Anne Arundel County Public Library discussion

Get ready! Our next book discussion about Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan starts in mere hours! The book is available in the catalog in hardcover, large print, book on CD and downloadable audio- place your hold today: http://tinyurl.com/oxlvvdc

Happy reading!

PS- If you get the hardcover copy, the cover GLOWS IN THE DARK!

I got this book for a Christmas gift last year and read probably 80% and never finished. I don't know why, since I was enjoying it. So I guess I will finish and follow along here!

I finished reading this book last week, but I didn't enjoy it very much because unless you're good with a computer or the internet a lot of this book will be hard to understand---I'm still on Computer 101. & I got the hardcover, but didn't notice its special effects because I always kept it in a protective canvass bag---but it does glow in the dark, especially the back cover.

I guess it is a pretty modern book, Gail. I hadn't thought of it that way until you posted, but tried to imagine my mom reading it (she is 78) and I couldn't see it. She is computer literate but I'd say her real computer education probably ended about 10-15 years ago and I agree that some of the topics in this book would seem downright science fiction stuff to her -even the things that are actually happening today.

Thanks for pointing out that the technology might be off-putting Gail- I'm sorry that it ended up being hard for you to understand. I think one of the unique parts of the books is that intersection of the old and the new and how the characters worked to reconcile those two ways of thinking.

Since you also mentioned the cover of the book (and since I'm sure some people are still reading), let's talk for a minute about the cover. Discuss the physical traits of your copy of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. Do you have a hard copy or an e-book and where did you pick it up (library or some old hole-in-the-wall bookstore)? How does the design of the book enhance your reading experience?

I got the hardcover book at Edgewater Library about a month ago & finished reading it 2 weeks ago---the markings on the outer cover looked like library hierglyphics, like books on a shelf; it almost seemed like the author didn't want readers to give up on traditional books at all, so he used glow-in-the-dark yellow on the cover/special effects you wouldn't get with an E-reader; I prefer trad. books myself & it's the content that's more important to me than the cover, but most of the books I've read are from the library & not store-bought as this one originally was---I wonder if it glows when the lights are off at the library & bookstore & if it scares the securiy guard?

The storyline of this book reminded me a bit of The DaVinci Code.

I read this book with my book club last year and we were able to Skype with Robin Sloan during our meeting! He was so gracious and interesting to speak to. He answered all of our questions and even let us in on the book he is currently working on. I love that he puts so much time and care into his research before he writes a book. You can tell that he was really invested in the characters and storyline in Penumbra; in our chat, Robin talked about his research on the man who invented the italics typeface, Albus Manutius, and on whom he based the story of Gerritzoon. I love recommending this book to my students because they can get into the fantastical elements as well as the high-tech parts of the story. Has anyone else recommended this book to a loved one or friend?

Also! For anyone who enjoyed Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore, I would highly recommend The Circle by Dave Eggers. I'm not finished with it yet, but I'm loving it so far.

I found a few gems in this book--especially the romantic/ idealistic way that Clay looks at language and books, but I kept waiting for something spectacular to happen. Based on the build-up in the story and the dissonant coupling of the ancient and the modern, I expected major sparks and shifts and I don't know...something dynamic. Perhaps, next time. I would definitely give this author another try. I did like this book. I just hoped to love it, you know?

Did anyone check out the audiobook? It says something on the back about "the story within the story" and "extras" included on the recorded version. Just wondered how different it actually is. Perhaps it holds the answer to the "more" I was looking for.

Monica wrote: "I found a few gems in this book--especially the romantic/ idealistic way that Clay looks at language and books, but I kept waiting for something spectacular to happen. Based on the build-up in the ..."

Hi Monica, I listened to the e-audiobook, and did not find/hear any special features, extras, or stories within ... I too was waiting for something "more" to happen in the book.

Maybe the CD audiobook has what we are hoping for :)

Maybe so, Carolyn. Maybe so...

I'm sorry I'm a day late - but I wanted to add that I loved this book, probably for the same reasons some readers didn't. I'm an online gamer - and a graphic software geek. I laughed when Clay describes his work at NewBagel, the prize with AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Artists - I'm a member) and his attendance via computer to Kat's party. Clay's use of technology (and his own computer skills) are impressive to us, but ordinary for an educated geek of his generation. What surprises me is that he behaves as if these skills are ordinary; he seems to take more delight in his knowledge of sci fi and fantasy literature!

Ally, i love your take on it. And I did enjoy the book even though I still haven't finished (so stupid really, I probably only have 50 pages to read)!

ally wrote: "Clay's use of technology (and his own computer skills) are impressive to us, but ordinary for an educated geek of his generation."

I haven't read this book, yet, (got it on hold) but I hope to get this one soon. I wonder if I'll have the same view as you since I'm an "educated geek" (or so I've been told). I'm getting excited about this book, now.

I read this book a 2nd time (large print edition) last week---this time I got more out of it than the 1st time---Aldus wrote his codus vitae 2 denounce secretly the political & business corruption he had 2 deal with 500 yrs ago (like his contemporary the prophet Nostradamus had to use a secret code for his written sayings 2 escape The Inquisition) so his son could inherit the business without any trouble from the authorities; his best friend/printer Griffo WAS the key to the code with slightly disfiguring the metal typeset letters & numbers---you had 2 have these original items 2 figure out Aldus code; both men were geniuses & enjoyed mind games: either A or G lied & said this codus would reveal the secret 2 eternal life or the secret book club that G started misunderstood over the years what was really going on with A's codus; the 1st time I read this book I thought the secret 2 eternal life was writing a bk that would be read centuries later or creating/preserving anything (art, music, inventions, parks, etc.) for future generations 2 use & enjoy, but it could be that G. just wanted 2 make sure that all his club members read books (the classics, contemporary best-sellers, codex vitae,) to stimulate their minds into becoming better citizens.

I'm about halfway through the book, now, and I'm having a hard time putting it down. This may be a gateway book into fiction for me! I'm really enjoying the way that technology has been used to describe the background of the happenings of the book.

Okay, finally got through the book. Wow, this one was great. I wasn't sure about some of the abrupt turns in the story but, like a roller coaster, I hung on and really enjoyed the ride. I suspect I'll be reading this one again in the future. I've already put the author's second book of this story, Ajax Penumbra 1969, on my to-read list and hope to get to it soon.

Eric - not really that similar, I suppose, but have you read ? The books remind me of each other in some ways, and I loved Ready Player One.

Victoria wrote: "Eric - not really that similar, I suppose, but have you read ? The books remind me of each other in some ways, and I loved Ready Player One."

I haven't read that one yet. I'll put that on my list of books to read, though. I did pick up last night and started reading that. So far it's pretty interesting and kinda gives the back story to how Mr. Penumbra got started in his adventure.

Forgot to post my thoughts on _Ajax Penumbra 1969_ which is the follow-on to _Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore_.

I found the next book to be just as qwerky as the first and completely disappointing as it ended in ~60 pages. I'm not saying this story should be a series but the follow-on could have been longer. It was a good read on the back-story of Mr. Penumbra before he entered the bookstore business and is worth the read if you liked the bookstore book.

Thanks Eric! I won't bother with that one then.

By the way, I finally finished Penumbra! I liked the ending a lot. As I said above, I don't know why I never finished it last year, but it is now my first book read for 2014!