“The Library at Mount Char” by Scott Hawkins – The Making of a God
Many are seeking to transcend the human condition and elevate themselves above it, perhaps even becoming something akin to a god. So far though, it seems that most of our efforts have been in vain, something the realm of literature has sought to fix, as did Scott Hawkins in The Library at Mount Char.
It tells the story of a young woman named Carolyn whose life turned towards the unusual when her parents died and she was taken in by a mysterious man who seems to have a predilection for adopting children.
In the years she and her siblings spent with this man they did not venture out much into the world, but instead went inwards, learning some secrets to power with the help of his incredible library.
None know who this man is, or if he is indeed a man at all. One day he leaves and doesn't return, leaving his impressive collection of knowledge unguarded... and within, the possible secret to becoming a God.
Needless to say, Carolyn isn't the only one vying for this kind of knowledge, and she has her work cut out of her as a host of other, more powerful beings want the knowledge and the privilege of transcendence for themselves.
The Library at Mount Char is most certainly an ambitious novel, presenting us with three first-person perspectives to follow throughout the adventure. We get to see things through the eyes of a homeland security special investigator, a burglar who isn't all that reformed, and a demigod (as far as we know).
Hawkins did a marvelous job with characterization, creating individuals that will more often than not have you folding in laughter. The ridiculousness which pervades throughout the novel and their resilience in the face of surprising and comical setbacks really makes them endearing and all the more interesting.
If you are the kind of reader who enjoys far-reaching plots with a healthy dose of insanity, you'll definitely find yourself at home right here. Amongst other things, we contend with Earthbound gods, nuclear missiles, a walking glacier, a healthy dose of violence and punishment, all seasoned with nostalgia and low comedy create a universe that becomes less recognizable by the second, in spite of having many similarities to ours. Some may perhaps even see it as a parody, an interesting perspective to say the least.
As far as the story itself goes, the mystery which lies at the heart of it all is very intriguing and does make you want to keep on reading just to see how it all turns out.
Though it does move at a rather fast pace, you'll find that there aren't that many twists and turns, nor does anyone make out-of-character decisions. Rather, a part of the whole excitement lies in learning more about the characters, where they came from, who they are and what they want; the ones important to the story are portrayed in very interesting ways.
If you enjoy unusual books that can bring out all kinds of emotions from you and take the bizarre for normal, I believe you'll have plenty of fun here.
 | Scott HawkinsPersonal site Scott Hawkins is an American author hailing from Atlanta who began his way as a writer by penning some web programming books, though recently he moved on to the realm of fantasy with his first novel, The Library at Mount Char, which turned out to be a rather great success. |
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