After she and a dozen other children found them being raised by "Father," a cruel man with mysterious powers, Carolyn and her "siblings" begin to think he might be God. When Father disappears, they square off against each other to determine who will inherit his library, which may hold the power to all Creation. As Carolyn gathers the tools she needs for the battle to come she has a play. The only trouble is that in the war to make a new God, she's forgotten to protect the things that make her human ...
So much about this book was great—the story, the characters, the slow but insanely compelling roll of it. But there is a huge amount of physical abuse in it and that abuse gets excused at the end too easily for me as something that was necessary for an end goal. So I devoured this book and then felt really gross when I finished it.
Review of 'The Library at Mount Char' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Until about half way through, I was pretty sure this was only going to get 3 stars from me. I already knew it was innovative and inventive (there is no other book quite like this) but it was just too dark and miserable and I couldn’t see a reason for that. BUT… the last half changed my mind. I’m still not entirely sure what the message is (something about power) but the sheer craft of the plot and ideas is truly amazing. I can’t think of any other book I’ve had quite this reaction to.
The writing isn't it's strongest part.
The story is strong, the characters quirky, but the ending is weak if mostly satisfying.
Resurrection seems to be the main fantastical tool used with few archaic Arabic sounding words that just feel thrown in.
The size of the library becomes a little too Warehouse 13 or those TV movies and series 'The Librarian' or 'The Librarians' - where this story diverges is not in missing artifacts or books, but rather in the focus on 'The Librarians' being criminally insane and it's an adopted-family feud.
I did enjoy this book, but it lacked something in the story, the writing was the weakest part, dialogue was fine, but the actual writing was the weakest part.
Review of 'The Library at Mount Char' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
Maybe I'm just a grumpy old man who doesn't care for speculative fiction anymore or I simply didn't read the same book as apparently everyone else on my friends list, but I simply did not have a good time with this book. I saw repeated warnings that "the first third/half is really weird, but just stick with it!" So I did, and occasionally I did catch small glimpses of what this book could have been, but unfortunately it never got there for me.
If nothing else, I can't deny that this was an ambitious book. This was the kind of story where domino pieces were set up very early, only to fall into place at just the right moment well after you'd forgotten about them. Which is awesome, I love a Push (2009) (god, does anyone even remember that movie?) kind of situation where the story hinges on this insanely …
Maybe I'm just a grumpy old man who doesn't care for speculative fiction anymore or I simply didn't read the same book as apparently everyone else on my friends list, but I simply did not have a good time with this book. I saw repeated warnings that "the first third/half is really weird, but just stick with it!" So I did, and occasionally I did catch small glimpses of what this book could have been, but unfortunately it never got there for me.
If nothing else, I can't deny that this was an ambitious book. This was the kind of story where domino pieces were set up very early, only to fall into place at just the right moment well after you'd forgotten about them. Which is awesome, I love a Push (2009) (god, does anyone even remember that movie?) kind of situation where the story hinges on this insanely complex and elaborate plan that a character spent multiple in-fiction years crafting and setting up. It's supposed to feel satisfying to watch it all finally come together, but here I just got too bogged down in all the scenes and side characters leading up to that payoff. The word that kept coming to mind was "unnecessary". A lot of the goofy nonsense could have been pared down and I feel the central plot would've benefited from it.
One of the main characters (who is human, by the way) has been removed from society for a long time, and when she's forced to interact with people again there's a lot of the "Humans Through Alien Eyes" trope where she comments on how odd Americans watch "television" and wear "clothes". It's boring, it's not funny, and whenever I encounter it in any media I don't even have the energy to roll my eyes, and this was no exception. A lot of the attempted humor felt like mid-2000's "lol so random XD" culture, and maybe it would have landed for me if I was still 13. And then there was other stuff I just did not care for such as a few separate scenes where there are dozens of dogs murdered, there are two characters that are honest-to-god lions that were given way too much attention and focus, there's some casual homophobia thrown in for no reason (this was really strange because there are literally no queer characters at all), and there's a flashback to the first of many times that the protagonist was murdered because she resisted against her adopted brother trying to rape her. Every time I came across one of these passages I wanted to stop reading, but I pushed through because of this supposed big payoff.
Some variation of "I can explain later, but now isn't the time" must've been repeated over a dozen times in this book. As a reader, I was growing just as confused and irritated as the side character that was the target of these pleas, and then when the time finally comes we're treated to massive blocks of infodumping exposition where no dramatic action is happening. I appreciated that most of the bigger questions I had - save for all these supposedly dangerous enemies lurking in the shadows that we never see or encounter - were answered at the end, but I just wish they had been introduced more naturally instead of all at once in what felt like a lecture.
It was certainly unique, but I'd be hard pressed to recommend this one. This book unfortunately falls into that dubious category of "liked the premise, wish someone else had written it."
Review of 'The library at Mount Char' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Amazing in scope, yet well edited and not long, an easy read without being simplistic. It has compelling characters, all with their own fascinating stories, and a gripping plot. It left me wanting more, immediately. The story also covers so much literary ground; it's thrilling and mysterious, at times horrific and hilarious, and always stunningly original. I've found myself thinking back on this book often, months after having completed it. It's definitely a book I'll read again - not something I do often.
Review of 'The Library at Mount Char' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
I dunno how to rate this.
I mean, I guess if you like stories about people who rise from the ashes to do extraordinary things, stories about terrifyingly powerful magics that are hidden behind reality, maybe this is your jam? It reminds me a little of the Chinese 'cultivation' story, but I'm not familiar enough with that genre to really pick apart the similarities and difference, so just dropping that in there for people more familiar.
the blurb gives you an idea:
After all, she was a normal American herself once.
That was a long time ago, of course. Before her parents died. Before she and the others were taken in by the man they called Father.
In the years since then, Carolyn hasn't had a chance to get out much. Instead, she and her adopted siblings have been raised according to Father's ancient customs. They've studied the books in …
I dunno how to rate this.
I mean, I guess if you like stories about people who rise from the ashes to do extraordinary things, stories about terrifyingly powerful magics that are hidden behind reality, maybe this is your jam? It reminds me a little of the Chinese 'cultivation' story, but I'm not familiar enough with that genre to really pick apart the similarities and difference, so just dropping that in there for people more familiar.
the blurb gives you an idea:
After all, she was a normal American herself once.
That was a long time ago, of course. Before her parents died. Before she and the others were taken in by the man they called Father.
In the years since then, Carolyn hasn't had a chance to get out much. Instead, she and her adopted siblings have been raised according to Father's ancient customs. They've studied the books in his Library and learned some of the secrets of his power. And sometimes, they've wondered if their cruel tutor might secretly be God.
Now, Father is missing—perhaps even dead—and the Library that holds his secrets stands unguarded. And with it, control over all of creation.
The most charitable description of this book is that it's about overcoming suffering, and learning to reject becoming what one's abuser was. The least charitable description is that it's about how abuse makes you strong, so it's all worth it in the end. I don't know if either of those are true, but as you can tell, the thing that stuck with me was the abuse.
Review of 'The Library at Mount Char' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I heard so much about this book and all of it good. People were describing it as thoroughly disturbing and very different. I was intrigued for a long time, until I finally picked it up a few days ago. And it pulled me in right from the start. It is a very good and entertaining book. I didn't think it was overly disturbing, after all it's just fiction. The story was actually fairly basic, even though it was of course hidden by over-the-top disturbed characters. But don't take that as criticism of the book, but rather of hyperbolic reviews. I liked Carolyn and her siblings. And I very much liked that the book didn't end and the end. I can't support the reviews that hype the book as disturbing and different. Yes, it certainly contains very disturbing images. But we should remember that it's just a book. A very good …
I heard so much about this book and all of it good. People were describing it as thoroughly disturbing and very different. I was intrigued for a long time, until I finally picked it up a few days ago. And it pulled me in right from the start. It is a very good and entertaining book. I didn't think it was overly disturbing, after all it's just fiction. The story was actually fairly basic, even though it was of course hidden by over-the-top disturbed characters. But don't take that as criticism of the book, but rather of hyperbolic reviews. I liked Carolyn and her siblings. And I very much liked that the book didn't end and the end. I can't support the reviews that hype the book as disturbing and different. Yes, it certainly contains very disturbing images. But we should remember that it's just a book. A very good and entertaining book.
Review of 'The Library at Mount Char' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I am a big fan of fantasy on the weird side and this book is definitely in that genre. The world-building ideas (universe-building, really) are super interesting and new, but the book is structured in a way that reads to me kind of jerky and forced, and the first quarter or so is especially disjointed (it makes more sense if you go back after reading the whole thing). It feels like a first novel, which is is, and although I didn't totally love this book I'm interested enough in the author's talent with ideas that I'll keep an eye out for what he does next.
Review of 'The Library at Mount Char' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Really fun, compelling story. If you're like me and always check the page count for a feel of when to expect things to happen, prepare to be surprised.