The Library at Mount Char: A Novel

This novel is broadly about children raised by a god in a vast library, each child tasked with learning their own "catalogue" (healing, violence, animals, mathematics, languages, etc.) and all the resultant harrowing things that happen to them as they mature. It's about revenge and love, and it raises questions about self-determination versus "destiny". The settings include mundane, familiar places and a strange universe that is a "superset" of ours. I found it joyously fun to read. Scott Hawkins did a great job coaxing me eagerly to the next page and next chapter. He answered my "reader's questions" shortly after I read certain portions, or answered them later, but almost never left a natural question unaddressed. He gave the main character, Carolyn, a character arc that was satisfying to see constructed and fulfilled. Maybe the best part for me was that, even though this is a fantasy novel, I did not have to work too hard to suspend disbelief. Immersion was easy.I'm picky about what I read from the fantasy genre, and consequently wind up starting, but not finishing quite a few books as a result. I like Gaiman, I like hard sci-fi. And I have come to detest the hackneyed gimmick of "chosen", special twenty-somethings who are going to change their dystopian worlds. Thankfully, refreshingly, this is very different, very wonderful. The story demonstrates appreciation of old mythological archetypes (like Gaiman has) with just enough introduction of exotic mathematic and philosophical theories to ground the fantasy but not confound or distract readers.The characters are fun and interesting. They're terrifying because of their human characteristics and sometimes sociopathic behaviors acquired during apprenticeships in godhood. When they surprise us with certain actions, the actions are not wholly out of their character UNLESS it is the result of purposeful third-dimensional development.Scott teased out the correct kind of honest details about growing up and being a young child in the late 70's to make certain settings and interactions between characters feel authentic. Dialogue is well-written and there's nothing extraneous in the narration. Pacing is perfect. I want there to be a sequel, but at the same time I want this to be the only thing of its kind forever, and I am putting off reading it again as a treat to myself when I finish other books in my to-read pile. Can't recommend it highly enough. And I'll be checking out the writing links Scott provided in his acknowledgements in a bid to improve my own work.A note regarding one-star reviews I've read that are critical of violent scenes and sexual content: This book is not (IMO) overly gory or graphic, and the rape that occurs is described by the character it happens to in the course of a dialogue with another character in what I would consider tasteful terms, the nature of the thing itself considered. There are gunshot wounds described well and appropriately; there is a scene of devastation in a jail when the Mars-like character David comes in to abduct someone, but there is nothing described in here gratuitously. It is all part of the plot and character development. Regarding "confusing timelines", the book is not absolutely linear. There are flashbacks. They are well-placed, IMO, and hell, for a story about a god and his wards who have mastery over things like time and death and small universes, I would feel a little confined if the story was absolutely linear. I have 99% confidence that WRITERS will love this book.

Do it really want to read page after page of children being roasted alive, flayed, raped, murdered for entertainment? In this way it reminded me of Game of Thrones: not enough there there to tolerate the gratuitous horror. OK, the costumes are nice, but after a while the rest seems sickening and oddly tedious.Perhaps it is a matter of taste. I am definitely not the audience for this novel. For the record, I love Neil Gaiman though he is just on the edge of what I can take.If you think Gaiman is too tame and LOVE Game of Thrones, go for it. If you prefer your creepy stories to be more like Bradbury, skip it.

This is a 5 star book.I usually reserve this rating for the classics, the Pulitzer prize winners.You can list what makes a book great. A great story. Characters that you identify with and care about. Ideas that change your mind set. This book has these qualities in spades.But there is more. And it has to do with the classification. It's listed as fiction, but you will find it under fantasy. But, that is not what it is. It is about knowledge, research, theory, practice, and science. Science that is not real to us. Possibly, science that never will be. But science is always perceived as magic when first revealed and demonstrated. Writing itself is a practice that flummoxed and confused earlier peoples, certain it was magic and wizardly.This book shows the practice of:* manipulating space and time in more than 4 dimensions.* bestowing immortality, and resurrecting the dead.* seeing into the future, and manipulating the past: "The past kneels before me."Carolyn constantly repeats the phrase: "It's not magic, it's not a trick". There is no wizardry, it's study and learning.It's a cruel book. It's a grim book. Horribly atrocities are committed by both the villains and the heroes -- without guilt or regret:"Another time Father pierced her heart with a stiletto, but only after telling her what he would do, setting the knife before her on a silver tray, and letting her contemplate it for three full days and nights."It's a hard book. Steve's life is weighed down hard with grief and guilt. And Carolyn has lost herself, every part, except her "coal heart"Steve struggles with understanding, struggles with his loss; desperately learning how to give compassion to others -- compassion that he has needed desperately throughout his life.Carolyn tries to re-discover herself, find herself again. Breath life into her heart of coal.Should you read this? If you want to see the beauty of joy replacing anger and despair, then yes!

I was drawn to this book based on the Amazon description, along with the large amount of positive reviews this book had. Unfortunately, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I read a lot, but I've never come across a book where the brutality and torture endured by characters, especially children, was so stark and cruel. Even though I'm just now leaving this review I read this book almost two years ago, and to this day it still bothers me and I still wish I hadn't read it.

4.5 Stars.If you think the plot sounds weird, then that's because the plot is definitely weird. This isn't your average novel. It's complex and requires attention, but the pieces will start to click into place after a few chapters or, well, at the very least towards the end of the book. Be patient. You'll get your answers.The story is dark, bleak, confusing and at the same time wondrous.There isn't a single dull moment in this book. From epic lion battles, to savage dogs, to zombies and psychotic characters, The Library at Mount Char offers everything.It's compelling. Despite its horrific moments, it's incredibly compelling, and I couldn't put it down. Hawkins didn't just write a unique book, he's also got an unique voice. I especially enjoyed the way he managed to inject humour into the darkness.The characters are all odd, some downright terrifying, but well developed and fleshed out. Hawkins has a vast imagination. I'm a tiny bit terrified of the man, now.I don't want to say too much because I believe some books should be enjoyed knowing as little as possible, but this is one I would have never discovered without the invaluable recommendations I get from fantasy friends through Goodreads.It's one of the most unique books I've ever read, and it's also one of the more darker and more terrifying ones. I'd definitely classify it as horror to a certain extent. I recommend it to people who love horror, fantasy and are looking for a bit different.

This was one of the best and most messed up books I have ever read. I can't go into the plot too much as I think it would give too much away but the main character is Carolyn, a librarian who along with her siblings study just one particular field of study out of twelve. Over all of them is Father, who possesses knowledge of it all, indeed who wrote most of it. There are also a couple more POV's, Steve, an ex small time criminal who gets drawn into events and an ex army guy who's looking into some strange occurrences and connecting the dots.Reading that description above does this book a disservice. The library is not your average library. The knowledge that each of the sibling study gives them power over time/space/death itself. Father is definitely not just a 'father'. Carolyn almost seems normal as first but most certainly is not. There is incredible violence perpetrated throughout this book, casual but not without purpose. If you're squeamish this book is probably not for you. Though it might be. It's a relatively short book and I think moves fairly quickly. Starts off fairly low key and only slightly weird but that doesn't last long. There's a kind of whodunnit plot but that pales beside trying to figure out what's going on and understanding the world. There's some sciencey stuff for explanations but nothing too major.What really caught me by surprise is how funny it is. I laughed out loud a few times. For such a dark and weird book it was written almost light heartedly. I loved all the characters, even the ones I probably shouldn't have. It was also rather poignant, especially towards the end. Two of my favourite characters were lions. This was such an amazing book and I'm already looking forward to reading it again at some stage. Would thoroughly recommend this to anybody looking for something a bit different.

The Library at Mount Char - Scott HawkinsGenre - Dark Fantasy, Mythology, Magic.Rating - 9/10For those who like Neil Gaiman and Suzanne Clarke.We start with twelve very strange adults, who were adopted as children by Father and have spent twenty-five years studying various facets of his knowledge. But now Father is missing and they can't get near his library.This is a high quality genre book, not a Masterpiece, but a highly enjoyable work by a skilled Journeyman. It has some very distinctive characters, who are well drawn and engaging. Carolyn the MC is who I would have liked Hermione Granger to have been, the girl who gets rid of Voldemort by the third book. She is surrounded by other complex characters who wander forward and back across the boarder between good and evil (mainly because they are shaky on the concept of good and evil). The plotting is complex and the thriller type pace compliments it. It is very dark in places, but there is also a leavening of black humour.I can see some people having a problem with parts of the ending but it is only with hindsight I see those plot issues. At the time of reading I was so absorbed in the world I accepted it all easily. My feeling after finishing the book was that it was one of the most satisfying and original novels I have read in ages.

The Library at Mount Char is the oddest book I’ve ever read. I read a lot of books so that’s saying a lot. This is one crazy book. I thought it was sort of great. I especially loved the bit with the dogs attacking one of the characters and who’s defended by lions. Yep, lions. This is one of those books that doesn’t make any sense but you’re compelled to read because it’s such fun. There are some dark moments especially in the second chunk of the book. The Library at Mount Char is unique and wonderfully original.

I really enjoyed this book. I think I was expecting horror, and if anything it was sci-fi, but it was really good and I loved it. The characters were great and the story was fascinating, and every time I thought I knew what was happening the book proved me wrong, kept me guessing, and kept me reading because I needed to know how things turned out. I really hope there's a sequel because I finished this book days ago and can't stop thinking about it.