When you find yourself trying to remember a show (or any works) that's on the tip of your tongue but just out of reach, come here - the collective brain of the TVTropes community can probably help. Post all the details you can remember (examples help). If you're looking for a trope, head over to Trope Finder. Have general questions about tropes? Visit Ask The Tropers!
PaulA
Since: Jan, 2010
6th Jan, 2011 05:16:14 AM
Googling for father was a mountain and mother was a washing machine gets a lot of hits for Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Cory Doctorow.
Vitriholic
Since: Jan, 2011
6th Jan, 2011 11:51:33 AM
Psh, I feel dumb. Thanks!
This was a fairly recent novel, last ten years or so. The cover was marked with the "Sci Fi Essential Books" logo, but I can't seem to find it using that. The main character was one of a set of brothers (probably seven, I forget) whose father was a mountain and mother was a washing machine. He befriended a group of young people living in a boarding house or some such, but mostly one girl who had wings constantly trying to grow from her back. I seem to remember this led to a But Your Wings Are Beautiful situation between them. One or more of the main character's brothers were evil, and I think he was the only one remotely "normal" in his family. This ringing a bell for anyone?