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Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)

Robin Sloan

Start date: February 1, 2013

Finish date: March 31, 2013

Why we're reading this: Winner of the non-Bookmarks Selection poll
[close] Winner of the non-Bookmarks Selection poll

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What Members Thought

Dec 03, 2012 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: _own-ebook, fiction, rec-botn, read-in-2012

Overall, I really enjoyed this book despite its many flaws. It's a far from perfect book but I enjoyed the reading experience and was able to overlook a lot of the little things that could have added up to big things for some readers. I think because the book was right up my alley, I was able to let a lot of the imperfections slide.

Without a doubt, this book had the potential to be something really special and amazing. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite live up to that. Although the book as a whole Overall, I really enjoyed this book despite its many flaws. It's a far from perfect book but I enjoyed the reading experience and was able to overlook a lot of the little things that could have added up to big things for some readers. I think because the book was right up my alley, I was able to let a lot of the imperfections slide.

Without a doubt, this book had the potential to be something really special and amazing. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite live up to that. Although the book as a whole is more of a 3 star, I'm giving it 4 because there are so many aspects that I really loved, even if they weren't necessarily successful. It's my understanding that this is Robin Sloan's first novel. Perhaps that is part of the problem?

There is an interesting atmosphere to this book - probably because it centers around an ancient mystery being looked at by a group of young,tech savvy characters. Many of the modern tech references in the book are going to be out of date in no time but I think they were fun for the modern reader. The juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern gives the book a really interesting feel. I also think that the book also had a very similar feel to Ready Player One (at least in its narrative voice). Unfortunately, Ready Player One was a much more successful book than this one.

The book also felt much more like a YA novel than one for adults. I'm not sure what the author intended but that is how it feels while reading it. My other issue is that the mystery component of the story and its unfolding wasn't nearly as compelling as it could have been. It fell flat for me and the adventure the characters take to solve the mystery just didn't work for me. Although I enjoyed the read, I didn't completely buy the story or where it takes the reader.

Yet, despite all of that, I really enjoyed the read. I thought it was fun and interesting. It was a pretty quick, easy read. The characters weren't completely well rounded but they worked for the purposes of the story. And I just liked it. Not because it was brilliant but because it made for a nice story - one where I didn't need to think hard or explore things intellectually. It was just a nice little novel. I think that there are probably much better executed novels of this sort but I am glad that I read it.
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3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 18, 2013 Sera rated it liked it

Shelves: kindle, mystery

Overall, a fun, light and quick read. What started out as a great book for me fizzled out in the end. I found the coincendences to be a bit much and then ultimate "meaning" of the story (view spoiler) to be a little simple and juvenile, which may be why I have seen some discussion around whether the book should be considered YA.

The book is unique and reminded me a bit of Ready Player ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2012 Melissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: to-review

Good. Love the premise but I was expecting more of a thriller at times - there would be great tension in a scene then the resolution would back off quite a bit. The plot did keep moving though. Totally a geek novel - data visualization, code breaking, programming, etc.

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 23, 2013 Antonia rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2013, botns-book

Absolutely charming. Great fun. It was hard to put this one down.

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Nov 21, 2012 Barbara rated it liked it

Quick enjoyable read that reminded me a little of Shadow of the Wind, one of my favorite novels.

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 05, 2013 Laurie rated it liked it

This light read combines elements of Nancy Drew with Zafón's works with Wired magazine -- entertaining for the most part. ...more

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Jun 13, 2013 Melissa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: booksaboutbooks, now-hear-this, teen-scene

Enjoyed this book more than I expected. The reader for the audio gave great voice to all the interesting character. Toward the end, the author stopped showing and did a little too much telling, but it was still fun.

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