Inspired By: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

When Kristin of My Life as a Teacup asked if I wanted to create outfits based on the characters of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, I immediately said yes! Kristin recently started the NovelTea Book Club, a group of wonderful, bookish women, and this is the first book club selection. 

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan is about Clay Jannon, a young man in San Francisco who starts working the night shift at a strange 24-hour bookstore owned by an even stranger old man named Mr. Penumbra. When certain patrons come in and don't have to pay for books, he realizes that this place is more than just a bookstore and that secrets lay underneath the book's dusty covers. 

Mr. Penumbra

{Mr. Penumbra}

Store owner Mr. Penumbra is an older man, who is a bit strange and eccentric, but he is also caring and kind and truly loves the store and all books. Mr. Penumbra is hiding a mysterious secret that has to do with the books on the tallest shelves, which lead him, Clay, Kat, and a few others to an underground lair in New York City that's full of more secrets.

Mr. Penumbra is first described by Clay wearing almost this exact outfit: a light gray button down, a blue cardigan, navy trousers, a gray watch, and blue flats. Stick to classic pieces like a gray peacoat, light blue blouse, a book necklace, black pants, a printed scarf, and black oxfords.

Clay Jannon

Clay Jannon is a young man out of a job, who one day stumbles in the store and gets a job working the night shift. It's unusual because he brings books from the Wayback (what he calls the tallest shelves) to the strange patrons who don't have to pay, and has to write down exactly what those patrons were wearing and how behaved. He starts to realize that there's more to the store than just books. 

For a casual look, wear a teal sweater, a yellow necklace, jeans, a gold watch, and blue sneakers. Or for a more laidback, geeky outfit, go for a blue plaid top, a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy tee, boyfriend jeans, a dragon bracelet, and white Converse. 

Kat Potente

Kat Potente is a smart, tech-obsessed young woman who works at Google and never stops thinking of interesting ideas and always wants to do more. She meets Clay after walking into the store one night. After Clay realizes that the books are hiding secrets, Kat uses her connections and the technology at Google to help Clay out. 

Clay first sees Kat wearing a red shirt with the word BAM! on it, so go casual in a chambray top, a red tee with a lightning bolt on it, jeans, a Hell Yeah. phone case, and red shoes. For a more put together look with spunk, wear a navy blue dress, a rhinestone necklace, a gold cuff, and striped wedges. 

Book Cover

The cover to Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is bright yellow with a white background and black words. Those yellow lines are actually books on a bookshelf, and the best thing is that the cover glows in the dark! For a fun summer look, wear a black cardigan, a yellow blouse, white cropped jeans, and striped yellow sneakers. Or get dressed up in a flirty yellow dress, a black necklace, yellow and nude clutch, and black wedges. 

Have you read this book?

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