Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

This is a pleasant little book, and a must-read for typography nerds. It never really grabbed me by the lapels and yelled, “KEEP READING - must find out what happens next!” but it was charming and funny, and the narrator delivers wry, nerdy quips at regular intervals.

The story flirts with transhumanism, but never really goes anywhere with that subject, except maybe to subvert it. This is a tale of reading and relationships, much more than one about eternal life.

There are frequent references to abstruse places, practices, and events that might or might not be real - I found myself thinking very often, “Wait, is that a real thing? Does Google really do that? Is there really a book copier like that? Is that an actual typeface we use?” I can't decide if these instances added to the experience by engaging my curiosity, or if they detracted by being distractions and messing with suspension of disbelief. I feel like this book (to the extent that it reflects reality in these things) could spawn multiple episodes of 99% Invisible and This American Life.

Ultimately, I recommend it. It was a fun, thought-provoking ride.