Review: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Published: Oct. 2012

When Clay is hired as the overnight clerk for Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore he feels he will kill a few hours while getting to read some books. What he doesn't expect is there to be a secret society trying to solve a secret code. While the front of the bookstore is your average bookstore (kind of), there is a wall full of books in the back, that can only be checked out, but certain people. Will Clay be brought privy to this information or will he have to assume what is going on? With the help of his friends and Mr. Penumbra, he will try his best to solve the mystery.  

This was a book club selection for January. Overall I thought the book was pretty good. I really didn't see the point of it all, to be honest. These people were all mostly older, in the society, looking for immortality. But we all know that is impossible.  One cool thing about this book is that the cover glows in the dark. 

This book did keep me interested though, and I wanted to know if they were going to find the secret to all these books or if it was going to remain a mystery. I'm not sure if I will read more of Robin Sloan's books but I have read this one and it has been on my TBR for a while.


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Throwback Thursday--Best Books From the Past Decade

Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published: December 2010

 

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I wanted more and more. Imagine packing your bags and leaving home to start a new life. On your way out of town you run into some very thick fog which makes visibility very difficult. And then the unthinkable happens...you have an accident where you hit someone and they are killed. And the stranger part of it is that you both are from the same town even though this accident occurs nearly three hours from that town. That is what happens to Isabelle Stein. The events that unfold after that are incredibly emotional. I don't know of another book I have read recently that made my heart ache for each character as this one did. I wanted to give them all big hugs and say,"Everything will be all right. " I want to read another book by Ms. Leavitt.

Here is another book that I read and reviewed before I got into blogging.  This book really touched my heart and I recommended it to a lot of people.  I hope you will give it a try. 

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Audiobook Review: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: 2012

A Man Called Ove and a review by What 'Cha Readin'

Ove is a cranky old man who has recently lost his wife. He would like nothing more than to join her in the afterlife. He has made all of the arrangements, paid all of the bills, now he just has to find the best way to off himself. But when the neighbors seem to take a new interest in Ove, his plans keep getting thwarted. Will he be able to go through with his plans or will the neighbors have other plans?

I listened to this book and at first I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. But slowly Ove started to grow on me. He's the kind of guy who you know is stuck in his ways and there is nothing that you can say or do that will change that. But eventually you see a change, not one that is at first noticeable, but a slight softening.

Even though Ove is ready to leave this world, his neighbors, have a different idea. It starts with Parvana and her family. When they move into the neighborhood, they need help backing their trailer up on the street in order to move in. Then Parvana needs a ride to the hospital when her husband, Patrick has fallen off a ladder. Then another resident has to go to the hospital, then another neighbor needs help with their radiator and so on and so on. My favorite part of the book is toward the end **SPOILER ALERT** when Ove himself ends up going to the hospital and when Parvana goes to see him, the doctor tells her that one of Ove's problems is that his heart is too big. That makes Parvana bust out laughing.

At the end of this book, I cried like a baby and I highly recommend this book.

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One Author Challenge-Love In A Nutshell by Janet Evanovich & Dorien Kelly

Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Kate Appleton is at a point in her life where things couldn't possibly be worse.  She is currently living in Keene's Harbor in Michigan in an attempt to fix up her parent's summer home into a Bed and Breakfast before the new mortgage holder takes over.

Matt Culhane is at a point in his life where things couldn't be better.  His Depot Brewery and restaurant is doing great and he has plans for more businesses in the very near future.  He does have one small problem, though.  Someone seems to be after him.

After being fired from her job Kate starts working for Matt as a "floater" and spy.  It's her job to find the saboteur in the establishment as well as help out where she is needed.  What will happen between them during this time?

I didn't dive into this book the way I thought I would when I got this book from the library.  Trying to continue my Janet Evanovich challenge this was the next book I picked up.  I started with the Stephanie Plum series, but I am waiting for Three to Get Deadly to become available.

Mostly this was a cute story that held my interest at certain parts.  About half way through, the excitement picked up and helped to carry me to the end.  I like Kate's character and she seemed like someone I would be friends with.  The same with Matt.  He is not your typical guy, he is a true gentleman that genuinely care for those around him.  He's the kind of guy every woman wants.  This was not one of my favorites, but I am not giving up on my challenge.

The next book I'm going to read for the Challenge is The Husband List which is also co-authored by Dorien Kelly.  I got this from the library at the same time as this book.  I'm going to take a small break from JE for a while though and switch to something different.


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