Noah Hunter Penumbra book review

 Noah Hunter 

Mr. Davidson 

Contemporary Literature 

15, September 2023 

Noah’s Book review 

*Spoiler Warning* 

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan, is a book about a strange bookstore. The main character, Clay Jannon, starts the novel looking for a job during a recession. He lives in an apartment with two people, Ashley and Mat. Clay finds a job at Mr. Penumbra’s bookstore and starts working the night shift as a clerk. He is tasked with some odd jobs during his night shift, but nothing too peculiar. He only has a couple of rules he must follow, but as time goes on, he gets more and more curious. He then, with a little extra motivation from Mat, opens a book he is forbidden to open. What Clay finds inside leads up to an extremely long adventure, where he must use every resource to uncover the mystery. Clay, his friends, his Google-obsessed girlfriend, and some acquaintances he meets along the way, team up to solve the puzzles hidden within the books of the 24-hour bookstore. 

This novel takes a twist from regular novels and attacks themes about technology and immortality. Robert Sloan uses the Unbroken Spine and Kat to jab at the idea of immortality. This “cult” chases after the idea of eternal life, believing that it is hidden in these coded books. They end up finding out when the final book is decoded, that there is no true immortality, and that the whole message within the books is that one lives through their work. Clay says this when he finds out Penumbra is in a book, “Penumbra has already earned a touch of immortality. Does he know?” (264). A person might not be able to live forever, but their work and ideas can live much longer than they can. This theme sticks with readers because people seem to be disappointed that there is no true immortality. Sloan depicts mortality as a gift, which is an excellent theme for readers of all ages. A person might not be able to live forever, but that just makes the one life they live even more special. People are limited to certain things, and they cannot do everything, but that’s the unique thing about life.  

The characters in Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore are extremely more relatable compared to older novels. Clay suffers from realistic problems, like trying to get a girlfriend and find a job. Kat is also a new unique character that readers don’t see much in literature. She is a coder who is obsessed with Google and the thought of immortality. Even Corvina, an older man who is stuck in the old ways of doing things, is another relatable character. Sloan creates a realistic personality for her characters. “Kat is sitting alone, nibbling the very last vegan oat cookie.” Sloan gets very specific when describing her characters, giving them a fuller look (278). There are characters for all ranges of audience, and it makes the book very enjoyable and easier to read. Unlike older novels, these characters could be people we see in our daily lives. It creates a knowledgeable read for any reader.  

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore was a fantastic novel. The story did become repetitive and predictable at times but was still extremely entertaining and engaging. I was engaged throughout the entire story and couldn’t stop reading on some nights. Each factor of this book helps me recommend it to readers of all ages. It might be a bit harder to understand as a younger kid, but it is a unique plot and has its readers on the edge of their seats the entire time. The themes and messages behind the story are very important topics that can be discussed. Every character can relate to a person in society and just makes the story feel more real. Each one of these factors just makes this book better and better and that is why I do recommend this novel.