emma's Reviews > A Monster Calls

I don’t wanna say I went into this with high expectations, but like...okay yes I went into this with high expectations.

But how could I not! The concept - about a boy whose mother is dying of cancer who is visited by a monster demanding the truth - is beautiful. I’ve read a couple of Patrick Ness books and found them really creative and unique. Also everyone in the whole entire world said this book was beautiful and would tear my heart out and make me cry!

Alas, no.

The thing I should have remembered about the books of Patrick Ness’s I’ve read is that I always liked the concept more than the book itself. And guess the hell what. Same situation here, boi.

My favorite part of this book was the author’s note. The author’s note is beautiful, and you should read it and then put the book down because you’ve just read the best part and it will not get better.

I don’t really know what else to say. I know this book is super important to a lot of people, and I know people are probably going to come at me in the comments like they came at May with patronizing ass sentiments like “If this didn’t click with you then obviously you haven’t watched a loved one suffer like this!”

Which is honestly just an insane thing to say to a person, but whatever.

This book just didn’t connect with me. I didn’t feel spoken to or really much of any emotional reaction, because I didn’t feel the reality of any of the characters or the situations they were in.

If I’m being really, really, REALLY honest, some of this felt emotionally manipulative. Like this was obviously supposed to be wrenching and sad and make you cry. The fact that this kid is terrorized by a monster and has a mean grandmother and is getting bullied and his mom is dying? Like, come on. That’s not for richness of narrative or reality of experience. That’s just purely to be sad.

I don’t know. I’m talking myself into liking this less when I really didn’t hate it. But still.

Bottom line: Not for me! (Please do not see the words “not for me” and read them as “this is a terrible book no one should read!” and attempt to debate me. If this book brought you closure or made you feel spoken to or anything else, I’m glad for you. I’m not trying to take that away from anyone!!! Please don’t misinterpret that.)


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PRE-REVIEW

the concept of this was so, so, so lovely.

which makes it all the more sucky that the execution didn't really do it for me at all!!!

review to come i guess, who cares, life is meaningless

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felt pretty confident that this would be a tear-free experience and then almost teared up at the f*cking author's note.

i am ready to die.

attempt at my first ever successful (sorry emma for that one time) buddy read with my favorite faceless wonder