YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The bookstore’s secrets extend far beyond its walls.

I'll join :)

I've been wanting to read this book for some time now. I'm very much looking forward to it.

Chapter- stranger in strange land
(view spoiler)[the way back list is very mysterious! What secrets do they hold?? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Empires
(view spoiler)[The Unbroken spine is a cool name for a secret book club! Why was Penumbra called by the boss to New York? This is all still a mystery (hide spoiler)]

Help Wanted & Coat Buttons

The writing is fantastic! Expressive, colorful, humorous, clever, rich in variety -- with such descriptive metaphors. It is very entertaining to read.
(view spoiler)[
"None of this represented the glorious next stage of human evolution, but I was learning things." (p. 5) -- love it!

"Now: I was pretty sure "24-hour-bookstore was a euphemism for something. It was on Broadway in a euphemistic part of town." (p. 7)
A euphemistic part of town? Yep. I know the part. ;)

I can get a real feel for Clay's life and his personality and well as a very good picture of what this bookstore looks like inside.

And then there's the members with their desperate need for certain books -- magnificently mysterious! I can't wait to continue.
(hide spoiler)]

The black hole
(view spoiler)[All this technology for scanning books I never knew existed.. That's how they pirate books. Not type the words out one by one. The GrumbleGear is pretty awesome (hide spoiler)]

Matropolis

Did I mention I love Mr. Sloan's writing style? Did I mention how colorful the metaphors are? :D
(view spoiler)[
"...one owner and two clerks divide the circle of the sun into thirds, and I get the darkest slice." (p. 21)

"So I pass the bookstore baton to Penumbra..." (p. 21)

I've got more highlighted here, but you get the point...
(hide spoiler)]

Stranger in a Strange Land

Of course I have heard of Stranger in a Strange Land, but I haven't read it. I think the stranger is a human who was raised by Martians. Has anyone read it? Any parallels to this chapter/story?

That made me wonder whether some of the other chapters were based on previous science fiction books. I found that Dragon-Song Chronicles does not exist but was based on several works:

The Chronicles of Prydain
by Lloyd Alexander

Dragonlance Chronicles
by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

The Lord of the Rings
By J.R.R. Tolkien

https://readingmapofpenumbras24hourbo...

Christina wrote: "Chapter- stranger in strange land
(view spoiler)[
"the way back list is very mysterious! What secrets do they hold??"

So many mysteries. I'm especially interested in the new book. Where did it come from? And who is Evelyn Erdos?

I love the 3-D model library Clay is putting together! That seems like something I might do...
(hide spoiler)]

TJ wrote: "Stranger in a Strange Land

Of course I have heard of Stranger in a Strange Land, but I haven't read it. I think the stranger is a human who was raised by Martians. Has anyone read it? Any parallel..."


Oh I haven't read it. Interesting how you managed to find the works that inspired the Dragon - song chronicles :)

A really big gun
(view spoiler)[I can't believe they got all the google computers in the world to work on cracking the code of Marutius for three whole seconds!! That's pretty impressive. I feel like this entire book was sponsored by Google or something.

And it's hard to believe that nothing came up (hide spoiler)]

Epilogue
(view spoiler)[I was quite impressed with the mystery solving and that Clay cracked the code that even the Google computers couldn't crack! I was a little confused why the Gerritszoon font was mentioned again and again and it was key to the mystery!

I love how the Epilogue closes off with where all the characters are now and what they've accomplished.

Is the circumference of the Earth really 25000 miles? I do wonder how someone calculates it. It's so huge! (hide spoiler)]

The Prototype (p. 58)

(view spoiler)[
"I am really into the kind of girl you can impress with a prototype." (p. 55)

Ha! Well, Clay, you are in luck -- because I happen to be the kind of girl you could impress with a prototype! ;)

Wink? Did I just wink at Clay? Am I flirting with a fictional character. Yep. I definitely fit into the weirdness of this book.
(hide spoiler)]

Maximum Happy Imagination (p. 63)
(view spoiler)[
"Oh, I am very familiar with the internal monologue." (p. 61)
Ha! So am I -- but I'm externalizing mine for all of you out in cyber-space... ;)
(hide spoiler)]

Why do you love books so much? (p. 113)
(view spoiler)[
This just keeps getting more and more mysterious. Color me intrigued... :D
(hide spoiler)]

Finished with Part 1: The Bookstore

(view spoiler)[
I love that they are going on a Rockets & Warlocks adventure. Is that even a real thing or is this a Sloanian version of Dungeons & Dragons? I'll have to look that up.

But cool: we've got our rogue, our wizard, and our rich guy -- uh, oops, I mean warrior. And we've got a quest.

I am ready...
(hide spoiler)]

TJ wrote: "Help Wanted & Coat Buttons

The writing is fantastic! Expressive, colorful, humorous, clever, rich in variety -- with such descriptive metaphors. It is very entertaining to read.

"None of this re..."

(view spoiler)[ I agree. I feel a connection with Clay. I think his character journey was a big part of the book. I also thought the book was well written. (hide spoiler)]

I finished this today, here are my thoughts. Sorry for the delay.

12%: (view spoiler)[ Clay talking about his Kindle was pretty funny. I have one and I use it most nights. I always imagine the books staring and whispering, Traitor! - but come on, I have a lot of free chapters to get through... My response: Now that I am reading more ebooks, I feel the same way. However, this is the beauty of technology. (hide spoiler)]

33%: (view spoiler)[ The internal monologues make me laugh. I like the title of the next chapter because I think it is one question book lovers can answer in many different ways. The title of the chapter is "Why Do You Love Books So Much?" My response: it's a way to lose yourself in a world that you can enjoy and finally be free from all of the stress. (hide spoiler)]

36%: (view spoiler)[ I laughed when I read this and I have to share it. This cult seems like it might be designed specifically to prey on bookish old people--Scientology for scholarly seniors. I am loving the writing style. I also love the mystery aspect of the book too. The writing is so good, it's making me laugh so hard. (hide spoiler)]

65%: (view spoiler)[ I am loving Clay. He is geeky, yet funny. He is also charming if you are into geeks that is. His journey is making the story more interesting as it continues. (hide spoiler)]

TJ wrote: "Why do you love books so much? (p. 113)

This just keeps getting more and more mysterious. Color me intrigued... :D
"

I agree with you.

Christina wrote: "Chapter- stranger in strange land
[spoilers removed]"

It is really mysterious.

Christina wrote: "Epilogue
I was quite impressed with the mystery solving and that Clay cracked the code that even the Google computers couldn't crack! I was a little confused why the Gerritszoon font was mentioned..."

(view spoiler)[ I was impressed but also a bit disappointed. It was not as adventurous as I thought. However, I liked the story nevertheless. (hide spoiler)]

Sharon wrote: "Help Wanted & Coat Buttons"
(view spoiler)[
"I agree. I feel a connection with Clay. I think his character journey was a big part of the book. I also thought the book was well written."

Too true. Clay's character journey is what intrigues me most.
(hide spoiler)]

Sharon wrote: "12%:"
(view spoiler)[
"Clay talking about his Kindle was pretty funny. I have one and I use it most nights. I always imagine the books staring and whispering, Traitor! - but come on, I have a lot of free chapters to get through... My response: Now that I am reading more ebooks, I feel the same way. However, this is the beauty of technology.

lol! Yes! I have become a traitor too. Ooops. :)
(hide spoiler)]

Sharon wrote: "33%:"
(view spoiler)[
"The internal monologues make me laugh. I like the title of the next chapter because I think it is one question book lovers can answer in many different ways. The title of the chapter is "Why Do You Love Books So Much?" My response: it's a way to lose yourself in a world that you can enjoy and finally be free from all of the stress.

Like me. Right now. With this book. I'm on another continent and I'm on a Rockets & Warlocks quest!
(hide spoiler)]

Sharon wrote: "36%:"
(view spoiler)[
"I laughed when I read this and I have to share it. This cult seems like it might be designed specifically to prey on bookish old people--Scientology for scholarly seniors. I am loving the writing style. I also love the mystery aspect of the book too. The writing is so good, it's making me laugh so hard.

Clay's descriptions and metaphors are brilliant! Love Sloan's writing!
(hide spoiler)]

The Strangest Clerk in 500 Years (p. 139, 47%)
(view spoiler)[
"A messiah, a first disciple, and a rapture. Check, check, and double-check." (p. 136)

Ha! Yep. This is getting weirder by the minute! Love it.
(hide spoiler)]

Codex Vitae (p. 154)

(view spoiler)[
I'm beginning to think that the "immortality" that the fellowship members are trying to achieve is the immortality they can achieve through the written word...
(hide spoiler)]

15%
(view spoiler)[ Oh a kindle was mention!! haha. i love my kindle. The chapter titles/sections are nice :D and i would love a 24hr bookstore, maybe when i "grow up" i'll open one :D (hide spoiler)]

20%
(view spoiler)[ I might start a Google counter. How many freaking times does this book say Google!?!?!?!?! (hide spoiler)]

50%
(view spoiler)[ okay i'm getting a bit bored. I am cringing whenever Google is mentioned. I want to know about this E-Reader he has!!!!! I feel like the love interest girl is a major hipster! (hide spoiler)]

Ending Thoughts
(view spoiler)[That was... uneventful. I was hoping for so muchhhhhhhh more from this book. The beginning was solid, then love got in the way. haha. It was a good book but not anything awesome. I want the E-Reader he had thou, someone find one for me :D (hide spoiler)]

Brooke wrote: "15%"
Well, you jumped in her and whoooshed by, Brooke! I was getting all lonely and stuff... ;)
(view spoiler)[
Brooke wrote: "Oh a kindle was mention!! haha. i love my kindle. The chapter titles/sections are nice :D and i would love a 24hr bookstore, maybe when i "grow up" i'll open one :D"

I'm right there with you! I was thinking when I "grow up" I might turn my house into coffee shop and used book store... maybe invite some indie entertainers and authors to read from their works... I'll let you know when I open... :D

(hide spoiler)]

Brooke wrote: "20%"
(view spoiler)[
Brooke wrote: "I might start a Google counter. How many freaking times does this book say Google!?!?!?!?!"

No kidding!!! I wonder if Google is earning money through product placement? ;)

(hide spoiler)]

End Thoughts
Brooke wrote: "Ending Thoughts"
(view spoiler)[
Brooke wrote: "That was... uneventful. I was hoping for so muchhhhhhhh more from this book. The beginning was solid, then love got in the way. haha. It was a good book but not anything awesome. I want the E-Reader he had thou, someone find one for me :D"

The secret to immortality is – as I expected – the written word. The legacy we leave behind when we commit our thoughts, ideas, and ponderings to writing.

Although, I didn’t want or expect the story to take a turn into the supernatural or paranormal, I was, however, still hoping for a little something more. I really wanted a: “whoooooa!--where’d that come from?--blow me out of the water-I don’t know what hit me--sort of an ending. But alas, I didn’t get it.

I loved the mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the colorful metaphors. Following Clay’s thought process was an amazing experience in and amongst itself.

(hide spoiler)]

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Date Changed. Restarting April 15th 2018. Happy Reading ☺

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************