A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Posted on by Casey smurph

8621462The 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 one 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 is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth

“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH AND I AM NOW UNABLE TO WORD SO I PLEASE LEAVE NOW IF YOU’RE EXPECTING ANYTHING CLOSE TO ENGLISH.

A Monster Calls is one of the books that is both so simple and elegant that it transcends age, it’s illustrated but adult, the feelings and emotions are there, you know that this isn’t going to be a fun happy story and the writing drags you down and taps you into the emotions making you angry, sad, mad, frustrated. It’s definitely a book that left me thinking and wondering how on earth I was going to read another book after that genius.
Also for anyone that mistakes the cover and thinks this is horror, it’s a sad and scary story but not a horror in the usual sense of the word.

Things I loved:

  • Conor’s character growth and development
  • The storytelling being sieved in perfectly with what was happening in the present say scene
  • The Monster and his lessons
  • The tone of the story and the beautiful writing for being both simple and have so much meaning
  • The Authors note and dedication to Siobhan Dowd
  • The illustrations

Things I didn’t like:

  • Oh whats that? The first 3 points are blank? Yeah I loved it all

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If you’ve been recommended this book or just stumbled across it, read it please I promise you won’t regret it.

This review is super short but I just feel like anything more would be telling to much of the story and it’s such a better feeling to experience all yourself.

10/5 stars

Have you read this? What did you think about Conors journey and the Monsters stories? I’ve been told the movie is fantastic so I can’t wait to watch it soon.

30 thoughts on “A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness”

    1. I had so many people rec it to me as well and I’m so glad I loved it as much as everyone else, I don’t know if its because I really like it but I feel like anyone could enjoy this book no matter what they usually read or even of they don’t usually read 🙂 I hope you love it as much as I do Diana 😀

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  2. I just brought this today from Angus and Robertson 🙂 I’m so excited to read it…think I may start it tonight! Haven’t seen the movie cause I wanted to watch it then read the book straight after!

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    1. Did you get the illustrated edition? ITS SO BEAUTIFUL the images really added to my experience I think I loved the gray scale and how the images reflected the story perfectly.
      Same! I still haven’t seen the movie but I plan on watching it ASAP

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    1. IT DID NOT! Ah thank you! if that isn’t the best comments to get then I don’t know what is XD I really hope you love it, I feel in love with the whole story and it’s going to be re-read a lot of times I’m thinking XD

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    1. *runs to check out your review* I’m sorry but your review puts mine to shame (which isn’t hard because its legit babble) I loved the stories inside the stories and how deep and manful everything was seriously if lit students get their hands on this they could analyse the shit out of everything XD

      This book really made me appreciate Ness’s writing a lot and I don’t think I’ve seen a bad review so that really speaks for itself in my mind 🙂

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  7. I’ve just finished this and had a similar reaction to you – along the lines of wow, sob, wow. Although, 10/5 stars – come on, a bit mean 😁. 100/5 stars, surely! I’m going to see the movie next week and, from the trailer, they seem to have done a great job.

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  8. I completely agree! I recommended this book to my friend and it made her cry. She said the book was brilliant and completely destroyed her and she didn’t know whether to thank me or blame me. And the film did such a good job in staying true to the book (it helped that Patrick Ness wrote the screenplay).

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    1. ITS SO GOOD, I know you were shouting at me for ages about how good it is but now I can finally shout back ITS SO GOOD XD I loved it all I was seriously thinking back and there isn’t one thing I disliked this went straight to my faves list 🙂

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    1. ALL THE CAPSLOCK YELLING FOR THIS BOOK BHSDUEODLMCBGOAMDLL XD It just grips you right away and takes you through so many emotions, I’, hopefully watching the movie this week and I’m really excited I’ve heard all good things 🙂

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  12. Haha I love your review! This book is definitely one of my favourites! I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did but it was brilliant and beautiful and fantastic and made me cry – in the middle of class – with people looking at me weirdly/with concern. Embarrassing, but worth it. I feel sorry for all the people that read the movie tie-in edition and missed out on the illustrations.

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    1. omg Liss! It’s definitely something you should finish alone so you can weep with out people staring XD

      I made sure to get the illustrated version, they add so much to the story and set the mood perfectly plus Jim Kay can do no wrong in my eyes he’s such a talented artist

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      1. Haha yeah… the temptation was too read though and I had the absurd idea that I might not cry, even though I tear up fairly easily.
        They do! It’s not usually my style of illustrations but it 100% works with this. His HP illustrations are amazing though 😍💕

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        1. I think if I see anybook with him as the illustrator I’d go for it, even a childrens read i could always look at the art and give it to my niece 🙂 HP is amazing I need to read my illustrated editions I just flick through them occasionally

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