A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

This book was a truly fascinating read. Bought for me in a bout of illness, I didn't actually manage to read it when I first got it. But recently, around college, there has been a burst of activity surrounding this book, with a lot of the English teachers reading it. So I thought I'd give it a go. And I am very glad I did.

A Monster Calls has resonated deeply with me, in a way only a few books do in a persons life time. It was gripping, and dark, with an element of folklore and fear entwined. It may have been this slither of folklore that actually made me like it so much; For once in a book I've found the names of 'Herne the Hunter' and 'Cernnunos' side by side, without a page long explanation of who they are. It felt as though I wasn't being patronised.

The personal note aside, the story, and the narrative were brilliant. I read it in one afternoon, completely sucked in by the story line and the characters I found myself unable to put it down. Despite the book touching on issues such as cancer and bullying they aren't used to make the audience feel. The darker experiences of the main character, Conor, lead the reader to feel for him more than his situation, which I believe can be quite difficult to do, as most people would reflexively decide on their feelings where Conor's situation was concerned.

I'm reluctant to give away the story in any way, but I feel that artwork of Jim Kay cannot be easily ignored. The book is filled with dark, hauntingly beautiful images that work so beautifully with the story that I finally had a book to discuss with my father (a lover of art).

Because of this astounding artwork I feel the book has a certain appeal to both avid readers, art lovers, and anyone in between. But even without the genius of Jim Kay, I felt that Patrick Ness successfully created artwork of his own in this original and emotional narrative.