Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan

Guilty Pleasure

What a fun, fascinating read mixing old and new technologies (print books versus Google), combining fiction with fact and it comes with an amazing book jacket (turn out the lights!)  All of it a reminder of why I still love real books!!

Quotes: "'They figured out the circumference of the earth a thousand years before they invented printing.  Could you figure out the circumference of the Earth?'....I have no idea.  I'd probably just Google it"

"These days, the phone only carries bad news....If it's anything fun or exciting, like an invitation to a party...,it will come through the internet."

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane

Historical Fiction

This was a tome (700 pgs), but very well written and a story line that keeps you captivated.  Interspersed with fascinating and little known facts of American history (at least little known to me!):  1918 influenza pandemic, 1919 great molasses flood, Babe Ruth, Boston police strike and the rise of the NAACP.  Reading about the early days of the Labor movement and following the struggles of the Boston PD in their attempts to get fair wages and working conditions reminded me of why I do what I do in helping to represent working people and Unions and how important it is.

Quote:  "Do you know the primary difference between men and gods? No Sir.  Gods don't think they can become men."