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A review by ladyk23
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
5.0
I bought this book years ago on the recommendation of my bestie, but as with a lot of my books it had sat unread on my bookcase ever since. As an avid film fan I went to see the movie version of this book when it was released, and I wasn’t overly impressed. I actually cried more at the trailer for the film than the film itself.
I’m not sure what it was about the film that I didn’t connect with. I have a lot in common with Connor, a strong bond with my mother, I often felt invisible at school, I was bullied, my dad remarried and didn’t play a very active role in my upbringing. And yet, for whatever reason I didn’t connect to the movie, and as such, the emotions it was evoking out of just about everyone I knew weren’t forthcoming from me.
This put me off reading the book that had sat for so long on my shelves, but I’m not in the habit of giving unread books to charity.
As I am trying very hard to read 12 books this year, I also thought a shorter book might help me achieve this. And so I read A Monster Calls.
I’m happy to report that the book resonated with me a lot more than the movie did. I don’t know if this is because my mum’s Alzheimer’s is a lot worse now than it was when I saw the film, whether my grief for a woman who no longer knows me is more acute, but the book definitely had me in tears when Connor finally realises why the monster has called upon him.
The blurb on the cover explains how this book came to be written, and I can’t help but think that this adds to the sadness of the story. I’d highly recommend it for anyone looking for a short, easy but highly emotional read.
I’m not sure what it was about the film that I didn’t connect with. I have a lot in common with Connor, a strong bond with my mother, I often felt invisible at school, I was bullied, my dad remarried and didn’t play a very active role in my upbringing. And yet, for whatever reason I didn’t connect to the movie, and as such, the emotions it was evoking out of just about everyone I knew weren’t forthcoming from me.
This put me off reading the book that had sat for so long on my shelves, but I’m not in the habit of giving unread books to charity.
As I am trying very hard to read 12 books this year, I also thought a shorter book might help me achieve this. And so I read A Monster Calls.
I’m happy to report that the book resonated with me a lot more than the movie did. I don’t know if this is because my mum’s Alzheimer’s is a lot worse now than it was when I saw the film, whether my grief for a woman who no longer knows me is more acute, but the book definitely had me in tears when Connor finally realises why the monster has called upon him.
The blurb on the cover explains how this book came to be written, and I can’t help but think that this adds to the sadness of the story. I’d highly recommend it for anyone looking for a short, easy but highly emotional read.