In October, a WiistLore reader asked if I'd read A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. I had not, but the title certainly intrigued me. It sounded fun. Sensing I had the wrong idea and trying to temper my expectations, she warned me that it was "not a happy read." Hmm. That made me even more curious to check it out.
As it turned out, I couldn't locate the book at any of my regular haunts. The closest I came was finding used editions of Ness' young adult trilogy, Chaos Walking, at Cupboard Maker Books. But, not knowing for sure whether I'd like his writing, I didn't feel like jumping into the deep water with a trilogy. If you've read this trilogy, let me know. A movie was made of it in 2021, starring Daisy Ridley, Tom Holland, and Mads Mikkelsen, but I'd prefer to read the novels if they're good.
Not finding the book at my local shops, I went online and found an inexpensive, used copy at AbeBooks that I had shipped to my house for free. If you're unfamiliar with Abe's, I recommend checking them out. They have an excellent selection, low prices, and free shipping.
Now, here's the thing. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. In this case, going for the lowest price resulted in receiving a very battered book. I mean, look at that photo above! To put a positive spin on it, it appears to have been much-loved. I am happy to report, though, that as rough as the cover looks, the interior pages are in excellent condition. And since this is a book about a monster, I've decided that the roughness of the exterior suits the story rather well and adds a bit to it. So, all in all, I've become fond of my well-worn copy.
The book contains the magical realism I enjoy in a story, but I immediately realized I needed to buckle up for a jarring emotional journey. In just the first few chapters, we meet a boy, Conor O'Malley, whose parents are divorced, whose mom is dying of cancer, and who is relentlessly bullied at school. It's a lot. You know from the start that you'll probably be crying by the end. And you won't be wrong.
So, is the gut-wrenching story worth it? For me, it certainly was. It has some valuable insights that make it worth the time. One line I love and have committed to memory is this: "Stories are important.... They can be more important than anything. If they carry truth." How true that is! And how important, as a writer, to remember!
Speaking of truth, I did get a big laugh in this rather grim book from a chapter entitled, "Americans don't get much holiday." Boy, ain't that the truth? This beautifully written book contains true-to-life humor, but at the same time, it had two scenes that just crushed me. I couldn't believe what I'd just read, and even reread them hoping what I’d just read wasn’t what actually happened. Profoundly moving stuff.
I cannot praise the art in the book enough. I've never read an illustrated novel where the pictures serve the story as perfectly as Jim Kay's. Kay's art style is reminiscent of one of my favorite childhood artists, Bill Sienkiewicz. Inventive, sophisticated, visceral. Working in gorgeous black & white, he delivers page after page of moody compositions. Check these out:
Kay won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2012 for his illustrations in A Monster Calls. It also helped him to get personally selected by J.K Rowling to illustrate every title in the Harry Potter series. Like I said, fantastic stuff.
After you read the book, check out the 2016 movie adaptation. It's streaming now on Netflix and stars Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, and Liam Neeson. The author, Patrick Ness, wrote the screenplay, and it's one of the most faithful movie adaptations you'll ever see. However, please read the book before watching the movie or even the trailer, which, like most trailers, reveals way too much. As good as the film is, the illustrated book is superior.
Oh, one more thing: after I watched the movie, I stumbled across this deluxe hardcover movie-tie-in edition. As much as I love my beat-up softcover, I may need to find room for this one in my budget and bookshelves. There's always another book, am I right?
What book do you think best marries words and pictures? Is there a particular writer/artist team you enjoy? Please share your recommendations with our little group in the comments below. As someone who writes and draws, I'm deeply interested in your thoughts.
Til next time, Always Be Creating!
— Bill aka Express
I will look for this one