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Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Ari Fliakos
- Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
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Publisher's summary
A gleeful and exhilarating tale of global conspiracy, complex code-breaking, high-tech data visualization, young love, rollicking adventure, and the secret to eternal life - mostly set in a hole-in-the-wall San Francisco bookstore.
The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone - and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything, instead “checking out” impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he’s embarked on a complex analysis of the customers’ behavior and roped his friends into helping to figure out just what’s going on. But once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, it turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore.
With irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan has crafted a literary adventure story for the 21st century, evoking both the fairy-tale charm of Haruki Murakami and the enthusiastic novel-of-ideas wizardry of Neal Stephenson or a young Umberto Eco, but with a unique and feisty sensibility that’s rare to the world of literary fiction. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave, a modern-day cabinet of wonders ready to give a jolt of energy to every curious listener, no matter the time of day.
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Story
Annabel Scheme is a detective story set in an alternate San Francisco where the digital and the occult live side-by-side. It's a short listen, perfect for people who like Sherlock Holmes, Douglas Adams, ghosts and/or the Internet. In Scheme's San Francisco, an indie rocker's new tracks are climbing the charts, even though the rocker herself is long dead. A devout gamer has gone missing, and the only trace of him that remains is inside his favorite game, the blockbuster MMORPG called World of Jesus. And the richest man in the city, the inventor of the search engine called Grail, might just have made a deal with a devil.
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It could have been better
- By Juana Peralta on 11-21-19
By: Robin Sloan
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Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore
- A Novel
- By: Matthew Sullivan
- Narrated by: Madeleine Maby
- Length: 9 hrs
- Unabridged
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Lydia Smith lives her life hiding in plain sight. A clerk at the Bright Ideas bookstore, she keeps a meticulously crafted existence among her beloved books, her eccentric colleagues, and the BookFrogs - the lost and lonely regulars who spend every day marauding the store's overwhelmed shelves. But when Joey McGinty, a young, beguiling BookFrog, kills himself in the bookstore's back room, Lydia's life comes unglued.
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Here's a bright idea....
- By Erin S on 07-15-17
By: Matthew Sullivan
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The Diary of a Bookseller
- By: Shaun Bythell
- Narrated by: Robin Laing
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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In these wry and hilarious diaries, Shaun provides an inside look at the trials and tribulations of life in the book trade, from struggles with eccentric customers to wrangles with his own staff, who include the ski-suit-wearing, bin-foraging Nicky. He takes us with him on buying trips to old estates and auction houses, recommends books - both lost classics and new discoveries - introduces us to the thrill of the unexpected find, and evokes the rhythms and charms of small-town life, always with a sharp and sympathetic eye.
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Wonderful
- By Brenda Campbell on 10-08-18
By: Shaun Bythell
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84, Charing Cross Road
- By: Helene Hanff
- Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat, John Franklyn-Robbins
- Length: 1 hr and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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When Helene Hanff makes an innocent inquiry about the possibility of purchasing hard-to-find books through Marks and Co., Booksellers, she begins a 20-year love affair with Frank Doel, the proper English bookseller who answers her letter and sends along her first order in the fall of 1949. They are two very unlikely correspondents.
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Sweet
- By Jody S on 12-02-17
By: Helene Hanff
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Library at Mount Char
- By: Scott Hawkins
- Narrated by: Hillary Huber
- Length: 16 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Carolyn's not so different from the other human beings around her. After all, she was a normal American herself once. That was a long time ago, of course - before the time she calls "adoption day", when she and a dozen other children found themselves being raised by a man they learned to call Father.
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Not Your Local Library
- By Lorfet on 04-05-16
By: Scott Hawkins
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The Night Circus
- A Novel
- By: Erin Morgenstern
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 13 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway - a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors.
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Dreamlike Experience to Savor
- By Suzn F on 09-18-11
By: Erin Morgenstern
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The Bookshop on the Corner
- By: Jenny Colgan
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Nina Redmond is a librarian with a gift for finding the perfect books for her readers. But can she write her own happy ever after?
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Misleading
- By Alexis☺ on 05-28-17
By: Jenny Colgan
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The Village Healer's Book of Cures
- By: Jennifer Sherman Roberts
- Narrated by: Imogen Wilde
- Length: 9 hrs
- Unabridged
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Mary Fawcett refines the healing recipes she’s inherited from generations of women before her—an uncanny and moral calling to empathize with the sick. When witchfinder Matthew Hopkins arrives in her small village, stoking the fires of hate, he sees not healing but the devil at work. Mary’s benevolent skills have now cast her and her young brother under suspicion of witchery. Soon, the husband of one of Mary’s patients is found murdered, his body carved with strange symbols.
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Wonderfully fresh story which does not shy away from the darkness
- By Robyn on 11-30-23
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Stolen Tongues
- By: Felix Blackwell
- Narrated by: J.S. Arquin
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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High up on the windswept cliffs of Pale Peak, Faye and Felix celebrate their new engagement. But soon, a chorus of ghastly noises erupts from the nearby woods: the screams of animals, the cries of children, and the mad babble of a hundred mournful voices. A dark figure looms near the windows in the dead of night, whispering to Faye. As the weather turns deadly, Felix discovers that his terrified fiancée isn't just mumbling in her sleep—she's whispering back.
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Story is great, audio is not...
- By Catra121 on 07-15-22
By: Felix Blackwell
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The Girl with All the Gifts
- By: M. R. Carey
- Narrated by: Finty Williams
- Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Melanie is a very special girl. Dr. Caldwell calls her "our little genius". Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh. Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up.
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FLEETWOOD MAC
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 09-04-15
By: M. R. Carey
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Service Model
- By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Narrated by: Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Humanity is a dying breed, utterly reliant on artificial labor and service. When a domesticated robot gets a nasty little idea downloaded into its core programming, they murder their owner. The robot discovers they can also do something else they never did before: They can run away. Fleeing the household they enter a wider world they never knew existed, where the age-old hierarchy of humans at the top is disintegrating into ruins and an entire robot ecosystem devoted to human wellbeing is having to find a new purpose.
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Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
- A Novel
- By: Helen Simonson
- Narrated by: Peter Altschuler
- Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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You are about to travel to Edgecombe St. Mary, a small village in the English countryside filled with rolling hills, thatched cottages, and a cast of characters both hilariously original and as familiar as the members of your own family. Among them is Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired), the unlikely hero of Helen Simonson's wondrous debut. Wry, courtly, opinionated, and completely endearing, Major Pettigrew is one of the most indelible characters in contemporary fiction, and from the very first page of this remarkable novel he will steal your heart.
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Charming book with an excellent narrator
- By jc on 03-05-10
By: Helen Simonson
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Footfall
- By: Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
- Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
- Length: 24 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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They first appear as a series of dots on astronomical plates, heading from Saturn directly toward Earth. Since the ringed planet carries no life, scientists deduce the mysterious ship to be a visitor from another star. The world's frantic efforts to signal the aliens go unanswered. The first contact is hostile: the invaders blast a Soviet space station, seize the survivors, and then destroy every dam and installation on Earth with a hail of asteriods.
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Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle at Their Best
- By Flatlander on 06-24-10
By: Larry Niven, and others
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The Keeper of Lost Things
- A Novel
- By: Ruth Hogan
- Narrated by: Jane Collingwood, Sandra Duncan
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Anthony Peardew is the keeper of lost things. Forty years ago he carelessly lost a keepsake from his beloved fiancée, Therese. That very same day, she died unexpectedly. Brokenhearted, Anthony sought consolation in rescuing lost objects - the things others have dropped, misplaced, or accidently left behind - and writing stories about them. Now, in the twilight of his life, Anthony worries that he has not fully discharged his duty to reconcile all the lost things with their owners.
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Charming story with great narration
- By June J on 09-29-17
By: Ruth Hogan
What listeners say about Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Joan
- 10-17-12
Smart, Quirky and Satisfying
If you could sum up Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore in three words, what would they be?
See my title.
What did you like best about this story?
The story never let go of me.
What about Ari Fliakos’s performance did you like?
His reading was just delightful. I believe he enjoyed the book as much as I did.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Delight; extreme delight.
Any additional comments?
I've read a lot of books in my 64 years. I'm now nearly blind and depend upon audiobooks. This book comes close to making up for the differences between reading a book and listening to a book.
I found it very satisfying to listen to this particular reader tell this particular tale. It's an absorbing story that combines old knowledge and new knowledge, books and technology with the interests and the needs of the young and the old.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is one of my current favorites, and, if it stands up to a few re-readings, it might be a candidate for my list of lifetime favorites
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8 people found this helpful
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- tigrrlily04
- 05-21-13
Should be categorized as teen lit
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Maybe....it was a fun story at first, but about half way through I got very bored. It's definitely a teen lit-type book. If I had that expectation going into it I may have enjoyed it more, but maybe not. It got a bit annoying at times.
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7 people found this helpful
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- Courtney Frost
- 04-17-17
Best Book I've Listened To So Far
Would you consider the audio edition of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore to be better than the print version?
Yes, although I have never read the print version. I loved this book so much due in part to the narrator. The voice and portrayal of the story are amazing and kept me intrigued. Something about the voice made it good to listen to and made me more excited to listen to the book during my drives to and from work.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Penumbra. He's mysterious and grandpa-like.
Which scene was your favorite?
My favorite scene is when Penumbra realizes that the main character (whose name escapes me at the moment) utilized technology to solve the founder's puzzle. He's a little shocked, but no less impressed by the accomplishment.
Any additional comments?
Amazing book. LISTEN TO IT!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Jeri
- 07-13-15
What an unexpected surprise...
What did you love best about Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore?
This was a magical book, without magic or gimicks, mostly.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Clay was telling the story and he was really interesting. I guess I liked him because he was sort of an underachiever. Bright guy, knows he should be doing something, but not sure what. Just like a lot of people.
What does Ari Fliakos bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Terrific narrator. differentiated the voices well, got the right age/gender without straining the girl/women voices. And he sounded enthusiastic, as if he was enjoying the story.
Any additional comments?
THis is one of those books that escape classification. But really a joy to listen to. I keep wondering about it.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Alexis
- 07-09-15
Too Technical
Great book where old meets new. the narrator is easy to listen to and the story keeps you thinking. But, I'm pretty sure if I weren't a graphic designer myself I wouldn't understand half the tech terms thrown around in this book. It was a good read but I found myself zoning out alot as the narrator went on explaining all the tools he used on the books.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Alex H
- 04-01-13
read it, really!
What made the experience of listening to Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore the most enjoyable?
Mr. Penumbra himself.
What did you like best about this story?
the way backlist
What does Ari Fliakos bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Adds desperation and he delivers the irony perfectly!
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
when is a bookstore just a bookstore?
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1 person found this helpful
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- Emily
- 12-11-17
Good & Bad Volley
This is one of those quick reads that’s enjoyable, but not a particularly great investment of time. It’s an entertaining story and starts off well, but then it goes in waves. The writing volleys between bad modern dialogue and super interesting historical context setup. If you need a quick listen on a travel day, it may be a good choice, but it’s not something I’d read again.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amanda
- 04-17-15
Lovely surprise
I usually don't write reviews but this book was a lovely surprise. Started just a wee slow but then the characters and story came about. The story was a engaging and thought provoking at times. Nice characters and intriguing little mystery
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- Camila
- 03-28-16
Fun
What made the experience of listening to Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore the most enjoyable?
Enjoyable to listen to, but I'm glad I bought this during a sale. It's a fun distraction, but not something I think anyone HAS to read. Great Reader.
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- pseudonym
- 10-19-12
A WILD RIDE!!
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is just a great story. When the main character Clay finds himself in Mr Penumbra's strange world he embarks on a wonderful journey. He makes friends and solves mysteries with technology and his own sometimes surprising resourcefulness. The narrator is a wonderful fit for the main character and brings the story to life. I would recommend to anyone who just likes to get caught up in the ride of a lighthearted and funny adventure.
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