Monsters of Men discussion

Haha, yeah I agree with you on both counts.

But I think The Sky had his part to play at the end.

Am I the only person who thought it was incredibly fitting (view spoiler)[that Todd die (to show how awful war is, how you can't get everything your way no matter what you do, and that terrible things happen to not-evil people you love, and all that), and then GOT ANNOYED that Ness softened the blow by putting him in a coma instead (hide spoiler)]?? I mean, I usually HATE cliffhangers and open or unhappy endings, but for this particular series I found all of it very fitting, given the reading experience and the themes.

I guess a message of hope is nice, though. Honestly, (view spoiler)[there were deaths I would've mourned more than Todd's, (hide spoiler)] mostly because, as the series progressed, I found it harder and harder to root for the protagonists and found myself feeling more and more sympathetic to the villains. (But not to the point where I wanted the villains to win, haha.)

Yeah... Ness is genius like that :D (view spoiler)[ I mean, you have to be pretty special to make some one feel sorry for Davy Prentiss - wait, I wasn't the only one who thought that, right? haha :D (hide spoiler)]


Hey, Linda, have you read "A Monster Calls" yet?

I think killing off Todd just to prove a point about war would have spoilt the book. Besides, hope is good. We like hope :D.

Haha I know! The complex characterizations were amazing. I guess I can see why most people would agree with you about killing off Todd, but by that time Todd and Viola had annoyed me enough that it wouldn't have been a huge blow to me, personally. (I'm evil like that.) (view spoiler)[The fact that the Mayor never got redeemed upset me a lot more than Todd's falling into a coma. (hide spoiler)]

And yes, I have read A Monster Calls! It's one of those books that make me feel like a terrible person, because while I liked it and gave it 3 stars, all the reviews from my friends/followed reviewers were solid 5 stars with lots of raving and glowing praise (ok, I think there was one 4 star in there). I liked it, but it didn't blow me away like it did most people.

Linda wrote: "Haha I know! The complex characterizations were amazing. I guess I can see why most people would agree with you about killing off Todd, but by that time Todd and Viola had annoyed me enough that it..."

REALLY? I didn't really think about the mayor so much like that, but yeah that's a good point.

As for AMC, HOW CAN YOU READ A BOOK LIKE THAT AND NOT CRY?!! Haha, maybe just me, then XD.

It bugged me at first, I was all "...and? Is that it?!" and then I re-read his last chapter and decided that, actually I liked it.

I was in such a hurry to find out omgToddisheokay that I missed the whole slow-reveal of the current events, and him getting closer and closer to consciousness.

i have mixed feelings for the ending! i personally love closure at the end of series and really wanted to atleast see todd wake up and a speech or something given out to the new settlers, but i didn't HATE the ending because it's pretty obvious that todd WILL wake up and im pretty sure that the end sentence was actually him waking up since he said "here i come" so atleast we know that he lives!

BritishWotsit wrote: "the last words were something like "i'm coming"


Theres no avoiding that that means Todd is waking up from his coma, i dont see how that isn't obvious enough. I thought it was a very uplifting end..."

I totally agree with you I think the same it's just beautiful

...mmmm :)....

I felt the ending was pretty obvious. Todd had begun to gradually hear Violas voice, and understand that it was her...he was coming out of his coma. His last words were "here I come" .. (I pictured that last scene in the movie 'Avatar' where the main character awakens and the last thing you see is a close up of his face and his eyes spring open). Lol.

Todd would awaken with an even greater understanding and compassion for the 'Land' (spackle), making him an even better leader for New world.

As much as it would have been nice to have had that final reunion between him and Viola included in the ending, I totally respect the artistic choice of Patrick Ness to end it like he did. It did feel a bit abrupt at the time of reading but my afterthought is that it is a powerful ending. Awesome series.

I will admit, I was bawling by the time I finished this book. Really. But I loved it. Leaves it open you can't be angry with it! Just make it what you want to.

:) general opinion on this thread = good.

This = good :D

Emily wrote: "I like how they left the ending open, which is something that usually bugs me. but in this is think it helped the book nicely rather than having a happy ending where everything works out, it keeps ..."

I completely agree with you.

The ending was a thing that gave me great need for thought. It was awesome. I'm always slightly annoyed when everything comes together in a neat little package. To me, that makes a book just something to distract oneself on, whereas I beleive that a book should be something that leads to new thoughts, new experiences, a new reason to check oneself, to check that what you are and how you act are you, as opposed to what you are told you should be or do. The open ending did that for me. Well done Patrick Ness.

The ending of this book? OMG!
my first reaction was to deny the fact: Todd dies? no way! no way! Then I realized that Patrick Ness is capable to kill the main character a and so I had the wish to launch the Kobo throw the window, but I was able to calm down and eventually I cried. Despite all the hope that somehow he was alive was still there. So I wasn't surprised about how things have evolved, but I wanted more, at least another chapter that made us see the landing or Todd and Viola together again ... Who knows, maybe in the future Ness will write a sequel, but for the moment I can say that I left a bad taste in the mouth.

At first I was upset about the ending, especially when everyone was convinced Todd was dead. But when there was that last chapter in his POV when he was in the coma, and he said something like "Here I come Viola" I knew he would wake up! It was such a great way to write it. Like, he would do whatever it took to get back to her.

Kayla wrote: "At first I was upset about the ending, especially when everyone was convinced Todd was dead. But when there was that last chapter in his POV when he was in the coma, and he said something like "Her..."

Thankyou, ending-appreciative person! XD

:( Patrick Ness needs to write another book!

Caitlin wrote: ":( Patrick Ness needs to write another book!"

YES! Petition, petition! XD

When I first read the ending, it really shocked me. I was really confused about just what had happened. I didn't know that someone could be partially dead. It partly confused me so much because I read ahead.... for shame... but anyways, it made a lot mores sense that since Ben was able to come back, Todd would be able to as well. I think that it was good because it was different then a lot of trilogies would have ended. When I read it more times, I liked it even more. It was a really good way to end it.

Caitlin wrote: ":( Patrick Ness needs to write another book!"

I have to disagree. To write another book would be like continuing the Harry Potter series. Todd and Viola's tale is done, what else would there be to write about? Some romantic drama between Viola, Todd and that what's-his-name character? Most definitely not, we don't need any more romantic dramas, especially in a novel designed to be science fiction. If Ness did continue with the story he would have to have a whole new set of characters, ones that would probably face the challenge of a new world with the Speck and the new settlers, which isn't quite as enticing as an almost eerie mind cult trying to control everything. On that note, he lost his greatest villain, Mayor Prentiss. How in the world is he going to make a character that meets up to par with Prentiss?

Overall I say leave it and enjoy the trilogy for what it was.

I loved the ending!I thought that it wasnt that open because he could hear viola and was in my opinion was waking up.

I really liked the ending. Have I been banging my head against the wall trying to decide what I think happens afterwards? Yes. I don't think it's the most satisfying ending for the reader, but I do think it's undeniable that it fits perfectly with the themes of the book.

This entire story was history repeating itself. So the people keep the weapons - just in case - and new settlers are coming and everything could go wrong. This could happen all over again, but as the reader you have to hope for the best in people, which is what Ben told us the whole time.

There's a possibility Todd will die - so you've got to hope he'll wake up (although I thought the "cuz here I come" was him nearly there). We've watched Todd grow into the Mayor, but now we get to leave him knowing his Noise will heal and he'll become like Ben instead. Life keeps going and things keep changing for him, which I think is more grounded in reality than just a happy ending.

The last couple sentences were my favorite. Todd and Viola are always finding their way back to each other, and Todd knows that if he just keeps doing that, everything will be alright <3 So sweet!

This ending reminded me of that part in the Dark Knight, it's like a happy ending is the ending we deserve, but not the one we need right now =D

Sad :( I would just be happy if Todd woke up.

Todd does wake up - see Patrick Ness short story "Snowscape"

I'm frustrated by the ending but not for it's openness but because I wanted more for 1017. I really wanted him to get a happy ending, to get redemption, revenge, peace, I don't know, something. It feels to me as If he lost everything and I just love that character so much that It breaks my <3

Ella wrote: "I think the ambiguosity of the ending was really good. Because, if you think about it, Todd could ever have lived or died and it's left up to the reader to decide. If Patrick Ness had finished with..."
he does wake up, in the end, the short story? viola saying he woke up? no?

y'all im going to be complety honest with you all. and i know this is random, but i cried more over manchee than todd. cuz u have that feeling that you know todd's gonna come back.

I liked it cause you could just invent your own epilogue.

There wasn't really an ending was there?