Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore

BeccaPrice · 01-14-2013, 03:50 PM

This is the sort of book that makes me want to walk up to total strangers in the street, push the book in their face, and say "you want to read this book right now. Stop whatever you're doing and read it NOW."

I can't begin to describe it. It has a bit of the feel of magical realism about it, but the only magic is in Google's computers. It's not science fiction, not a lot of things - but what it is is perfectly charming.

Basically, an out of work coder finds a job working as a night clerk at Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore. He discovers the real purpose of the store isn't to sell books, but to find the secret to codes hidden in obscure books. This leads to the discovery of a secret society - but not any secret society like Dan Brown writes about. There's no real antagonist, no chase scenes or danger, but it's a page-turner that I found difficult to put down.

All I can say about it is that it's excellent and really, you should read it. Right now.

DianNC · 01-14-2013, 03:59 PM

Just love that review! I'm on the wait list for it at my local library. Should be any day now!

Bilbo1967 · 01-14-2013, 04:01 PM

Well, I'm certainly going to take a look at it. You will refund me if it's not as good as you say, right Becca?

BeccaPrice · 01-14-2013, 04:03 PM

I got it in e-format, and it was rather expensive for an ebook, but it was worth it.

I'm trying to decide whether my husband will like it or not - but it's going on his kindle as soon as I get home.

rhadin · 01-15-2013, 07:29 AM

I read the ebook of it as well and agree that it is an excellent story. The writing is tight and the story simply flows.

Nyssa · 01-15-2013, 07:30 AM

Has been placed on my wish list. Too "spendy" for an impulse buy. Thank you for the recommendation!

NickyWithNook · 01-15-2013, 08:25 AM

I really liked it too. I think I'm a bit older than its target audience, so some of the pop references were not my thing, but I still enjoyed it. It was fun to read.

Joy736 · 02-10-2013, 10:15 AM

I'm reading this right now and I'm enjoying it very much. Thanks for the recommendation Becca!

PurpleStar · 02-10-2013, 10:45 AM

I'm first in line on the library waiting list for it. So I'll get it soon!

piperclassique · 02-10-2013, 11:05 PM

OK, I cracked after reading the sample. It is a lot cheaper on Amazon UK than on main, I have given up trying to understand pricing policies.
Yes, it has just gone to my current reading list.

Ninjalawyer · 02-12-2013, 02:19 PM

Based on this thread, I grabbed the Audible version of the book. So far so good...

DiapDealer · 02-22-2013, 08:34 PM

Price went down to $9.99 on Amazon main shortly after I bought it for $12 of course. That and a silly typo on the 2nd or 3rd "page" hasn't exactly endeared this book to me yet. Not a deal-breaker by any means, but not exactly a warm and fuzzy start either.

odiakkoh · 02-22-2013, 10:27 PM

You got me intrigued. Sadly the 2 libraries I'm a member of only has the audiobook and I am not a fan of the narrator. I will stick this on my wishlist for now.

mbovenka · 02-23-2013, 05:50 PM

I liked it a lot. Didn't like his other work ('Annabel Scheme') as much.

maxbookworm · 02-23-2013, 06:45 PM

I just finished it yesterday and wanted to come back and say THANK YOU for the recommendation. I thoroughly enjoyed and laughed out loud quite a few times, especially earlier on in the story.

01-14-2013, 03:50 PM	#1
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 1,744 Karma: 10671603 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore This is the sort of book that makes me want to walk up to total strangers in the street, push the book in their face, and say "you want to read this book right now. Stop whatever you're doing and read it NOW." I can't begin to describe it. It has a bit of the feel of magical realism about it, but the only magic is in Google's computers. It's not science fiction, not a lot of things - but what it is is perfectly charming. Basically, an out of work coder finds a job working as a night clerk at Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore. He discovers the real purpose of the store isn't to sell books, but to find the secret to codes hidden in obscure books. This leads to the discovery of a secret society - but not any secret society like Dan Brown writes about. There's no real antagonist, no chase scenes or danger, but it's a page-turner that I found difficult to put down. All I can say about it is that it's excellent and really, you should read it. Right now. __________________ Last edited by BeccaPrice; 01-14-2013 at 07:58 PM. Reason: spelling

01-14-2013, 04:01 PM	#3
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 6,352 Karma: 18574228 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Solihull, UK Device: Sony 650, Sony T2, Xoom, Nexus 7, Nook ST	Well, I'm certainly going to take a look at it. You will refund me if it's not as good as you say, right Becca? __________________ The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them. Mark Twain My early and invincible love of reading, . . . I would not exchange for the treasures of India. Edward Gibbon

01-14-2013, 04:03 PM	#4
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 1,744 Karma: 10671603 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I got it in e-format, and it was rather expensive for an ebook, but it was worth it. I'm trying to decide whether my husband will like it or not - but it's going on his kindle as soon as I get home. __________________

01-15-2013, 07:29 AM	#5
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 2,969 Karma: 11090339 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Sony PRS-950, Nook Tablet	I read the ebook of it as well and agree that it is an excellent story. The writing is tight and the story simply flows. __________________ Richard H. Adin www.freelance-editorial-services.com when only the best will do www.americaneditor.wordpress.com musings about books and editing

01-15-2013, 07:30 AM	#6
Nyssa Series Addict Posts: 5,032 Karma: 42241845 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Florida, USA Device: Kindle 3 (Wifi Only), Kindle Paperwhite	Has been placed on my wish list. Too "spendy" for an impulse buy. Thank you for the recommendation! __________________ 2013 Challenge Discussion Thread. 2013 Challenge List Thread.My Reading Challenge for 2013 My Reading Progress for 2013.My GoodReads Reviews for 2013.My GoodReads Thread for 2013

01-14-2013, 03:59 PM	#2
DianNC Guru Posts: 720 Karma: 4927477 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook Color, Entourage Pocket Edge, iPod Touch 5th Gen	Just love that review! I'm on the wait list for it at my local library. Should be any day now!

01-15-2013, 08:25 AM	#7
NickyWithNook Addict Posts: 313 Karma: 1867822 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Michigan, USA Device: Nook STR, iPad2, Kindle 4S, Nook Tablet, Nook Color	I really liked it too. I think I'm a bit older than its target audience, so some of the pop references were not my thing, but I still enjoyed it. It was fun to read.

02-10-2013, 10:15 AM	#8
Joy736 Addict Posts: 305 Karma: 1078442 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I'm reading this right now and I'm enjoying it very much. Thanks for the recommendation Becca! __________________ Currently reading: The Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13623150

02-10-2013, 10:45 AM	#9
PurpleStar Connoisseur Posts: 67 Karma: 501944 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Glo	I'm first in line on the library waiting list for it. So I'll get it soon!

02-10-2013, 11:05 PM	#10
piperclassique A garbling groftpot Posts: 511 Karma: 3090000 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: France Device: IPad, Kindle PW, iPhone	OK, I cracked after reading the sample. It is a lot cheaper on Amazon UK than on main, I have given up trying to understand pricing policies. Yes, it has just gone to my current reading list. __________________ Have I wittered on enough to get a signature? Oh good, I can put a dropbox link here! On second thoughts, maybe I won't bother, and go just go back to weeding the garden.

02-12-2013, 02:19 PM	#11
Ninjalawyer Guru Posts: 621 Karma: 15284098 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Blackberry Playbook	Based on this thread, I grabbed the Audible version of the book. So far so good...

02-22-2013, 08:34 PM	#12
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,830 Karma: 23232374 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 2	Price went down to $9.99 on Amazon main shortly after I bought it for $12 of course. That and a silly typo on the 2nd or 3rd "page" hasn't exactly endeared this book to me yet. Not a deal-breaker by any means, but not exactly a warm and fuzzy start either. __________________ “Politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.”

02-22-2013, 10:27 PM	#13
odiakkoh Guru Posts: 735 Karma: 1048196 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: K3SO, iPhone 4s, Sansa Clip Zip	You got me intrigued. Sadly the 2 libraries I'm a member of only has the audiobook and I am not a fan of the narrator. I will stick this on my wishlist for now.

02-23-2013, 05:50 PM	#14
mbovenka Guru Posts: 801 Karma: 1413706 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Almere, The Netherlands Device: Kindle DX Graphite	I liked it a lot. Didn't like his other work ('Annabel Scheme') as much.

02-23-2013, 06:45 PM	#15
maxbookworm Addict Posts: 356 Karma: 1113533 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight, Galaxy Note II	I just finished it yesterday and wanted to come back and say THANK YOU for the recommendation. I thoroughly enjoyed and laughed out loud quite a few times, especially earlier on in the story.


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