It has been a long, long time since I’ve loved a book this deeply. A complete solid 5/5 for me. It had its occasional issues, but none of it was bothersome enough to me to even take off a 0.5.
Quickly before I get into anything, can I say: this whole time I’ve had this book, I was wondering why the yellow books on the cover had texture to them and covered the lettering. I assumed it was just an odd texture selection. Aesthetic. Whatever. Well, after just now finishing, I finally realized: this book glows in the dark. Literally. Set it under a lamp for a couple of seconds, then turn off the lights, and your bookshelf glows. I thought it was such a simple, unique cover gesture (and ode to the story within, almost) and I absolutely love it.
The book itself: I also love. Admittedly there were a few times when I thought that Clay’s unique set of friends and acquaintances were a little too convenient. But I really felt like all of the characters were fleshed out in some way. Even the museum clerk, Tabitha, who helps Clay in finding the punches – her interactions with the kids I thought said a lot. I liked all the Unbound Spine members; I even liked Corvina.
I absolutely loved the language of this book. The descriptions were incredible and really made me feel like I could see, hear, and smell everything. Like I could run my fingers across the book spines. It reminded me of The Night Circus a little bit, actually. The feeling of total immersion into this different world – which, truthfully, isn’t all that different from ours. It is set in like, present day real world. But I don’t know, all of it felt just a bit magical. A bit other-worldly. I liked that halfway through the book suddenly there’s the possibility of immortality. I like that it sort of just comes out of nowhere. As a reader, you’re just sort of left to be skeptical with Clay. But part of me also wants to believe it. That there’s magic and wizards and secret spells. Of course, it turns out that that isn’t the case in the end – but that looming thought that maybe, it’s possible, is very inviting.
I really liked the use of Google and the fellowship, and the characters associated to each as almost additional characters. To me it felt like Google was a character. Kat is the one who is our link to that, and you see her using her skills trying to solve the great immortality question. She’s tech savvy and wants to believe with a computer she can solve or outsmart death. Meanwhile, those in the fellowship, Corvina especially, are reluctant to use technology and think true knowledge can only be discovered and valued appropriately through one-on-one research through books. Mr. Penumbra is a bit of both, and you see him move and flow from world to world throughout the story. I thought that was very cool.
I liked the epilogue. I liked that there were all these little hints and nods towards previous parts of the story, things as simple as Clay’s text to Kat: “25,000 miles” (the circumference of the earth). And I liked, on that note, that their romance is just sprinkled throughout but it’s never this really blinding, cliché thing. And it – sadly, but not unexpectedly – sort of ends. It’s left a bit open ended, I think, as to whether or not they ever get back together. And I don’t think it really matters. There are so many other things and characters to this book, and in the end I think this is almost more a book about relationships than it is about code-breaking or books. Although I did like the mystery elements, and how each portion of the book seemed like its own mini story. Each portion had a goal or something to solve.
I did only just finish maybe ten minutes ago, so I know I’m still in the freshly emotional stage, but I just really, really enjoyed this book. It had its faults. Sometimes the coding was a bit daunting (although I liked the explanations), and again the convenience of everything (millionaire best friend, the luck of finding the punches in a museum) – but none of it bothered me too much because the world was so complete.
I’ll be recommending this one for many years to come, I’m sure.
