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A review by eesh25
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
5.0
Every once in a while, you read a book that becomes an instant favourite. Though usually, you have at least get to the end of the book before that happens. But something about this book just struck me right from the beginning.
This a story about 13-year-old Conor, whose mother is battling cancer. He's plagued with nightmares of a monster. And then, one night, he's visited by a monster, one different from his dreams. Conor wonders if he's still asleep, but he's not. Nor is he afraid, much to the displeasure of the monster. But the monster isn't there to scare him anyway. It visits Conor several times, always seven minutes past twelve. And it tells Conor that it has three stories for him, after which Conor will give it something: the truth.
And honestly, from the moment Conor first met the monster, I knew I would love the book. Conor wasn't afraid because a) this monster was just a tree (his words), and b) the real monster was the one Conor saw in his nightmares.
It was a scene that immediately subverted expectations. This isn't a story about huge, scary monsters that could crush you in their palm, it's about the monster of reality and the fear caused by the truth. It's a book that doesn't hold back on emotion, even for a second. It delivers dark humour that makes the story feel even more real. And it portrays sadness in a way that's almost tangible because of the atmosphere the book creates from the first page.
And I have to talk about the illustrations. They're perfect. I know there are editions of the book without illustrations, but I would highly recommend the ones with, because Jim Kay's illustrations are a visual representation of how the book feels.
And last by not least, the ending. I know that I would have loved the story even if the ending didn't do something unexpected. But the scenes at the end, Conor's truth, and the message of the book, they elevated the book for me. Though I'm not sure if "message" is the right word. "Truth" seems more appropriate. Or an observation about life. All I can say is that I loved it. And that I can't recommend this novella enough.
To conclude, I'm gonna leave you with a quote from the book. Though not the one I wanted to leave you with, because that one spoiled one of the monster's stories.
This a story about 13-year-old Conor, whose mother is battling cancer. He's plagued with nightmares of a monster. And then, one night, he's visited by a monster, one different from his dreams. Conor wonders if he's still asleep, but he's not. Nor is he afraid, much to the displeasure of the monster. But the monster isn't there to scare him anyway. It visits Conor several times, always seven minutes past twelve. And it tells Conor that it has three stories for him, after which Conor will give it something: the truth.
And honestly, from the moment Conor first met the monster, I knew I would love the book. Conor wasn't afraid because a) this monster was just a tree (his words), and b) the real monster was the one Conor saw in his nightmares.
It was a scene that immediately subverted expectations. This isn't a story about huge, scary monsters that could crush you in their palm, it's about the monster of reality and the fear caused by the truth. It's a book that doesn't hold back on emotion, even for a second. It delivers dark humour that makes the story feel even more real. And it portrays sadness in a way that's almost tangible because of the atmosphere the book creates from the first page.
And I have to talk about the illustrations. They're perfect. I know there are editions of the book without illustrations, but I would highly recommend the ones with, because Jim Kay's illustrations are a visual representation of how the book feels.
And last by not least, the ending. I know that I would have loved the story even if the ending didn't do something unexpected. But the scenes at the end, Conor's truth, and the message of the book, they elevated the book for me. Though I'm not sure if "message" is the right word. "Truth" seems more appropriate. Or an observation about life. All I can say is that I loved it. And that I can't recommend this novella enough.
To conclude, I'm gonna leave you with a quote from the book. Though not the one I wanted to leave you with, because that one spoiled one of the monster's stories.
Stories are wild creatures, the monster said. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?