Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

A Novel

By: Robin Sloan

Narrated by: Ari Fliakos

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins

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.

©2012 Robin Sloan (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

loved it!!

my boyfriend and I were on a road trip when we listened to this... needless to say when we got home at 130am we had to sit there and listen to the rest of it!! it was amazing!

Marvelous!

Lovely, emotive narrator. Unexpected plot with subtle twists and turns. It is an equal ode to both the nostalgic smell of books and the new digital age. It punctuated my road trip wonderfully!

Loved it!

Story was easy to listen to, intriguing, and perfectly read. Robin Sloan's performance was amazing!! Will be listening to it again!!

Everything You Could Ever Wish For In A Book

Where does Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This audio book tops my list of favourite titles.

What did you like best about this story?

I love books about books, and this one creates the perfect literary cocktail: Put a literary mystery in a quirky bookstore, add a shady secret society and an appreciation of a font; shake well and splice the whole shebang with liberal splashes of current technology. It is creamy, cool, word-nerdy fun.

Which character – as performed by Ari Fliakos – was your favorite?

The character of Mr Penumbra was wonderfully rendered. Somehow, Ari Fliakos managed to capture a believable mysteriousness.

If you could take any character from Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Mr Penumbra, of course. --My new crush.

Captivating

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it was a great story - one of those where you continue to question if this is really happening somewhere in the world...

Which character – as performed by Ari Fliakos – was your favorite?

Mr. Penumbra for sure

Any additional comments?

This is a great read/listen that I would definitely suggest for someone looking for a lighthearted story. People who love books, art, typography, secret societies, adventure and/or friendship should find something enjoyable in this work!

Delightful

The narrator, Ari Fliakos, was fantastic. I loved his voice and his enthusiasm as he narrated this fun fantasy about the goings on in a mysterious little bookshop in San Francisco. It a combination of nerdiness and gothic mystery with a sweetness that I found delightful.

Ancient and modern artifacts collide

This book filled every nook of my favorite reads. There's mystery surrounding the bookstore and its customers, or lack thereof. A little romance, some exciting adventure, historical reference and the marvels of technology. The story is fast paced, and the narrator does an excellent job of imbuing the words with appropriate emotion.

Fun and Enjoyable Listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this to everyone (but especially bibliophiles)! I know this is going to sound really over the top, but this book has been a major help in making grad school bearable. I listen to this book whenever I need to relax-- usually while cleaning my apartment or taking a walk. The book is funny and optimistic and makes you feel just a little bit better about the world out there.

What other book might you compare Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore to and why?

There are a lot of typical young man bildungsroman tropes, but there are also strong female characters and other subplots that make the story more complicated and interesting.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes absolutely! This book is fantastic and it totally draws you in. You also want to solve the mysteries along with the characters.

Any additional comments?

When I first read the description for this book, I thought it was really silly. And it is. But it's light, humorous, and a little bit ridiculous in a good way. Take a break from the stresses to everyday life to give it a listen! Also, Ari Fliakos does a really nice job!

Great Read even Better listen

This is a delightful book and an even more delightful audiobook.
The narrator does a wonderful job of capturing the main character's voice and creating a very personal telling of a fantasy science-fiction publishing typographical romp in San Francisco. This book defies categorization. It is a wonderful surprise.

fun!

If you're into speculative fiction and you enjoy geek-culture references, this is a definite must read. Light and entertaining, Penumbra is a perfect, pleasant escape.