Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Let me say, that any book that sites House of Leaves is speaking to my heart. But, don’t worry Penumbra’s is not what I would consider Meta-fiction.
The book revolves around a store clerk with a job at a rather odd bookstore. Strange patrons come in and treat the place more like a lending library than a bookstore. The clerk decides to try and figure out what’s up and the adventure begins.
Sloan combines technology and tradition in a story that explores people’s need to understand: What’s IT all about?
The plot is great, the writing strong, the characters completely in tune with themselves.
Throughout the book, I kept wishing there really was a bookstore like Penumbra’s and better yet, a Penumbra himself. Describing the bookstore owner Sloan writes: He’s like a storybook spirit, a little djinn or something, except instead of air or water his element is imagination.
It’s completely worth five stars. And, should not be overlooked simply because it might not meet highbrow standards.
The Booky Mom 
Keep checking in, Judy. We are doing all kinds of things this summer!!!