Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore
15 journalers for this copy...
A New York Times bestseller, Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore is an entirely charming and lovable first novel of mysterious books and dusty bookshops; it is a witty and delightful love-letter to both the old book world and the new. Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone - and serendipity, coupled with sheer curiosity, has landed him a new job working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days, 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 they simply borrow 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' behaviour 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...
I read it during my summer holidays and it was well worth it..
I really liked this book!
even though it wasn't what I expected. I thought it more about a bookstore itself.
But this mixture between nerds/geeks/googlers and the good old books was good.
And yes, I also love books because of their smell!! (and texture by the way!)
I was also curious enough to google (sic!) some of the names mentioned here - and found them all..
Reading order (might still change)
1. Bailong (China/int)
2. gaboyd (NZ/int)
3. Vekiki (UK/EU)
4. iiwi (NL/int)
5. Boekentrol (NL/ EU)
6. ana-b (NL/int)
7. dutch-book (NL/EU)
8. freuju (D/int)
9. sharlan (S/EU)
10. penelopewanders (CH/EU)
11. rodespringbal (B/EU)
12. Bookworm-lady (Spain/EU)
13. Jotka (D/int)
14. dschinny (D/Int)
back home to Kiki...
I really liked this book!
even though it wasn't what I expected. I thought it more about a bookstore itself.
But this mixture between nerds/geeks/googlers and the good old books was good.
And yes, I also love books because of their smell!! (and texture by the way!)
I was also curious enough to google (sic!) some of the names mentioned here - and found them all..
Reading order (might still change)
1. Bailong (China/int)
2. gaboyd (NZ/int)
3. Vekiki (UK/EU)
4. iiwi (NL/int)
5. Boekentrol (NL/ EU)
6. ana-b (NL/int)
7. dutch-book (NL/EU)
8. freuju (D/int)
9. sharlan (S/EU)
10. penelopewanders (CH/EU)
11. rodespringbal (B/EU)
12. Bookworm-lady (Spain/EU)
13. Jotka (D/int)
14. dschinny (D/Int)
back home to Kiki...
On its way to the first stopover in China :-)
Happy travelling and hope to see you again!!
Happy travelling and hope to see you again!!
The book arrived safely to China. Thanks!
Very entertaining read.
I especially loved the characters and the setting.
The story in itself tends to fizzle out a bit in the end, but I still enjoyed this book tremendously.
I especially loved the characters and the setting.
The story in itself tends to fizzle out a bit in the end, but I still enjoyed this book tremendously.
Journal Entry 6 by BaiLong at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 23, 2015
Released 8 yrs ago (11/23/2015 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book is on its way to NZ. gaboyd, I hope you'll like it as much as I did!
Recieved today
Released 8 yrs ago (12/25/2015 UTC) at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Released while at the Post office
Journal Entry 9 by Vekiki at -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Arrived this morning, looks like it's been on an adventure as there are stickers saying it was delivered to the wrong address! But it got here all safe so that's okay. I'm looking forward to it, and will stay tucking in today :)
Thanks for the cool patch too
Thanks for the cool patch too
Journal Entry 10 by Vekiki at -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Saturday, January 30, 2016
Released 8 yrs ago (1/30/2016 UTC) at -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to the next bookring reader :)
Somehow this seems to be going the Ring without JE's :-(
I would have loved to know whether you liked the book or not..
(thanks Bailong!)
To the further readers: please write a little bit (that' like in geocaching when someone writes on finding 'your' cache: "found it".. it is disappointing!)
thanks!
I would have loved to know whether you liked the book or not..
(thanks Bailong!)
To the further readers: please write a little bit (that' like in geocaching when someone writes on finding 'your' cache: "found it".. it is disappointing!)
thanks!
Ha! The first ringbook to arrive in my new home!
I took this book with me on a travel to my parents who live on the other side of the country,which is over here,three hours by train.
A book with Google and the internet. Strange as it may sound considering this book, it felt like the real world. I must not have read a book grounded in this century for ages!
I think I read all books refferenced so far (okay, not the visual display of quantative information), which makes me happy being ecclectic.
A book with Google and the internet. Strange as it may sound considering this book, it felt like the real world. I must not have read a book grounded in this century for ages!
I think I read all books refferenced so far (okay, not the visual display of quantative information), which makes me happy being ecclectic.
I had a good time with this book and now it is time to travel further.
Journal Entry 15 by Boekentrol at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Tuesday, March 22, 2016
This book has arrived safely with me today.
Thanks for sending on, iiwi. After my current read, this one is next.
Thanks for sending on, iiwi. After my current read, this one is next.
Journal Entry 16 by Boekentrol at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Friday, April 22, 2016
I thoughtbI had already made a JE, but apparantly I didn't. Well, that kind of reflects my current state of mind. I am very forgetful, can't concentrate.
That's also the reason why I can't get into this book. One page, that I have to read at least twice. And even though it's only a thin book, that doesn't work.
Sending it to the next in line
That's also the reason why I can't get into this book. One page, that I have to read at least twice. And even though it's only a thin book, that doesn't work.
Sending it to the next in line
Journal Entry 17 by Boekentrol at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Friday, April 22, 2016
Released 8 yrs ago (4/23/2016 UTC) at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I'll pop this in the mail tomorrow, it'll be on its way to ana-b who's next in line.
The book has arrived today. Thanks kiki66 and Boekentrol
Journal Entry 19 by 
dutch-book
at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Saturday, October 15, 2016
dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Saturday, October 15, 2016
What a coincidence! I was looking at the taggame over at the RABCK-forum where I saw someone wishing for this book. So I thought to check out when this book was due here, if it was a ray and if there are any persons after me, otherwise I might have been able to tag this forward and just as I'm looking at this one, I hear the mailman shoving something through the mailslot. I am thinking: that sounds like a package, so I went to look. And it was a package and it was this book. I cannot tag it forward, but this will be read and sent on shortly. Thank you for the ring!
Journal Entry 20 by dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Friday, December 2, 2016
dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Friday, December 2, 2016
I finished this at the end of October, but forgot to make a journal entry.
I've enjoyed this book. Too bad there wasn't a real secret to be had. But anyway, I flew through this. Good read. I've tried looking up names, but didn't find any immediately.
I've enjoyed this book. Too bad there wasn't a real secret to be had. But anyway, I flew through this. Good read. I've tried looking up names, but didn't find any immediately.
Journal Entry 21 by dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Friday, December 2, 2016
dutch-book at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Friday, December 2, 2016
Released 7 yrs ago (12/3/2016 UTC) at Heerenveen , Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent off to freuju.
Arrived safely yesterday. Thanks for sending it on!
The middle part was a bit strange to read for me but the end made up for this. I liked the message, especially the idea that Google does NOT have the answer to everything... Pleasantly weird story and a very likeable hero!
Thanks for giving me the chance to read it! The book is now on its way to Sweden. Enjoy! :)
Thanks for giving me the chance to read it! The book is now on its way to Sweden. Enjoy! :)
The book arrived here a couple of days ago. Thanks freuju for sending it!
This book did not really live up to my (perhaps way too) high expectations, but it was a fun, fast-paced read, with quite a few delightfully nerdy and likeable characters.
Now moving on to penelopewanders in Switzerland!
Now moving on to penelopewanders in Switzerland!
Journal Entry 26 by 
penelopewanders
at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Sunday, February 26, 2017
penelopewanders at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Sunday, February 26, 2017
This arrived in the Swiss alps yesterday... I'm actually on sick leave so should be able to read it pretty soon, although then getting things parcelled and posted sometimes takes longer. Thanks for sending and for making this available.
Here as a bookcrossing ring, this is a very hard book to categorize. In ways it was slow-going, but gradually it got more captivating. The whole question of real books vs e-books, computers and manual research, archives and old knowledge was interesting, and the world of Google and epic fantasies such as the Dragon Song chronicles (or whatever they are called) were yet other facets of contemporary culture interestingly represented here.
I'm not sure I would have read this if it hadn't arrived as a ring, but I'm always grateful to discover books this way.
I've asked for the next address and will try to send this on soon.
I'm not sure I would have read this if it hadn't arrived as a ring, but I'm always grateful to discover books this way.
I've asked for the next address and will try to send this on soon.
This (after being driven here from Switzerland) now leaves France for Belgium. Thanks for making this book available, sorry it dallied a bit on the way. Enjoy!
Journal Entry 29 by 
rodespringbal
at Roosdaal, Vlaams-Brabant / Brabant Flamant Belgium on Friday, March 31, 2017
rodespringbal at Roosdaal, Vlaams-Brabant / Brabant Flamant Belgium on Friday, March 31, 2017
Arrived today
Will read this after an other ringbook
Will read this after an other ringbook
Journal Entry 30 by rodespringbal at Roosdaal, Vlaams-Brabant / Brabant Flamant Belgium on Wednesday, April 12, 2017
rodespringbal at Roosdaal, Vlaams-Brabant / Brabant Flamant Belgium on Wednesday, April 12, 2017
To be completely honest, I skipped several chapters in the middle. My eyes just rapidly chased true them. I'm not sure what happened. The first chapters were so good. The premise was okay and the spooky feeling I had in the first chapters, the mystery behind a bookstore... sounded pretty good. But then...
It's more about the wonders of computers than of books. Google, google and yes google... bleh!
Expected so much more...
It's more about the wonders of computers than of books. Google, google and yes google... bleh!
Expected so much more...
Received today; what a well-traveled book!
I'm really curious about it; thanks for sharing, kiki66, and for sending it my way, Rodespringbal.
I'm really curious about it; thanks for sharing, kiki66, and for sending it my way, Rodespringbal.
I've just started reading it, and have asked for Jotka's address in order to move it on as soon as possible. :)
Well... I'm afraid I have given up on this one. By the time Kat Potente came into scene, I had lost all interest in the plot.
A pity, because its start was really promising, as some other readers have said... I expected more, just like rodespringbal...
Maybe not the right time, or maybe not the right book for me.
I have Jotka's address, so it will soon be on its way to her.
A pity, because its start was really promising, as some other readers have said... I expected more, just like rodespringbal...
Maybe not the right time, or maybe not the right book for me.
I have Jotka's address, so it will soon be on its way to her.
Sent to Jotka, who is next in line...
Enjoy! :)
Enjoy! :)
Book arrived today. Thank you very much!
May 2018
I've read the reviews after I was almost ready with the book, not before, but it was also my opinion: Google-advertisement. Just like rodespringball wrote. Disappointing.
May 2018
I've read the reviews after I was almost ready with the book, not before, but it was also my opinion: Google-advertisement. Just like rodespringball wrote. Disappointing.
On the way to dschinny. Enjoy!
Arrived today. Thank you!
After the last journal entries I was a bit apprehensive when I started the book. But I have to say, I enjoyed it. I found the combination of OK (old knowledge) and modern technology intriguing, the story captured me and I was curious what would come out at the end.
Thanks to kiki66 for sending it around as a ring. It can travel home now.
Oh, and thank you (Jotka?) for the lovely Origami cranes. I'll keep one and send the other ones on to kiki :-)
Thanks to kiki66 for sending it around as a ring. It can travel home now.
Oh, and thank you (Jotka?) for the lovely Origami cranes. I'll keep one and send the other ones on to kiki :-)
Journal Entry 39 by 
dschinny
at -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Hamburg Germany on Tuesday, July 10, 2018
dschinny at -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Hamburg Germany on Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (7/11/2018 UTC) at -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Hamburg Germany
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Will be sent back to kiki66.
Mr Prenumbra is back home - after three years!
thanks everyone for taking such good care of him...
thanks everyone for taking such good care of him...
