Friday, September 23, 2022

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store


 Shirley J.                       Adult Fiction                    Bookstore, Eccentric Clientele, Ancient Texts

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store by Robin Sloan    288 pages

Clay Jannon is a victim of the recession, his web design job evaporated and in his search for a job he comes upon a sign on a building, "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store."   As he is mulling that over he notices there is a help wanted sign so he applies.  Turns out it is for the 3rd shift.  The first thing Clay notices on his new job there are few customers but there are an eclectic looking small group of individuals who do show up throughout the night none of them buy anything, they "check out" books of obscure text constantly returning them only to get another and all this is some select book group Mr. Penumbra is somehow involved with.   Between the quirky relationships Clay develops with the regular clientele and the somehow quirkier staff, the mystery unfolds as to what the late night "readers" are up to in an entertaining way with twists a plenty.  I recommend this one to middle schoolers on up. 


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