A Monster Calls Unknown Binding – 2 February 2012

A beautiful edition with glossy pages and haunting illustrations. This is an unforgettable story, touching and introspective, the kind that just sticks with you for a long time.

The book was received in good condition. The book in itself is amazing and has beautiful illustrations. A must read.

This book is about a thirteen-year-old boy named Conor. He loves his mother and takes care of her as she has cancer. Conor is very sad as his life is not in the right place. The new medications are not working on her mother, his grandma (whom he hates) is taking her to settle at her house, Connor is seen by the eyes of sympathy at school and he is having nightmares of a monster. There is a yew tree, which is outside his window. The yew tree comes as a monster every night as nightmares to tell three stories. The monster has come for a purpose, Connor doesn’t know what he wants…This book shook me completely. It took me a week to digest this story. The story was so heart wrenching and just broke me into pieces. I could relate to this story and I could not put this book down, I read it in five hours. As it is an illustrated book, the illustrations were beautiful and they brought so much to the story. Beautifully written and I can’t imagine I read this alluring story…

A Monster Calls is the story of a young boy in dialogue with a monster. While the unusual monster creates problems, here is a new one with a different objective; to make the boy tell the truth. This truth is hidden deep inside him but it does not vent out because of his surroundings. And all this, when he faces a hard time in personal and school life. While a terminally ill mother occupies the majority of his thinking mind, the minorities are taken up by his father, grandmother and school.So how does the monster achieve its objective? The monster is old fashioned and resorts to the art of storytelling. The monster hands down a deal to narrate three stories, finishing which the boy is expected to tell the truth, else be harmed. The boy is least intimidated or threatened but gives it a try. However, he is at a loss when he finds that each story ends in ambiguity, leaving him angry about the correctness of the story.Little did he expect that the monster will create disasters around him putting in embarrassing situations. Anyone facing such tough conditions would naturally have nightmares. And this boy’s case is not different.Ultimately we find the mother, the monster and the nightmare converge for the inevitable. As we know, after every storm settles calmness.In the underlying thread or by a different perspective, the reader finds the monster resides inside the young boy and there’s a tug of war between the good and bad. Adapted into a feature film, the story is refreshing. Though it does not have many happy moments, it causes no depression and it leaves the reader with a sense of satisfaction. The writing is descriptive enough and gives the reader a vivid image about the scene. The illustrations in each page add to the visualisation.The story lacks any major twists and turns and may be boring for those who prefer fast moving fiction. I recommend this book to everyone to experience the innocence of a young guy. A tad philosophical, the book is a quick read with beautiful illustrations. Overall, the book is a good read to chew and swallow.

A few weeks back, my husband and son went together for a movie while I was at work. They both were gaga over it. And I felt a little left out. To make up, my husband gifted me the book on which the movie was based.A Monster Calls By Patrick Ness.A moving tale of love and compassion. The story is about Love of a child for his terminally ill mother. The author beautifully unravels the mind of a young boy, Conor and how he deals with his mother’s illness. Because of his mother’s illness, everyone treats him with sympathy and caution, which he detests. In his school, teachers don’t ask him about any assignments out of sympathy. His peers stay away as if he is the one suffering from a communicable disease. His heart wants this mystery to end. His mind knows the only way it will end is by the death of his mother whom he loves so much.Here comes, A monster Yew Tree, who makes him understand through different stories, that each one of us has good and bad within us. We all are shades of gray. His wish for an end to his own and his mother’s suffering does not make him bad. When he comes to accept this, he lets his mom die in peace.Love does not mean to keep clinging and decay yourself, when things go haywire. Love gives us courage to accept the truth and move ahead.Though the book is targeted for young readers, I felt it is a must read for all age groups.Happy Reading

Not very happy with the product, I have been waiting for the book for a long time, but when I received it and opened the package all I got is disappointment, the book doesn't look refresh to me, it is damaged from top right corner and have many dents. Doesn't include a bookmark too...

Book was used one & torn