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The Library at Mount Char
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Archive - Additional Reads > The Library at Mount Char - May 2016

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message 1: by Kristie, Moderator (new)

Kristie | 6819 comments Mod
The group voted on The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins for our Debut Goodreads Author nominee to read in May.

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

Neil Gaiman meets Joe Hill in this astonishingly original, terrifying, and darkly funny contemporary fantasy.

Carolyn's not so different from the other human beings around her. She's sure of it. She likes guacamole and cigarettes and steak. She knows how to use a phone. She even remembers what clothes are for.

After all, she was a normal American herself, once.

That was a long time ago, of course—before the time she calls “adoption day,” when she and a dozen other children found themselves being raised by a man they learned to call Father.

Father could do strange things. He could call light from darkness. Sometimes he raised the dead. And when he was disobeyed, the consequences were terrible.

In the years since Father took her in, Carolyn hasn't gotten out much. Instead, she and her adopted siblings have been raised according to Father's ancient Pelapi customs. They've studied the books in his library and learned some of the secrets behind his equally ancient power.

Sometimes, they've wondered if their cruel tutor might secretly be God.

Now, Father is missing. And if God truly is dead, the only thing that matters is who will inherit his library—and with it, power over all of creation.

As Carolyn gathers the tools she needs for the battle to come, fierce competitors for this prize align against her.

But Carolyn can win. She's sure of it. What she doesn't realize is that her victory may come at an unacceptable price—because in becoming a God, she's forgotten a great deal about being human.


message 2: by Janina (new)

Janina (sylarana) | 692 comments This sounds super interesting. Unfortunately, my library hold probably won't come through before June on this one.


ally  ¯\(ツ)/¯ (allykennedy) | 1002 comments I did start this book the other day... First book I've attempted in about a month with any degree of success. The first chapter went well and it seems interesting enough.... So I'm feeling optimistic.


message 4: by Lynn, Moderator (new)

Lynn | 4465 comments Mod
::fingers crossed for you ally::


message 5: by Kristie, Moderator (new)

Kristie | 6819 comments Mod
That's good, ally! I hope you love it.


ally  ¯\(ツ)/¯ (allykennedy) | 1002 comments Thanks ladies :)


message 7: by Katy (new)

Katy Mann | 278 comments Lynn wrote: "::fingers crossed for you ally::"

I read this one a few months ago. It was interesting. I'll be curious to know what others think.


Cathie (catitude) | 1511 comments This was my favourite read in 2015! It's a wild crazy ride! Really looking forward to seeing all your comments and thoughts.


message 9: by Lea (new) - rated it 5 stars

Lea (leaspot) | 128 comments Cathie wrote: "This was my favourite read in 2015! It's a wild crazy ride! Really looking forward to seeing all your comments and thoughts."

I loved it too. It was not at all what I expected. It is very different and is also not for everyone, but I was so entertained. There are some disturbing aspects and a couple of things that don't make total sense to me, but those are quibbles. I liked trying to figure out the mystery of it all - what was really going on. Even though I guessed some of what was happening, I didn't guess everything. I was so impressed with the author's ability to slowly reveal the story. I hope there isn't a sequel, because I think it would be hard to write it in a style that would be worthy of the original.


Cathie (catitude) | 1511 comments Lea wrote: I loved it too. It was not at all what I expected. It i..."

I agree with everything you said! I loved the fact that the story wrapped up to a conclusion at the end of the book and wasn't one of those never ending series or that I had to buy a book 2 to find out what the outcome was.

Apparently Scott Hawkins is currently working on a new novel and has also started a new book based on one of the main character's in this story's ex-wife. Once you have all read further on, feel free to guess who's character's ex-wife it would be.

Hawkins assures readers that it will in no way be written as a sequel to Library At Mount Char. It will be a stand alone tale (if he ends up completing it.)


Catherine | 8 comments Cathie wrote: "This was my favourite read in 2015! It's a wild crazy ride! Really looking forward to seeing all your comments and thoughts."

I also loved this book, and agree with what you said, Cathie. Thank you for putting it so well. It was one I definitely recommended for the 2015 GoodReads Choice Awards.

I loved the Library. It made me wish for something like that in real life!


message 12: by Kristie, Moderator (new)

Kristie | 6819 comments Mod
ally ¯\(ツ)/¯ wrote: "I did start this book the other day... First book I've attempted in about a month with any degree of success. The first chapter went well and it seems interesting enough.... So I'm feeling optimistic."

How's it going, Ally?


message 13: by Kristie, Moderator (new)

Kristie | 6819 comments Mod
So far, all 5 star ratings! Lots of love for this book. Glad you are all enjoying it.


ally  ¯\(ツ)/¯ (allykennedy) | 1002 comments Kristie wrote: "ally ¯\(ツ)/¯ wrote: "I did start this book the other day... First book I've attempted in about a month with any degree of success. The first chapter went well and it seems interesting enough.... So..."

1/4 of the way done. Things are starting to make sense!
I'm really liking it. I'm just so busy lately that one book might actually take all month :/


message 15: by Kristie, Moderator (new)

Kristie | 6819 comments Mod
Busy is ok. Glad you're liking it.


Kaustubh Dudhane (kaustubh067) | 4 comments A very unusual yet entertaining book with loads of animals. Here are my thoughts on it.


ally  ¯\(ツ)/¯ (allykennedy) | 1002 comments Finally finished this yesterday.
Honestly, I was disappointed. I feel like a lot of stange events happened and then the author spoon fed the reasoning.
The concept was cool and I liked the quirky characters and their unique library catalogs. I just felt like I spent too many pages wondering what the heck was going on.


message 18: by Janina (new)

Janina (sylarana) | 692 comments I really liked the first chapter, but it got downhill from then on for me. I'm not going to finish the book... It's a weird mix of idk Neil Gaiman (whose books I tend to dislike).. A darker version of Terry Pratchett (whose books I can't stand)... And maybe Matt Ruff whose books I sort of like, but don't feel they're worth the effort it takes to get through them.

Or maybe I'm just not in the mood to invest in oddness atm. Abandoned at 20% without a clue of what's going on and no desire to find out.


ally  ¯\(ツ)/¯ (allykennedy) | 1002 comments Janina wrote: "I really liked the first chapter, but it got downhill from then on for me. I'm not going to finish the book... It's a weird mix of idk Neil Gaiman (whose books I tend to dislike).. A darker version..."

Definitely had high points and low points...
If I hadn't bought a physical copy of the book, I likely would have given up on it as well.


message 20: by Janina (new)

Janina (sylarana) | 692 comments I think hearing both you and Valerie say that it ended up being a bit disappointing sort of tipped me over the edge of my being willing to invest the effort that the book requires.
Since I started working again a few months ago, I have so little time left to read, I want it to pay off somehow in terms of making me happy not requiring even more work :)


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