The Library at Mount Char in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Nov 01, 2015 Krissy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, buddy-read, audible-library, pgs-300-399

This book is extremely weird and a little disturbing. And I love that. My only complaint was that I felt like I was one step behind through the whole thing. I got by with only getting the gist of what was happening. I was never 100% positive about what was going on. The time jumps didn't help that. But it was such a crazy story and was well written so I felt it deserved at least 3 stars. It shouldn't be the book's fault that I couldn't get my shit together. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Dec 16, 2016 Leslie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-reads

This book was described as "crazy", "bonkers", etc. and it sure didn't disappoint. It may very well be the weirdest book I've ever read. I like weird books though, and I totally loved it in all its crazy glory. I had no idea where it was going at any point (though I did guess one or two small things correctly), but I found it satisfying all the way through to the end. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 21, 2024 Debbie rated it liked it · review of another edition

I think I could give this book 3.5 stars, but I don't think I can give it 4. I don't love books that make me question what is going on for the entire book, although I know others do.

So, we meet Carolyn. We have a vague sense of her deal: she was kidnapped as a child, forced to study by Father, with her eleven also-kidnapped siblings. There is something supernatural involved, as she and the other kids have powers that are not typical for humans, but they are all required to stay in their lane, on I think I could give this book 3.5 stars, but I don't think I can give it 4. I don't love books that make me question what is going on for the entire book, although I know others do.

So, we meet Carolyn. We have a vague sense of her deal: she was kidnapped as a child, forced to study by Father, with her eleven also-kidnapped siblings. There is something supernatural involved, as she and the other kids have powers that are not typical for humans, but they are all required to stay in their lane, only reading from books related to a particular kind of power, in a particular section of the library. Some of her siblings are meek, and some are brutal, and Father is demanding, so it's never exactly safe for Carolyn, even when she does what's expected of her.

Then there's Steve. He's kind of a sad sack character, with a criminal history, although he's trying to stay on the straight and narrow now. He doesn't have much in the way of real-life human connection, though, and he would prefer to forget most of his childhood. It's almost like he was waiting for Carolyn to show up and take advantage of him.

Before long, Steve - and the readers - are thrown into an odd little story that unfolds with disjointed flashbacks and then fast forwards to "the present," an epic search for Father, battle against those who would take over in Father's absence, and ultimately the acknowledgement of a new universe-ruler. Kind of.

I don't remember much of the book, since I'm now updating this review almost a month since I started it, but I looked back at a text conversation I had with a friend, to jog my memory. (view spoiler) ...more

Like · see review

Apr 01, 2022 Christine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5/5 This was a drunk fever dream a binge of the later seasons of Supernatural. I'm at a loss for how to describe my thoughts. I was so hooked I dreamt about the story and that hasn't happened in a long time. The subject matter is deep but expressed in such an innocence you don't quite process the brutal nature of most of the book real time. If you're recovering from religious trauma this read will either be a mind-fu*k or it'll be like reading your inner dialogue. I ended up toeing the line be ...more

Like · see review