library as soon as it was chosen, I am still ninth on the waiting list. I hope to get it before April ends.

[Britany]

Just starting this one!

[Jai]

I seriously didn't like this book and I had high hopes for it and thought it would be something totally different. I'm disappointed and happy that I listened to it. By the end of the book I was barely paying attention to it. It was just meh with mediocre writing.

[Taylor]

I'm about 1/4-1/3 of the way through. I didn't really know what to expect but so far I like it. I like the mystery without having to have a murder or a dark atmosphere. I have no idea what to think of the bookstore and its patrons.

One thing that is annoying me is the product placement/promotion throughout. It is one of those things that once I notice it I can't stop noticing it! But, so far, it is a minor thing and hasn't taken away from the overall story.

[Larissa]

Listened to the first disc. I am curious as to where this is going.

[Cyndy]

I finished Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore a few days ago and just read the posts here. I enjoyed the book - interesting and yet odd! Tagging the rest as spoilers - just in case... :-) (view spoiler)[
The "deus ex persona" didn't bother me at all. I think I felt like Clay was enough of a "nerd" that it was reasonable.
I didn't mind the Google references either. While it seems a little overdone, if you've ever met someone that is immersed in their silicon valley corporate world, it is totally reasonable that Kat would be overboard about her employer. Clay participating in it seemed to me a desire to be included in the culture. Maybe that's why he felt the need to have someone push him to check out the "wayback" books. Me? - I probably would have looked the first time I was alone - but I probably wouldn't have taken a job in such an odd place!
I am curious how so many people were "hooked" into the decoding, as it did seen a little (lot) culty. Maybe that's what Mr. Sloan was implying with all the Google references? (hide spoiler)]
I want to read Ajax Penumbra 1969 as well, hopefully the price will drop one of these days! I am cheap when it comes to Kindle singles!

[Tara]

I just finished the third part (I split it into 4 to read) and I’m intrigued. I am looking forward to the end and finding out more about the group and the quest. Sloan is good at weaving plausible computer tech with sci fi/fantasy.

[Johanne]

Has anyone written the books mentioned in the book down? (the real ones). For the book mentioned in another book prompt. I listened to it on audio on the road so I couldn't do it during reading.

[Tara]

No but I’m happy to flip through it tomorrow for you if nobody else pops in 😘

[Johanne]

Thanks Tara

[Tara]

Dashiell hammett (author)

Einstein: his life and universe by Walter Isaacson

Pygmalion (as a book store name)

Aristotle’s nicomachean ethics

Trevanians shibumi

The stuff of legend (comic books by mike raicht and Brian Smith)

Cannery row by John Steinbeck

Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams

Stranger in a strange land by Robert a heinlan

The visual display of quantitative information by Edward tufte

Moby dick by Herman melville

Ulysses by James Joyce

The invisible man by hg wells

The information by James gleick

House of leaves by mark z danielewski

[Tara]

Harry Potter is mentioned too, as a series and Rowling by name.

[Johanne]

Thank you so much Tara!

[Tara]

You’re welcome!

[Tara]

Ok so I just finished and I liked sourdough better but I liked how it ended. It feels I don’t know, complete I guess? I can’t do spoiler tags on my phone so I won’t say any more :)

[Angie]

I finished this morning and it was a pleasant read. If you look at the individual components, one would think this book ideal for me, but for some reason it didn't make the "LOVE IT!" category. I am trying to decide what the take-away from it is and i think maybe it is that real, human relationships are what shape us and knowledge and curiosity drive our sense of adventure. But, of course, that is just my take-away.

[Tara]

I also felt early on that books are immortality. They were talking about whether they could bring Manutius back to life but he was already being discussed and thought about hundreds of years after his death.

[Britany]

I really enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would! So glad this one was selected and I finally got to clear it off my TBR.

My Review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jen]

Jai wrote: "I seriously didn't like this book and I had high hopes for it and thought it would be something totally different. I'm disappointed and happy that I listened to it. By the end of the book I was bar..."

Thank goodness. I thought I was a freak. I just don't think there was anything particularly original in it and kept falling asleep while reading it. Shame.

[Angie]

Tara wrote: "I also felt early on that books are immortality. They were talking about whether they could bring Manutius back to life but he was already being discussed and thought about hundreds of years after ..."

Good insight! Immortality through the written word!

[Teri]

I finished it last night. I liked it, didn't love it. I enjoyed the moments of humor that caught me off-guard, the characters, and the bookstore itself. The cult-like parts were interesting (view spoiler)[both the Unbroken Spine and Google, which felt like a big cult (hide spoiler)]. I felt a little lost on occasion with some of the references.

I didn't have a problem with all the Google references or what you are calling "deus ex persona." However, a drinking game with the word Google would have made for some blackout nights.

[Larissa]

"Bigger than Potter"- thems are fighting words!

[Suki]

I just finished reading this. I've had it on my TBR pile for a couple of years, so it's really nice to finally have read it.

I liked it, but not as much as I thought I would. I was expecting a book that was more about books and bookstores and less about Google. I love books and I love technology, but for me, they seem to fall a bit flat when they are combined. The puzzles were very intriguing, but I didn't feel especially close to any of the characters, except possibly Mr Penumbra himself.

I read the prequel novella, Ajax Penumbra 1969, and liked it a lot, actually more than the parent book. It was fun to see a young Mr Penumbra just starting out at the bookstore that would someday be his.

[Taylor]

Did anyone else notice that quite a few times Clay would think something and another character he was interacting with would respond to his thoughts? I definitely thought that was going to be addressed at one point but it never was. To be honest it made me think that they were all robots or cyborgs at one point. Overall I didn't care for this book and would not recommend.

[Johanne]

Taylor wrote: "Did anyone else notice that quite a few times Clay would think something and another character he was interacting with would respond to his thoughts? I definitely thought that was going to be addre..."

I just got a bit confused as to when he was thinking and when he was speaking (I thought this was because of me listening to the audiobook, but maybe not...)