Library at Mount Char

De: Scott Hawkins

Narrado por: Hillary Huber

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 can Carolyn 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.

©2015 Scott Hawkins. Recorded by arrangement with Crown, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. (P)2015 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

So close to greatness.

Structurally, and socially, this book had a lot of problems. The story didn’t follow a usual arch and felt odd at times. Lost, almost. The characters were largely undeveloped outside of their looks and a passing mention of their abilities. When descriptions of extra or uninteresting characters came up, there was the occasional awkward mention of their race. This was completely unnecessary most of the time outside of the main characters and left me feeling like the author viewed white as the default. There was a particularly uncomfortable moment in the book regarding a fringe character’s gay son who, of course, owned a tutu.

This all being said, the issues with the book are buried in a sea of creativity. The story is unique, the main characters worth caring about, and I always wanted to know what would happen next. It made me think the publisher didn’t offer the book a chance with a good editor. So many things could have easily been fixed with a good second set of eyes—down to the cover of the book, which gives it a dark horror/fantasy feel rather than the darkly comic quirk-fest that it is. This book could have been fantastic but ended as a memorable month of my audible subscription.

The performer was flawless. She brought out the quirks of the book, its wit, and a phenomenal voice for the protagonist. I loved her work. She brought the book to life.

unique, intelligent and harsh: also well narrated

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, interesting and new. Very well done.

What did you like best about this story?

The layers/depth . Each event has significance in multiple ways that is revealed over time.

Which scene was your favorite?

military bad ass being an undiplomatic crude and honest person with the president

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were several times I laughed out loud.

Any additional comments?

In this story anything is possible with enough knowledge and will power. Death, physics, time, and space are lesser obstacles compared to traumatic childhood experiences that form your character. It's a modern day fantasy / Horror with no Phuks given for what might offend the reader.

Weird Fantasy

We read this for my book club and we all enjoyed it. Although, the first 90 pages or so (until Erwin is introduced) are a bit hard to get through, but after that I couldn't stop listening. It's nothing like I've read before - not quite fantasy but also not your average fiction. There are points where I had to take some pauses because it was violent - but I would go back minutes later to find out what happened. It makes you think, cringe and be on the edge of your seat.

Fantastic!!!!

It took about 25 min and I was hooked! Maybe the best book I've ever listened too.

Very unique and engrossing

Dark, interesting and not like anything I have read. A great read for the non-sensitive sort

This was a very strangeread, but i enjoyed it.

Great inventive story. Fun characters and a excellent reader of the book. I liked it a lot.

It's like...realITY (valley girl up finish)

I am not sure what to make of this. While definitely original, there are elements of Sandeson's The Hero of Ages, The Vorrh, Lovecraft and Stephen King. Funny at times, ultra violent at times,profound at times and jarringly strange throughout. There was for me a cognitive disconnect between the dialogue and the scope of the story. Valley girl sociopath, country boy war hero and a menagerie of strange characters mingle and clash in a bizarre blood soaked fight for all of reality. This one will either appeal to you greatly or leave you mumbling to yourself what the Hell (literally). Either way, I will be interested to see what comes next from Scott Hawkins.

Insane but somehow comprehensible

I loved this book. A god that had ruled the universe for 65,000 years has taken on 12 apprentices all approximately 8 years old. Each runs one catalog of his library (language, war, medicine, animals, death etc.). No child may learn any other catalog and must master their catalog alone. Then 20 some odd years later they are unable to access the library and "Father" is missing. If he is dead someone must inherit the library if he lives his foes must be held at bay.

If descriptions of rape and violence are too intense for you, do not read this. Nothing is held back. A decapitated head talks or mouths words, a child is barbecued, a child rapes and murders another child. The ending isn't what you expect and is well worth wading through the horrors to reach.

Honestly this book is nearly poetic in its insanity, but how else do you reach the mind of a god.

Well Worth It!

This is one of those stories that all comes together in the end, but in the beginning you're kinda unsure you're going to like it. If you like those sorts of stories, stick it out.

no expectations

multiple times, I thought the story would go over way, only to, thankfully, have it go another. The narrator gotta a good job performance-wise. Though this annoyed me as the main charter often did. Accurate though.