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Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel | Robin Sloan
A gleeful and exhilarating tale of global conspiracy, complex code-breaking, high-tech data visualization, young love, rollicking adventure, and the secret to eternal lifemostly set in a hole-in-the-wall San Francisco bookstoreThe Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design droneand 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 twenty-first 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 reader, no matter the time of day.
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BookmarkTavern
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Pickpick

Clay‘s desperate search for a job leads him to a night shift for a mysterious bookshop. When he discovers the regulars are part of a secret organization, it‘s time for him to do some mystery solving.

Delightful! I was fascinated by the intersection of old knowledge w/ technology, I loved the affection for San Francisco as a setting & the humor was spot on. The characters did feel a little flat & I wanted more of the relationships.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

BarbaraJean AND, if you haven't already made this discovery... the cover glows in the dark!! 4w
See All 10 Comments
BookmarkTavern @BarbaraJean I realized that a couple nights ago when I was reading it before bed, put it down and turned the lights out and thought “what is this weird light?” 🤣🤣 4w
BarbaraJean @BookmarkTavern 😂😂 That is exactly the way I discovered the glowiness! 4w
dabbe #stacked! 🤩 4w
zezeki I've read it earlier this year, and loved it, such a fun book! 4w
BC_Dittemore Ohhh… I read that a few years ago. Very good. Thanks for reminding me of a book I need to re-read. 😅 4w
OutsmartYourShelf Brilliant! 4w
TheAromaofBooks I really enjoyed this one!!! I also liked another of Sloan's books - it's that same sort of borderline between real/not real. Kind of like sci-fi realism 😂 3w
79 likes2 stack adds10 comments
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jackilynn
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I have been on the hunt for this book ever since I read it a few years ago. I fell in love with this quirky little read and knew I needed it in my collection. The glow in the dark aspect is even better in person.

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CatLass007
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Pickpick

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I really enjoyed this. I don‘t know what genre it is. Fantasy? Magical Realism? And I don‘t care about labeling it. I just know I‘m glad I read it.

thegirlwiththelibrarybag In which case I recommend the prequel 2mo
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I read this nearly 10 years ago and remember nothing more than I liked it. I picked up the prequel but never read it. It might be time for a reread. 2mo
DieAReader 🥳Great 2mo
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CatLass007 @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I‘ve read it and enjoyed it. I‘ve fallen behind on my reviews. @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I would encourage you to reread it and give the prequel a try. I found it quite enjoyable. 2mo
thegirlwiththelibrarybag I‘ve got his newest book out at the moment, but haven‘t started it yet. He‘s an interesting writer! 2mo
CatLass007 @thegirlwiththelibrarybag Thanks for the reminder to look for his other books! 2mo
thegirlwiththelibrarybag He also has short stories on his website - the writer and the witch was my favourite https://www.robinsloan.com/stories/writer-witch/ 2mo
BethM This has been on my tbr forever. 2mo
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I suddenly remember that the cover on my paperback copy faintly glowed in the dark, too. 2mo
CatLass007 @thegirlwiththelibrarybag Moonbound isn‘t available in audio format at my library, which is too bad. But I‘ll keep checking. Thank you for the link and info about his short stories. 2mo
52 likes11 comments
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Kitta
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Picked this up from a neighbour on Buy Nothing on a whim and I‘m glad I did!

An interesting story set in a bookshop, with regulars checking out coded books leads to a bigger mystery!

Cosy, and just what I was in the mood for.

30 likes1 stack add
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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#Setinbookshop 💛🤍
#Aboutabook

On the never ending #tbr shelf!

💛📚💛📚💛📚💛

Eggs Pretty💛🤍💛 2mo
zezeki Read this recently after it spent years on my TBR and loved it! 2mo
Teresereading On my TBR too! 2mo
Booksblanketsandahotbeverage One of my favorites! 2mo
BkClubCare Japanese White Clematis! 2mo
53 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Booksblanketsandahotbeverage
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Um, so I only recently stumbled on Book Outlet (after hearing about it everywhere) and they‘re currently having a sale… so my finger slipped and I bought some books. 🫣

willaful whoops! 6mo
BarbaraJean “My finger slipped” 😂😂 That happens to me ALL THE TIME on Book Outlet! So strange! 😆 6mo
31 likes3 comments
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Bec_lectic
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Bailedbailed

I hate bailing on any book but 80 some pages in I just lost all interest in reading this anymore. It‘s not a bad book and if your into tech and weird stuff this book is for you, just not for me. I guess I‘m just not as nerdy as I thought 🤣🤣

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Centique
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Book plus latte plus a spot out of the sun when youre finished swimming - Fiji ☀️🏝️☀️

tpixie Lovely 😊 1y
AlaMich Fiji is on my bucket list! 1y
Ruthiella Perfect! 😃 1y
See All 14 Comments
LeahBergen I can‘t! 😫 1y
TrishB Oh how lovely 😁 1y
CarolynM That looks delightful, but the important question is, is the coffee any good?😆 1y
Centique @AlaMich if you go, and want a quieter resort experience, i recommend coming here to Musket Cove. This is our 4th visit and we‘re too in love with it to try any other resort 😂 1y
Centique @CarolynM the coffee is not great! But i can live with it 😂😂 The only thing i miss about home are my cats and my local barista 💕 1y
AlaMich @Centique @Centique Thanks for the recommendation! I see from the map that NZ is pretty close to Fiji, you lucky duck!! 1y
Cathythoughts Enjoy Paula ! Fiji, I can only imagine in my dreams ♥️ 1y
Centique @AlaMich @Cathythoughts i am lucky 💕but meantime i dream of visiting europe which is about 24 hours of flying 😬😬 Have to pick some closer destinations! 1y
Rissreads I missed all this! How wonderful, Fiji! 💛 1y
Suet624 I‘m just going to keep dreaming… 1y
Centique @Suet624 🤞😘 1y
88 likes14 comments
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Eggs
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Pickpick

Mostly Pick. It lost me a few times in the confusion of the many characters and some of the tech/coding. Amusing, fascinating premise.

#Pantone2023 @Clwojick

Crazeedi Yes it was a bit confusing at times , I read a couple years ago 1y
Vivlio_Gnosi One of my favorite books! 1y
Clwojick Pretty! 1y
See All 6 Comments
Eggs @Crazeedi agree but still fun 🤩 1y
Eggs @Clwojick Thanks 😊 1y
63 likes1 stack add6 comments
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thestarlesscasea
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Diving back into this world on a self-care Friday off of work. Maintenance has been hammering aggressively on the other side of my wall. 'Twas overstimulating and dysregulating, so Starbucks it is. 📚 🍵

15 likes1 stack add
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jen_the_scribe
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Mehso-so

I finished this listen on the treadmill today. I enjoyed it for the most part but found the plot lacking in action/drama and also found the resolution extremely anticlimactic. It was a little disappointing in the end, but the characters were disappointed too, so maybe that was the point. I loved the quirky characters and the concept: what does it mean to be immortal? And the convergence of books and technology in the information era.

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Sapphire
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I don‘t get to recommend books much as it seems most people in my real life have such different tastes than I do. But I remember how fun this book felt reading it. The most “fun” since the er welt Harry Potter though very different of course. #EasterOMC #most-recommended

Clwojick I enjoyed this one! ❤️ 2y
30 likes1 comment
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jen_the_scribe
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Walking a mile on the treadmill while listening to the tagged book… it‘s definitely keeping my mind off the fact that I‘d rather be anywhere else but on this treadmill lol.

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jen_the_scribe
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My next listen… I‘ve started going on the treadmill everyday so I‘ve been listening a bit more. Intrigued by this one…

22 likes1 stack add
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TheEllieMo
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag I just recently read the prequel novella - it made me want to reread this! 2y
Eggs This has been on my TBR forever. Always love seeing your shelves! 2y
perfectsinner Ohhh that's a good one 2y
70 likes3 comments
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Niharika87
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Mehso-so

Secret societies,code deciphering,Old vs New.
Taking us through so many different professional passionate personalities.!
This book keeps you thinking even after u have finishd readin it. D vocabulary was apt, learnt about a lot of new things, through the research done by d author. D world he create, d whole journey of d characters is fun & keeps you engrossd.
It's a fun read. Does get quite technical in some places. It's a well executed book.

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Geemom1118
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A co-worker lent me this one. First time read from this author.

14 likes1 stack add
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

First book finished for today's #rgreadathon . It's been a great week for finding new favourite books! The realities/difficulties of information management/preservation in the digital age and possibilities of artificial intelligence/machine learning, the struggle between protecting valuable knowledge from loss or misuse and the dangers of gatekeeping. The adventure and mystery, the ending. Truly wonderful. Wish the Dragon Song books were real. 🫤

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Robotswithpersonality
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And today's 'scratched my brain just right' sentence is:

"Fingers of thought are raking the space behind the cushions, looking for loose ideas, finding nothing."

Blueberry 😆 2y
6 likes1 comment
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Robotswithpersonality
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Learned a new word! Basically, toroid is a geometrical shape like a doughnut, or, in this case, bagel.

8 likes1 stack add
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Ladygodiva7
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✨ New from a bookstore ✨

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego The cover glows in the dark (if you didn't already know) 2y
Ladygodiva7 @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego NO!!! 💀🤯 I did not!!! Thanks!! 2y
Ladygodiva7 @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego it doesn‘t glow in the dark, I think it‘s for the black light tho. 2y
tpixie @Ladygodiva7 well darn it, it used to!! Try putting close to lamp first, then turn off lights! 2y
82 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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kissmehardy
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Pickpick

Haven't read this in years, and I'm glad I picked it back up again! Clay has such an engaging voice, and I love the mystery of Manutius and his codex. Fun to track how different 2022 is from this depiction of 2008, too. #fiction #reread

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peanutnine
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#SavvySettings Bookstore
So many to choose from for this prompt, but I enjoyed this book 💛
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Eggs Well done 🖤👍🏼💛 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💛📚💛 3y
42 likes2 comments
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JuliaTheBookNerd
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#Bookstore 📚 #SavvySettings 💚🍀

#BookNerd 🤓💙📚

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 📚💛📚 3y
Eggs 💛📖💛 3y
62 likes2 comments
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Bookwormjillk
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Thanks so much @slategreyskies

I‘ve always wanted one of these ❤️

slategreyskies Awww, I‘m glad it made you smile. Have a great rest of your day! 💕 3y
Ruthiella The cover glows in the dark (at least mine did!) 3y
74 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Susanita
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1. Shetland library 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
2. The title notwithstanding, it‘s actually a library.
3. The library at Rivendell
#sundayfunday

BookmarkTavern Oh Rivendell is an excellent choice! Thank you for sharing! 3y
26 likes1 comment
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FogLady
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Pickpick

I adore stories set in certain cities and San Francisco is one of them! Some of the characters were stereotypical, which felt like a cheat, but the pace was quick, the concept was super creative and while it might not be on my top ten list, I was entertained which is enough sometimes.

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Crazeedi
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Mehso-so

This was a reread for me. I did think it was a pretty good book, something out of my usual genre! #LMPBC #groupG @suvata
The book will be on the way soon Sarah!
@slategreyskies @Bookwormjillk @Tattooedteacher

slategreyskies Oh yay, I‘m looking forward to it! It‘s a reread for me too, but I really enjoyed it the first time around and am looking forward to reading it again. :) 3y
77 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Mary_Reads
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Mehso-so

Trying out more audio books this year. They've never really been my jam but I like the idea of being able to listen while I do busy work around the house. That being said I'm not sure if this one didn't hit with me because it was audio or because it just didn't hit. Seemed like it would be right up my alley but was just so-so

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shortsarahrose
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Thank you so much @alexus_sb for the book and snacks! I just listened to this book on audio, but I am happy to have my own copy because I know I will want to reread it in print! (I know I probably missed some things in the audio). Plus, I can lend it out to my mom in the meantime because I like talking books with her 🥰 the green tea will be perfect for my currently scratchy throat and the pretzel will be good once I get them away from April

shortsarahrose Thanks @bookish_wookish for running #LittleChristmasSwap - I was right: this is just the pick me up I needed in January! 3y
alexus_sb Oh yay! I‘m so glad you like everything! There were so many books that sounded amazing on your list I had to write a few down for myself. This was such a fun swap! 3y
shortsarahrose @alexus_sb I know my tbr grows every time I participate in a swap! 3y
36 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Crazeedi
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slategreyskies Yay!! I‘ll be on the lookout for it! :) 3y
58 likes1 stack add1 comment
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shortsarahrose
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Pickpick

Reminds me a bit of A Series of Unfortunate Events (fantastical adventure, a secret society, some odd characters), but narrated by the guy from The Martian if instead of botany he had studied typography and set in a San Fran bookshop in 2012. This was a fun way to start #NewYearWhoDis
I have some quibbles with it (slog between 25-33%, two dimensional characters except Clay and Penumbra, odd audio narrating choices), but overall enjoyed it.

monalyisha What a quirky description! I still haven‘t read this one & have had it in my hot little hands so many times! 3y
shortsarahrose @monalyisha it‘s definitely a quirky book! It was a good palate cleanser after reading/watching a lot of things that are more serious. 3y
24 likes2 comments
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shortsarahrose
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It‘s New Years Day. It‘s cold and snowy out. I‘ve got a space heater and a snuggly cat. Sounds like a good time to start a #NewYearWhoDis pick. Luckily, my local library had this one available as an digital audiobook - looks like the rest of my day is set 🛋 🐈 🎧📖🥪
#catsoflitsy

Leftcoastzen 😻👏 3y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Yay!! Hope you enjoy it! ❤️ My order isn‘t in yet for the books I first chose off your list, but I‘m eager to dive in once they‘re here. 3y
30 likes2 comments
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EmberIvyRose
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Pickpick

Audiobook pick:
A fantastical story about a mysterious bookstore and a quest for answers.

19 likes1 stack add
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Bookwormjillk
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Mehso-so

A good idea but I had some issues…

This was my#LMPBC pick for round 13. I plan to get this in the mail before Thanksgiving @Tattooedteacher

Oh, and sorry group. I have lost my beloved teal pen and had to switch to pink. If I find it before the next round I‘ll switch back.

#33by33 #AnywayYouReadathon

Eggbeater Nice job 👍 3y
slategreyskies Oh, that‘s a bummer about the teal pen! Hope you find it soon! :) 3y
MatchlessMarie That‘s one‘s been on my TBR forever too 🎉🧁 3y
53 likes3 comments
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Bookwormjillk
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Daisy and I are having trouble concentrating this afternoon. We may need a nap.

sharread Awesome photo. 3y
ShelleyBooksie Adorable 3y
TheDaysGoBy Love that book. And your kitty is sooo cute! 3y
Leftcoastzen 👍😻Naps are great! 3y
72 likes4 comments
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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I adored this when I read it 7 years ago, but sadly, it didn‘t quite hold up second time around. I still enjoyed the bookish secret society story, and the marrying of paper and tech, but the characters are so flat. Mr. Penumbra himself is quite the lovable enigma, but the rest are generic AF. Still love the glow-in-the-dark cover, though! #reread #coverlove

britt_brooke @Cinfhen I seem to recall you not liking this because it says “Google” way too much. You‘re not wrong. 😂 3y
Cinfhen Hahaha 🤣 I don‘t remember why I bailed on this book, I just remember being BORED and annoyed!!! Sorry round two didn‘t deliver the same effect 3y
sharread I loved this book, and the bookstore. 3y
britt_brooke @sharread The bookstore is definitely magical! ✨ 3y
103 likes4 comments
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KelsiTaylor
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“Her home is the burrow of a bibliophile hobbit— low-ceilinged, close-walled, and brimming over with books.”
This is probably one of my favorite love letters to books that I‘ve ever read

DrexEdit ❤️ that quote! ☺️ 3y
11 likes1 comment
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BriannaT
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Mehso-so

THIS BOOK GLOWS IN THE DARK!!
In this book, the main character works as a desk clerk at a bookstore, but there‘s something more to the mysterious coded books that eccentric characters check out. I love the “secrets within books” plot, as the idea of a secret library or book room is so enticing! I just didn‘t like the talk about boobs or the way the female character was written. I feel she was a geek variant of the manic pixie dream girl trope.

RaeLovesToRead Totally agree regarding the female character. I didn't really rate this one, sadly. 3y
BriannaT @RaeLovesToRead Right?! There were parts of this book that really showed it was written by a man. If it weren‘t for that I would have enjoyed it so much more. 3y
RaeLovesToRead @BriannaT I did a fair bit of eye rolling! Haha 😄 3y
14 likes1 stack add3 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
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#curiouscovers I am a day behind with #pattern
But perfect prompt for this fun inside and out read which puzzles the mind and glows in the dark!
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Eggs That‘s amazing 📚👏🏻✅ 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So cool!! 💚💚💚 3y
25 likes2 comments
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CaffeineAndCandy
Pickpick

A new and interesting concept where a cult of readers try to decipher the writings of deceased writers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

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seibelsays
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#reread
I'd forgotten how much I enjoy this book. It's been an excellent listen as I finish up the last details on the sweater I'm knitting.

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ke1lbe1l
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March was extra stressful (for many reasons and no reasons at all), and without realizing it, I escaped into 7 different worlds to try to get away from the daily reality ... I think that‘s the most I‘ve ever read in a month. 5 ⭐️ to all the books on the left.

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Laughterhp
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Mehso-so

So I liked the premise of this book. The bookstore, the secret society, all the mystery.
However, I could have done without all the boob talk. It was really weird and you can tell this book was written by a man. Also, it might be a little dated because Google did not ruin books and neither did Kindles... books and bookstores are still around. But overall I liked this book.

Also, yay I can finally take pictures outside again! (For now)

snowpaws94 I completely agree about the boob talk. I also felt like sometimes the way Kat was described in the first half of the book was also a little odd. For some reason the shirt thing really threw me off. 4y
Laughterhp @snowpaws94 Yes, the shirt thing was really weird! I agree. 4y
72 likes2 comments
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MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm
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Pickpick

5 ⭐️s
I absolutely love this book! Sloan channels a Douglas Adams vibe that had me feeling nostalgic and comfortable from the offset, not to mention laughing my head off at times. Jannon is incredibly relatable and nearly all the characters are extremely lovable. I adored the equal love given to the old and the new, like books and e-readers. Mr. Penumbra‘s has become a fictional place that I would give a great deal to visit in real life. ❤️🥰❤️

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm A HUGE thank you to @Addison_Reads for sending me this copy! It‘s probably my favorite read of 2021 so far! 4y
Addison_Reads Yay! I'm happy that you enjoyed it. 💚 In case I didn't tell you, the cover glows in the dark, which makes the book even better in my opinion. 😀 4y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @Addison_Reads Yes! I think @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick told me about it originally. ❤️😍❤️ I love that added flair! Anything that glows is at least 50% cooler! 😜 4y
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I think it was me who mentioned it! 😁 I'm glad you liked it. I know I did but it's been a few years since I've read it. I have a prequel unread, so maybe I'll give it a reread. 4y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick THERE‘S A PREQUEL?!? *runs off to add it to wishlist* 4y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Lol, thanks! I‘ve added it to my multiple TBR lists. 😅 4y
38 likes1 stack add7 comments