Published: September 15, 2011
Pages: 206
Source: For Review from Candlewick Press
Rating: 5 Stars
The monster showed up after midnight. As they do. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming...
This monster, though, is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.
It wants the truth.
This monster, though, is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.
It wants the truth.
In short: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is simultaneously one of the most devastatingly heartbreaking and rousingly beautiful books I have ever read.
Patrick Ness relays in a stark and brutal way the emotions and grief that one endures when having to deal with the influence of cancer in a loved one. And who among us hasn't been affected by the destructive effects of cancer at some point in our lives? Siobhan Dowd, the author who conceived the idea behind A Monster Calls, herself had the disease. And, in a most tragic turn of events, Siobhan Dowd succumbed to her illness before she could write this novel. Patrick Ness stepped in to write it and see her masterpiece to publication.
A Monster Calls is simultaneously one of the most devastatingly heartbreaking and rousingly beautiful books I have ever read. I have said it already in my reviews of Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking Trilogy, but Patrick Ness is simply a genius with words. I would read anything he writes and will be guaranteed to love it, purely based off his ability to craft emotional prose, complex characters, and deeply moving themes. You are missing out if you haven't read his books yet!
Other Reviews:
Call Me Crazy Reviews
Courtney Reads A Lot
The Dancing Reader
Author Links:
Website
Goodreads
AYLEE I'M SO SO HAPPY YOU READ THIS. I am a huge fan of Patrick Ness (and his writing) like you are, and this book seriously broke me. Your review makes me want to reread this gem all over again! He seriously did a fantastic job picking up Siobhan's idea and it's just magical. I can't believe you linked to my old review, (blegh!) but thank you! Beautiful review, dear!
ReplyDeleteI really need to read his Chaos Walking trilogy because I LOVED A Monster Calls.
ReplyDeleteI have heard wonderful things about this book and it has been on my TBR. It sounds like sch a heartbreaking and unique view of grief and illness.
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris
I absolutely must read this book. I'm a huge fan of the author's Chaos Walking trilogy so this is definitely one I need. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI've heard really good things about this book ... I'm going to have to pick it up sometime! :) Great review, Aylee!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a beautifully written and very emotional story
ReplyDeleteI've always been really curious about this book and flip through it whenever I;m in the bookstore. I may need to pick it up next time. It sounds really good!
ReplyDeleteThis book was SO unexpected in some ways but I knew it would be beautiful & heartbreaking and that was so true. Love Patrick Ness so much.
ReplyDeleteI know, I need to read something by him!! He sounds amazing. This would probably be my first choice though, as it's a stand-alone and sounds amazing!! I love that he took a friend's idea and made it into a beautiful novel when they could not.
ReplyDeleteWow. What a review. What a gorgeous last paragraph. This is one on my wish list that I fully intend to check out sometime. I've never heard a single bad thing about it.
ReplyDeleteYou won't believe the amount of positive stuff I've heard for this book! It's definitely promising that you liked this, too, and I didn't know that Patrick Ness wasn't the original author of the book. Still, I find it sweet and inspiring that it was based a little on true events. I really need to get to this book soon. Lovely review, Aylee!
ReplyDeleteI so want to read this! It sounds brilliant.
ReplyDeleteWoah,you're really making me want to read this book - which I'd never heard of before now (!!) but I'm also scared because emotional reads like this tend to shatter me/destroy me completely O.O Your description of the captivating prose, stirring characters and evocative story won me over though so I'll have to check this one out eventually...by which I mean when I'm in the right mood to have my heart torn out hehe. Thanks for another compelling review doll ♥
ReplyDeleteWow sounds creepy and sad
ReplyDeleteWow, Aylee! You had me at the first para of your review. This sounds so interesting and deep, although it doesn't appear to be that way. I wouldn't have thought that a book with a 13 year old MC would be so heart breaking. I am missing out on these books clearly so I better add them to my TBR. Loved your review!
ReplyDeleteSarika @ The Readdicts
I'm always so proud of people when they actually gather the courage to read this. I'm a giant, unbelievable wuss and I just can't put myself through it. I actually even own a hardcover copy, but I look at it with such dread, it may as well be a snake on my shelf.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely review, Aylee!
I made the mistake of giving this away to someone who REALLY wanted it, rather than keeping it for myself, and I'm reminded of that everytime I see the cover. I'm always drawn to books that are heartbreaking and devastating, so I would have enjoyed it. I must get a copy! Awesome review, Aylee :)
ReplyDeleteI so want to read some of Ness' works. This sounds like a rather painful and sad read, so perhaps I'll start with his Chaos Walking trilogy (I really have no excuse not to read it, and soon, since it's just sitting there on my Kindle), but if I love that trilogy enough I'll probably end up reading A Monster Calls eventually as well. That's sad the woman who thought of the idea couldn't write it, but it's also pretty awesome that Ness then stepped in to write what she couldn't. Great review, Aylee!
ReplyDeleteI didn't quite know the story behind this book's creation, so thank you for mentioning it. I feel like a completely terrible person now as I had no idea Siobhan Dowd had passed away. I remember reading one of her books in school... Like Maja, I'm a little terrified of picking this up (I tend to feel that way about all cancer-related stories), though I do hope I can give Patrick Ness' writing a try one day. I've heard nothing but magnificent things. Beautiful review, Aylee!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds amazing. I thought it'd be something scary but it seems like more of an emotional read than anything else. I haven't read any of Ness' books yet but with all the praise you've heaped upon him, I'm determined to get around to doing so. I will definitely give this one a try as soon as I get some free time.
ReplyDeleteThis book definitely sounds like one I need to add to my TBR pile. I'll have to keep a look out for it.
ReplyDeleteGreat review. I absolutely LOVED this book and it's my favorite book of 2013. I definitely agree that Patrick Ness is a genius. I just bought his adult book The Crane Wife to read, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Hope to do so soon!
ReplyDeleteI always read such great reviews for this novel - it sounds absolutely brilliant. I'll have to try finding a copy soon!
ReplyDeleteLovely review!
I actually haven't read a single Patrick Ness book. *ducks and hides* BUT I REAAAALLLY WANT TO. I've heard only the best about the Chaos Walking trilogy which I actually seriously want to read asap, and I've heard this book is no less amazing. I don't think I've met anyone who read a Ness book and disliked it. I'm so happy to hear you loved this one, Aylee! Fantastic review! <3
ReplyDeleteThis is the only book by Ness that I have read and I adored it. I remember bawling my face off as I finished it off. I couldn't imagine reading it now that cancer has hit my life so close to home, but maybe it's one that I will re-read one day! Fabulous review, Aylee.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more, Patrick Ness is a genius with words! I have loved everything he's ever written, including this. I did a little "YAY!" when I opened my reader to catch up on blog reading after a week away and I saw this cover. :-) So happy to hear you love this too!
ReplyDelete