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Monster Calls: Inspired by an Idea from Siobhan Dowd
Monster Calls: Inspired by an Idea from Siobhan Dowd | Patrick Ness
An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor. At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting-- he's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It's ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd-- whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself-- Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.
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Gissy
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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#WickedWhispers Day 22 prompt- monster
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#HauntedShelf #FrightClub team @Jadams89
#BookRecommendation
So sad but beautiful. I haven‘t watch the movie adaptation

755 pts (previous) + 30 pts (current) = 785

Eggs Well done👏🏻👌🏼🙏🏻 1w
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one 🖤 1w
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Karisimo
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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#wickedwhispers #monster
Both the book and the movie are excellent!
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Eggs Perfect 🤩 2w
28 likes1 comment
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Eggs
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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“Stories are the wildest things of all,” the monster rumbled. “Stories chase and bite and hunt.”

#Monster
#WickedWhispers

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

AnishaInkspill so true, stories do, I read this a few years back, haunting and an unsettling read. 3w
48 likes4 comments
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TheSpineView
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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Darklunarose I bent read this but have seen the movie. He is a great author 3w
Eggs 🖤💙🖤 #greatminds 3w
56 likes2 comments
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Coleen
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Pickpick

A quick YA read that will tug at your heart. This one didn‘t affect me as much as it did some other readers, but it was a good story from a young person‘s viewpoint when dealing with grief. I immediately watched the movie after finishing it, which was also good.

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MissHel
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Pickpick

Do you need to sloppy cry? Like cry off all your makeup and end up covered in your own snot? Do I have the book for you! It quite a beautifully told story of a tragedy but I‘ve sobbed so much my eyes are puffy.

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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“You do not write your life with words...You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.”

#Monster
#CoverLove

🌳 🖤📖

Eggs Such a wonderful book 3mo
TheLudicReader I sobbed when I read this. 3mo
59 likes2 comments
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Coffeymuse
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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A book about monsters which had me ugly crying at the end. So amazing!
#CoverLove
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks My choice too! 😭 3mo
Karisimo This is a great story! 3mo
Eggs So powerful🖤🖤 3mo
22 likes3 comments
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Jgacreations
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
Pickpick

I was looking for something quick to read….i wasn‘t sure what to expect with this shorter story but I did enjoy this even if it was def on the heavy and darker side.

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KristiAhlers
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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Pickpick

I am legit ugly girl crying! OMG this was such a good story. I fell in love with the writing and quickly fell in love with Conor. This was a Christmas gift from one of my coworkers. It's one of her favorite books and I totally understand why now. #bookspin @thearomaofbooks

robinb I‘ve heard about this one…not sure I could make it through. 10mo
TheAromaofBooks Gah this book completely destroyed me but in such a good way. 10mo
49 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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TheSpineView
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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AmandaBlaze Love this book. 13mo
Gissy I loved that book❤️So much to say about grief. Beautiful!!! And sad but a way to manage that grief closure🙌 13mo
Tamra Such a great book. 13mo
45 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Lizpixie
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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#ScarathlonPhotoChallenge #Day14 #Monster An old photo of mine(I can‘t find my copy anywhere!)but still one of my favourite books about a monster. Next to Frankenstein of course. #Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub 6pts

AmandaBlaze I read A Monster Calls to my mom. She loved it, too. 13mo
23 likes1 comment
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LiseWorks
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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freeatlast1137
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Pickpick

This book had been on my shelf for years and I always avoided it because of the title. I had no interest. I purchased the book because of the cover…never judge a book by its cover or it‘s title. After a two month cold spell in reading, I finished this book in three nights (only about 30 minutes or so on a good day, mom of a toddler and it‘s virus season). It‘s heartbreaking and captivating. I highly recommend this for a quick read!

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Bookish_Gal
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Pickpick

Watched the movie first; was blown away. Might like movie better. similarities here are very well made, few alters. Monster is “meaner” more sarcastic in book. Incredible story about a Monster coming to help Connor with the possible death of his mother. The 3 stories the Monster shares are shown more in the book how they help Connor. This was a nice explanation of why these story‘s. Both are immensely impactful and heartbreaking. Must read
12:07

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Bookworm04
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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#awesomeapril 2nd book competed 4 hours in bits yesterday and today

Andrew65 That‘s brilliant 👏👏👏 2y
Bookworm04 @Andrew65 thanks. On to book 3 her last hour Daniel Hurst 2y
46 likes2 comments
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Bookworm04
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Now arrived for few days away now really is time to get stuck into readathon #awsomeapril

30 likes1 stack add
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Bookworm04
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Holiday time perfect time to join readthon bright all kindles books want to read. Hubby sorting as ps5 in total peace and quiet winner

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Bookworm04
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Seen the film the book so cool. Great drawings to #libraryfind #borrowbox

Bookworm04 #awsomeapril 5️⃣5️⃣ pages read going out with hubby for but then shall read more @Andrew65 2y
43 likes1 comment
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LiseWorks
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Pickpick

This was a great book. Loved the art throughout this book. It is a great book for young adults who deal with grief. #ISpyBingoJanuary I found footprints and a house. But no bingo This month. Some of them were hard to find. Like the stop sign. @Clwojick @TheAromaofBooks

Clwojick Stop sign was a hard one for me too! Great job - hope you play along in February too! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2y
19 likes2 comments
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TheRiehlDeal
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Pickpick

This was both beautiful and sad. I really felt for Connor as he was being bullied at school and everyone knew that his Mom was undergoing chemo for cancer. It was both this and the fact that he dreams of a monster that comes to his house every night, that no one believed him, so he became reclusive. I love that Connor is able to get revenge against one of the bullies at school and is able to “be seen” by everyone again.

4⭐️
11/23/22

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allureofbeauty
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Pickpick

Read for a book club on Monday. Got my boyfriend to read it too. Then we watched the movie last night. I thought it was going to utterly destroy me and then it didn‘t and I kind of felt let down.

Beatlefan129 I felt the same way. The reviews made me think I was going to feel really emotional but then all I felt was so so 2y
23 likes1 comment
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americansapien
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Pickpick

Somber; it‘s the second time I read this book and found it more amusing than the first time, definitely deeper, and more significant. Life can partake a series of incidents for which we are oftentimes helpless, or feeling helpless, so we call upon the monsters of the night that so much frighten many children, but in whose arms we feel secure, or something like that. It‘s not bad, I‘d recommend it to a kid though.

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Sueoshin
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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Pickpick

A 13-year-old boy named Conor had to go through a challenging life.

1 night, Conor had a nightmare that called his name repeatedly. At first, he thought that maybe it was just an illusion but apparently it was a reality where there was a big tree in the yard calling his name.

At 12:07 midnight, Conor will leave the house to listen to the story from the tree. There are 3 stories that give lessons to Conor‘s life.

#book

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Livyer
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Pickpick

(May)Here I am at almost 8:00 am writing this, with my eyes still full of tears. The last few chapters were almost imposible to read because of it. If anyone asks me what I read this year that made an impact, A Monster Calls will be it. Reading while you can't even make up the words because your sight is blurry and you have a knot in your throat and you don't want the story to end but at the same time you do.

JoeMo I remember a similar experience several years ago, except I think I was legitimately sobbing my face off and it was something like 3 in the morning when I finished that book! 😂 Welcome back to Litsy. 2y
Livyer @JoeMo I went in blind... I thought it was a horror/thriller book. Then it turned into a fairytale then it got too real... Loved it, and thank you still don't know what i am doing 😂 2y
11 likes2 comments
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AmandaBlaze
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 2y
Catsandbooks 🙌🏼🎃🖤 2y
TheSpineView Well done 2y
See All 6 Comments
Andrew65 A true classic, well done 👏👏👏 2y
TheLudicReader I ugly cried reading this book. 2y
KathyWheeler @TheLudicReader I did too and books and movies rarely make me cry. I loved this book. 2y
40 likes6 comments
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Blueberry
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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Eggs I chose this one too 💔 2y
Twainy 😭 2y
WJCintron Patrick Ness is amazing! And he‘s so nice! Such a good soul! 🙌😊 2y
56 likes5 comments
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Eggs
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Readergrrl I loved this book! The art was wonderful and the story just broke my heart (in all the best ways). 2y
Eggs @Readergrrl Agree🙌🏻🙌🏻 2y
bookishdawg This is wonderful on audio with Jason Isaacs narrating ❤️ 2y
jlhammar Such a good book! Moved me to tears. 2y
55 likes5 comments
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Bookworm54
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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Pickpick

This was a quick YA read.
As I get older, I find I cry a lot easier when reading or watching tv. And this book was no exception! 🥹

Connor has been having nightmares since his mum fell ill, but one night a new monster appears. It says it has been called, and that Connor must tell him a story. A story that is his truth.

This was sad but so worth the read. Sorry you sat neglected on my shelves for so long book 🤣

#BookSpin #JubilantJuly

Andrew65 I obviously need to get to this too! Well done 👏👏👏 2y
TheAromaofBooks This one absolutely wrecked me! 2y
rabbitprincess I saw the movie and it gutted me 😭 2y
47 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Bookworm54
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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Having a chilled morning starting A Monster Calls with Moroccan mint tea and homemade frittata 😋

TheLudicReader This book! 2y
Readergrrl Fantastic book! 2y
50 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Cortg
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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I got to enjoy a production of A Monster Calls in DC last night! It follows the book and was quite creative using rope to create and represent the yew tree.

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Cortg
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Pickpick

Such an amazing story! I‘m a total mess! It‘s been sitting on my bookshelf for quite a while and when I learned it‘s being performed at the Kennedy Center, I got tickets and started the book. Looking forward to the show and plan to bring a box of tissues. 😭

Nebklvr I‘m not crying, you‘re crying! 2y
Cortg @Nebklvr OMG, yes! 😂 2y
TheLudicReader I was a blubbery mess when I read it. 2y
Cortg @TheLudicReader It was an ugly cry, for sure! 2y
39 likes4 comments
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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Pickpick

Oh. My. God.
My dad had been recommending this book to me for such a long time but I hadn‘t read it until now and I don‘t know why I put it off for so long. The book was absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful and multiple quotes had me crying. Absolutely amazing.
4⭐️

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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd

“You do not write your life with words,” the monster said. “You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.”

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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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How can a queen be both a good witch and a bad witch? How can a prince be a murderer and a savior? How can an apothecary be evil-tempered but right-thinking? How can a parson be wrong-thinking but good-hearted? How can invisible men make themselves more lonely by being seen?

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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd

“I wish I had a hundred years,” she said, very quietly. “A hundred years I could give to you.”

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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
This post contains spoilers
show me

For all the folding, it was only four lines long.
Four lines, and the world went quiet.
I‘m sorry for telling everyone about your mum, read the first line.
I miss being your friend, read the second.
Are you okay? read the third.
I see you, read the fourth, with the I underlined about a hundred times.

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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd

“If no one sees you,” the monster said, picking up its pace, too, “are you really there at all?”

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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd

“Stories are important,” the monster said. “They can be more important than anything. If they carry the truth.”

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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd

“I don‘t understand. Who‘s the good guy here?”
“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”

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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd

“Stories are wild creatures,” the monster said. “When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?”

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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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“They‘re just stupid berries. Woo-hoo, so scary. Oh, please, please, save me from the berries!”
The monster looked at him quizzically. “How strange,” it said. “The words you say tell me you are scared of the berries, but your actions seems to suggest otherwise.”
“You‘re as old as the land and you‘ve never heard of sarcasm?”

BramBresseleers ”Oh, I have heard of it. (…) But people usually know better than to speak it to me.” 😱 2y
7 likes2 comments
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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd

“Stories are the wildest things of all,” the monster rumbled. “Stories chase and bite and hunt.”

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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd

“I am the spine that the mountains hang upon! I am the tears that the rivers cry! I am the lungs that breathe the wind! I am the wolf that kills the stag, the hawk that kills the mouse, the spider that kills the fly! I am the stag, the mouse, and the fly that are eaten! I am the snake of the world devouring its tail! I am everything untamed and untamable!”
[…]
“I am this wild earth, come for you, Conor O‘Malley.”

Lovelylottereader “You look like a tree,” Conor said. 2y
5 likes1 comment
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Lovelylottereader
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd

“It‘s only a dream,” he said again.
“But what is a dream, Conor O‘Malley?” the monster said, bending down so its face was close to Conor‘s. “Who is to say that it is not everything else that is the dream?”

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erank58
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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#TarotTakeover Day 1! @ErinSueMreads

There are so many layers to peel back with Nine of Swords. Fear, anxiety, grief, and anguish that start in our dreams and unconscious reality, and then "stalk" us into our day-to-day state of being.

Conor has the daily challenge of dealing with the monster that haunts him at night. Like him, we can either keep running away, or confront it--and maybe, find something to learn from it along the way ?

Erinsuereads I love your elaboration on nine of swords! One of my favorite parts of these photo challenges is hearing everyone else's take on the cards. It's fascinating 3y
26 likes1 comment
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living_for_literature
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
Pickpick

The chapters were short, and to the point. It was easy-to-read, as a middle grade book should be, but slam-packed with emotion. As I was expecting, Ness packed a punch in short sentences that a thirteen year old boy would use, which still made me feel all the emotions. The metaphors of the monsters really made sense, too. There are even some actions that caused me to wonder if the monsters were real–or were they in Connor‘s head.

5 likes2 stack adds
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Ang203l
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd
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Guess we‘ll see if this one makes me cry!

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j9brown
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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Pickpick

So moving and so sad. Really great. ❤️❤️❤️

KathyWheeler Not only did I cry when I finished this book, but I ugly-cried, and I‘m not one who cries much with books or movies. 3y
63 likes1 stack add1 comment
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KatieDid927
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness
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Woke up early and have a flexible WFH schedule, so I decided to watch the movie adaptation of A Monster Calls for this week‘s #Screamathon prompt before starting my work day. I finished the book last night in one sitting. The movie is a good adaptation. The film is well-cast, aside from Sigourney Weaver as the grandmother. Her British accent isn‘t great. I liked how they visualized the book through the art design. @4thhouseontheleft

LiteraryinPA This book made me cry so much. Is the movie similar? I don‘t picture it as spooky, just sad. 3y
KatieDid927 @LiteraryinLawrence The movie is similar but the book didn‘t make me cry, personally. Although I get why it makes other people cry! I hadn‘t read the book prior and had chose it for this week‘s prompt (read & watch the movie) without reading it first. I do think the nightmare and monster elements are what makes this book/movie fit the spooky season. 3y
31 likes2 comments