"The Last Equation of Isaac Severy" by Nova Jacobs

Title: The Last Equation of Isaac Severy
Author: Nova Jacobs
Published: March 6, 2018
Genre: Mystery

For the fans of the earlier reviewed Mr. Penubra's 24-Hour Bookstore, comes the Book of the Month Club's March pick The Last Equation of Isaac Severy: A Novel in Clues, a clever debut novel from author Nova Jacobs.

I made this novel my choice for BOM mostly because I was drawn to the idea of a math-driven mystery. My husband is the math brain. I, sadly, am not. The choice came as a way to maybe relate to what he finds so fascinating about numbers and equations. What I discovered is that I had plenty in common with the novel's heroine, Hazel Severy, who also doesn't possess my husband's or her own family's gift for mathematics.

Hazel, who owns a slowly-failing bookstore in Seattle, is called home for the funeral of her adoptive grandfather Isaac Severy, a world-renowned mathematician who died of apparent suicide. She soon receives a posthumous letter addressed to her by Isaac explaining that she alone is responsible for recovering his last equation despite not possessing the same mathematical ability as the rest of her extended family. Hazel quickly discovers the global impact that Isaac's equation could have as she searches for clues hidden by her grandfather in a copy of her favorite book. She also discovers that she is not the only Severy who is after the equation. Theoretical physicist Philip, Isaac's oldest son, is also on the hunt. However, a mysterious corporation, who may know more about Isaac's death, is hunting Philip. As soon as it seems like the equation is out of her grasp, Hazel is forced to enlist the help of a mysterious long-lost cousin, whose intentions may not be as pure as her own.

My initial impression of The Last Equation of Isaac Severy was that it was going to center around the amazing equation that Isaac Severy spent his life testing and perfecting. Instead, the story largely became about how this family of geniuses unravels as a result of their present and past traumas. The chapters alternate narratives told from the perspective of various members of the Severy clan. Each intertwined story provides more clues and insight into their complex lives, fragile egos, and tortured pasts. This reader enjoyed the alternating storylines, as it allowed Ms. Jacobs to slowly reveal characteristics and motives of each family member. Without giving anything away, I was extremely pleased with the resolution, as it was not anything like I had guessed.

As fantastical as Severy's equation is, I would recommend this book to mystery and math lovers! It was charming and entertaining and the plot twists and intrigue made the journey a fun one!

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

Title: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Booksktore
Author: Robin Sloan
Published: October 2, 2012
Genre: Fiction

I found Mr. Penumbra while rummaging through the stacks at a library sale that I went to with my mom (you can find my haul post from that trip here). I thought the cover art looked neat (I found out completely by accident later that it glows in the dark), and the description on the back was intriguing. My initial thought before diving in was that I would be reading a mystery book about...well, books. The word "bookstore" is in the title, after all. However, what I ended up finding was a story that I can only describe as Lord of the Rings, National Treasure, and Jobs all rolled into one.

College graduate and amateur programmer Clay Jannon is out of work and running out of options. He manages to find himself a job at a bookstore. However, it doesn't take him long to realize that this store is not ordinary by any standards. For example, Penumbra's Bookstore is open 24-hours straight and is often visited in the late hours of the night by a collection of unusual patrons. They come to "check out" large, ominous volumes that Clay is forbidden to look at. Using his computer skills and receiving help from his variously talented friends, Clay pieces together the movements of the quirky clientele and discovers a secret that quickly becomes bigger than he could ever imagine.

I was captivated by Sloan's storytelling in  Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, though it didn't happen immediately. Things started a bit slowly, but as Clay got closer and closer to solving the mystery, I got roped in more and more. Written in the first person from Clay's point of view, the prose is witty and engaging, especially when Clay describes Penumbra and his friends who frequent the bookstore. 

One hitch that I encountered while reading was the technological jargon that peppers the story. Clay is an amateur computer programmer, but he runs in a circle of geniuses who are all technologically savvy. One, Kat Potente, is a high-ranking programmer at the Google company. The characters often mention things like "code" or "data processing" and all sorts of other computer words that I have no hope of understanding. Their dialogue left me confused in places.

To me, the absolute best part of reading this book was that Sloan crafted it as a love story to books in a time when people are addicted to their phones and tablets. He praises the independent bookstore owners and the people who still value the magical experience of opening a book with printed pages instead of ones pasted on a screen. Those people who still get excited at the smell of their favorite book will enjoy this novel.

Kaylee says: