A Novel by Patrick Ness from an Original idea by Siobhan Dowd
The ‘Chaos Walking’ trilogy quickly and firmly established Patrick Ness as one of the authors that inspires me the most.
Therefore, I was more than excited to hear about his new work ‘A Monster Calls' and could not wait until I had read it. So much so, that when I had my hands on a copy, all other reading (regardless of how important – uni and work – were laid aside).
This particular book was born in the mind of Siobhan Dowd who, tragically, died before she could write it. In Patrick’s words: “She had the characters, a detailed premise, and a beginning. What she didn’t have, unfortunately, was time.”
So, in being invited to use Siobhan’s idea, Patrick let it grow, in the wild way of stories. Then he ran with it and made trouble.
And I for one am thrilled that he did. The story that these two have come up with is fantastic and one to be appreciated on any number of levels.
For me, it reads like a beautifully crafted modern fairy tale, full of modern sensibilities and psychologies. What I mean by this can easily be explained with a quote from the book:
“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere inbetween.”
Mix that with the idea that not all stories have a happy ending and you get a brilliantly written tale of a boy’s struggle with his mother’s illness and a visit from a Monster as old as the earth who wants only one thing: the truth, spoken from Coner’s lips.
While the idea was Siobhan’s and the words Patrick’s, it would be unfair to review this book without reference to Jim Kay’s illustrations which perfectly capture the flickering, messy, darkness that would be conjured by one’s imagination were this tale read aloud by a dancing fireplace. Some illustrated novels seem like two works clumsily thrust together, the illustrations adding nothing, sometimes detracting from the written text. Jim Kay’s art adds to the snowball effect that began with the text, built in your imagination, was complemented by the artwork and had me glancing at the window to make sure that there was no such Monster peering in.
Moving, dark, and real, A Monster Calls can be devoured in one sitting and leaves you asking yourself: “What is my truth?”
Find it on Goodreads
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