A Monster Calls in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Jan 10, 2017 Jody rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aty-reject-challenge, made-me-cry, aty-2017, popsugar-2017, book-riot-2017, time-top-100-ya, spooky-season

11.01.17
I mistakenly picked this up at 11:30 last night, thinking that I'd start it before going to sleep. Wrong. I couldn't put it down, and read the whole thing in one go. And cried. A lot.

Wow. What an incredible story. What beautiful writing. So moving, and so heartbreaking. Ness has a way, just like Neil Gaiman, of getting under your skin. It's amazing. It might only be the 11th of January, but I think I can safely say this will be one of my favourite reads of the year.

04.03.24
I read it agai ...more

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Jan 06, 2017 Marina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, book-to-movie, 2017, magical-realism

Ohh, I cried! Almost from start to finish, I just couldn't stop. A book with such an impact really deserves 5 stars.

I went into this book open minded. Of course I had seen the high rating and how many if not most people talked about how much they liked this book, but I had no idea what this book really was about. From looking at the cover and briefly reading the blurb, I guess this book wasn't what I expected. But it hit me and it hit me hard!

This book takes up some serious topics, but it's writ ...more

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Jun 29, 2014 Mary-Megan rated it liked it

This novel is inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd who died before getting a chance to write it. Never having read anything by Dowd, I can't comment on how well author Patrick Ness captured the late author's spirit or style. Nevertheless, this is a powerful novel about a boy struggling with a parent's illness.

Conor's mother is sick. She has been for a long time and doesn't seem to get any better. Ever since she's been sick, Conor's been having nightmares. Now, though, he's having a new nightmar This novel is inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd who died before getting a chance to write it. Never having read anything by Dowd, I can't comment on how well author Patrick Ness captured the late author's spirit or style. Nevertheless, this is a powerful novel about a boy struggling with a parent's illness.

Conor's mother is sick. She has been for a long time and doesn't seem to get any better. Ever since she's been sick, Conor's been having nightmares. Now, though, he's having a new nightmare. This time around, the old yew tree that sits in the church cemetery by his house transforms into a huge monster that comes to visit Conor. It claims it wants to help Conor - who is dealing not only with a sick mother, but a school bully, a grandmother moving in whom he doesn't particularly get along with, and a father who left him for a new life in America. In order to help Conor, the monster yew tree is going to tell him three stories. After his three stories, Conor needs to tell his story and finally admit the truth that he isn't ready to face.

This story is a really quick read. The story that at times feels like a fairy tale or fable - especially the stories that the monster tells. The book is filled with eerie drawings, yet the book isn't scary in any way. The monster is just a vessel to get the stories and lesson. Each time the monster comes, Conor is dealing with something big - his grandmother's appearance, his father's momentarily return on top of his mother's declining health, and the bully's final move. Each story is a lesson to help him face not only the situation, but his big truth that he's avoiding. Although the stories are not the most clear-cut and Conor is definitely frustrated afterwards, it all makes sense at the end of the novel (as one would expect). This is a powerful story about a child dealing with a sick parent and the internal struggle that comes from that. Conor's whole life is changing, especially given the fact that his mother is dying. He sees his home life changing and even things at school because now labeled "he's the kid with the dying mother," which means he's treated differently. The book, come the end, forces Conor - and the reader - to face the truth about our feelings in a situations like this and how those feelings can be contradicting - both selfish and selfless at the same time.

For the most part, it's not until Conor's truth comes out that the novel feels whole. Everything makes sense once the truth is out and the monster explains how it all fits. At that point you realize how strong the novel has been. Given how quickly this book reads, it is worth picking up. ...more

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Dec 09, 2023 Irene rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: predictable, under-300-pages, 2-stars, small-publisher, readathon, underwhelming, popsugar-2023, bought-in-2023, read-in-2023, unhauled

I don't think this book was at all poorly written, but I was incredibly underwhelmed by it.

- The blurb advertises the book as "darkly funny," which I found to be wholly inaccurate. The only thing I could think of that could be considered borderline funny could be the boy's unaffected attitude the first couple of times he faces the monster, but to call the book funny based on this is akin to calling any book featuring a kiss "romantic".
- It's extremely predictable, especially when it comes to th ...more

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Nov 23, 2013 Karen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: j-ya

A wonderfully inventive, heart-breakingly sad yet ultimately redemptive story about nearly the saddest scenario anyone can imagine; a very young boy having to face and come to grips with his mother's terminal illness. Out of this world illustrations and wonderful prose. The first book worthy of five stars that I have read in a very long time. Kudos to the Monster. ...more

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Mar 24, 2017 Gabby rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017, young-adult

A very thought provoking and cleverly done book. A boy trying to cope with his mum's illness, bullies at school and a friend who he feels betrayed him. Will keep you entranced as the monster tells his tales and helps the boy begin to see the changes. ...more

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