Smithfield Critics Book Discussion Group

The Smithfield Critics meet at 12:00 pm on the third Wednesday of each month.

This month’s selection is:

Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. After a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its owner might suggest. The customers are few, and they never seem to buy anything. Instead, they check out large, obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. Clay suspiciously engineers an analysis of the clientele's behavior, seeking help from his variously talented friends. But when they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the bookstore's secrets extend far beyond its walls.