Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore

BeccaPrice · 01-14-2013, 04:50 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, 04:59 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, 05:01 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, 05:03 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, 08:29 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, 08:30 AM

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

NickyWithNook · 01-15-2013, 09:25 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, 11:15 AM

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

PurpleStar · 02-10-2013, 11:45 AM

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

piperclassique · 02-11-2013, 12:05 AM

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, 03:19 PM

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

DiapDealer · 02-22-2013, 09:34 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, 11:27 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, 06:50 PM

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

maxbookworm · 02-23-2013, 07:45 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, 04:50 PM	#1
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 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 08:58 PM. Reason: spelling

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01-14-2013, 04:59 PM	#2
DianNC Banned Posts: 1,431 Karma: 5222495 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!

01-14-2013, 05:01 PM	#3
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	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?

01-14-2013, 05:03 PM	#4
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 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, 08:29 AM	#5
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, 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.

01-15-2013, 08:30 AM	#6
Nyssa Series Addict Posts: 6,180 Karma: 167189477 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Florida, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite (2nd Gen)	Has been placed on my wish list. Too "spendy" for an impulse buy. Thank you for the recommendation!

01-15-2013, 09:25 AM	#7
NickyWithNook Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 3942770 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: American living in Australia Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Fire, Kindle Pwhite (Don't use Nook anymore)	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, 11:15 AM	#8
Joy736 Addict Posts: 311 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!

02-10-2013, 11:45 AM	#9
PurpleStar Wizard Posts: 1,625 Karma: 11387182 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Clara BW, Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen)	I'm first in line on the library waiting list for it. So I'll get it soon!

02-11-2013, 12:05 AM	#10
piperclassique A garbling groftpot Posts: 996 Karma: 9234667 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: France Device: Oasis, Voyage, Kobo mini, Samsung tablet, phones, whatever.	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.

02-12-2013, 03:19 PM	#11
Ninjalawyer Guru Posts: 826 Karma: 18573626 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Nexus 7 (2013)	Based on this thread, I grabbed the Audible version of the book. So far so good...

02-22-2013, 09:34 PM	#12
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,891 Karma: 207182180 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	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.

02-22-2013, 11:27 PM	#13
odiakkoh Guru Posts: 823 Karma: 1818344 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: iPhone 5s	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, 06:50 PM	#14
mbovenka Wizard Posts: 2,086 Karma: 14079267 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Almere, The Netherlands Device: Kobo Sage	I liked it a lot. Didn't like his other work ('Annabel Scheme') as much.

02-23-2013, 07:45 PM	#15
maxbookworm Addict Posts: 372 Karma: 1122865 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Kindle Voyage, Galaxy Note 2	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.