Book Review: A Monster Calls

Title: A Monster Calls
Author: Patrick Ness
Publisher: Walker Books
Rating: 3 stars

Brief Summary: Conor has been having the same nightmare ever since his ill mother started her treatment. Conor loves his mother so much and will do anything for her. One day when Conor cannot sleep a monster visits him. But this isn't your average scary monster. Who is this monster, and why does he keep appearing to Conor? Conor must face the reality of his life and stand up to his monsters.

Thoughts in a sentence:
Kathy: A beautifully moving story showing us a different side to tragedy and how people's minds cope with such difficult situations.
Bee: TBR

Review: At first when I started reading this book, I thought it was a childrens book because of the easy to read writing style. However upon finishing it I really appreciate how it was written because the whole book is about Conor, the young boy, so I think the writing syle reflects him and gives us a better insight to HIS life and not just the things going on in it, but how he feels. I think it's so interesting to have this story told from a childs point of view because this is the hardest situation he will ever have to face in his life, and he has to somehow deal with it at such a young age. I think the whole idea of nightmares and monsters was used becuase it's the only thing Conor can relate bad things with. They haunt him wherever he goes and he has a cloud hanging over his head. In the book Conor has to face the scary reality happening in his life, as well as the own battle he's having in his mind. He is two different people trying to live in the same body. He wants to be the son his mother has brought him up to be and love, but inside he wants to cry and scream and destroy everything, becuase how can he ever be happy with so much pain and sadness in his life. This book contains so many interesting parallels that show the struggles lots of people have to face  on their own. The monster and the nightmares are Conors way of relieving himself from reality.
The ending to this book was outstanding. The reader finally understands what is going on in Conors mind and the truth couldn't be less painful for Conor and the reader. This book makes you realise that sometimes we must let go of even the things we love the dearest in life becuase they can hold us back. For as long as you hold onto something of the past, you can never move forward. Conor has his whole life to lead and he learnt so much from such a young age.
The final thing I wanted to mention about this book is the whole presence of the monster. Who is he? Was he just a figment of Conors imagination or was he something more? At first I thought maybe he could be a version of God, who has come to save Conor. However this monster was not the loving kind. Nearer the end of the book, Conor almost became the monster, and this leads me to believe that the monster was what Conor needed to see to get through this time in his life. Maybe it was God who created this monster for Conor, the monster being the bad things and thoughts inside of Conor. Conor had to face his own evil to accept the truth he needed to feel.
This book has still left me with so many questions but its a tale I will read again and again when I'm looking for an answer in my life. Thank you Patrick Ness for doing such a great justice to Siobhan Dowd.

You can tell us what you thought of this book in the comments below or on our twitter page @BathyBooks
May the odds be ever in your favour
Love Bathy <3