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eric_sparks's review against another edition
3.0
Good follow on to "Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore" but was quite short. Glad to get the background on the character, though.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Fun prequel to Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hr Bookstore (and this novella makes far less sense and possibly spoils Penumbra if you haven't already read it). Has an odd perspective flip from 3rd to 2nd and back.
meesha_mo's review against another edition
1.0
This was at the back of 24 hr bookstore. I think I just don't care for this author's writing style because I DNF.
kbbibliomania's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a cute prelude for the first book. I found myself rooting for Mr. Penumbra at the end! I can’t wait to see how he is in the book!
njlanzetta's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good little novella about Penumbra, the mysterious and eccentric bookstore owner from Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore. It added backstory and more depth to the original novel. I would love to learn more about the Unbroken Spine and it's members because it's so interesting!
linneakarchibald's review against another edition
4.0
4 STARS
This is sort of a niche recommendation because you absolutely shouldn't read this Kindle-exclusive novella unless you've read Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore.
Coming in at just 65 pages, this short prequel tells the story of how Ajax Penumbra came to work at the 24-hour bookstore and became involved with all the secrets it harbors. It's a story about the love of literature, urbanization that literally paves over priceless history, and the hidden lives just underneath the surface of an average city. Plus, you'll get some fun late 1960s beatnik content mixed in for good measure.
If you read Mr. Penumbra (which you absolutely should because it's fantastic), pick this one up after. It'll only take you an hour or so to read and it's a fun way to revisit the wild world of the mysterious San Franciscan bookstore.
This is sort of a niche recommendation because you absolutely shouldn't read this Kindle-exclusive novella unless you've read Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore.
Coming in at just 65 pages, this short prequel tells the story of how Ajax Penumbra came to work at the 24-hour bookstore and became involved with all the secrets it harbors. It's a story about the love of literature, urbanization that literally paves over priceless history, and the hidden lives just underneath the surface of an average city. Plus, you'll get some fun late 1960s beatnik content mixed in for good measure.
If you read Mr. Penumbra (which you absolutely should because it's fantastic), pick this one up after. It'll only take you an hour or so to read and it's a fun way to revisit the wild world of the mysterious San Franciscan bookstore.
3dmelg's review against another edition
3.0
This short story really set the stage for the main novel. It introduces many characters and concepts familiar from the novel, without giving away any of the basis of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore to those who may not have read it. I enjoyed finding out a bit of the back story, but I was not entertained by this. It just didn't have the same charm as the novel. I never connected with the characters. And there were choices made at the end that were not logically explained to my satisfaction.
bookslucyking's review against another edition
4.0
Bezvadný prequel k Nonstop knihkupectví pana Penumbry. Další velké knižní dobrodružství.
MOJE RECENZE NA BLOGU: http://lucysfinearts.blogspot.cz/2014/10/ajax-penumbra-1969-robin-sloan-rc.html
MOJE RECENZE NA BLOGU: http://lucysfinearts.blogspot.cz/2014/10/ajax-penumbra-1969-robin-sloan-rc.html
herbzilla's review against another edition
4.0
This was a wonderful companion to Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. It was great to see Penumbra in his early days. I highly recommend for anyone that read the main book!
tschonfeld's review against another edition
3.0
A solid 3.5. I like this character, but I like the full book of Mr. Penumbra much better - I love Clay's voice.