A Monster Calls

Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd, 2011 Date Read: 5/12/22

Trigger Warning: Death of family member

The foundational event of my life occurred when I was 12, and my best friend (who was almost 10) was killed in freak accident due to the negligence of a stranger. It was 1989. I've thought of him every single day in the 33 years (this month, in fact) since it happened. Everything changed in me and about me and in my life at that moment. Everything I did and every decision I made in my life after that event has been colored by my reaction to this loss.

I typically try to avoid media about death - Bridge to Terabithia and My Girl made me cry so hard I threw up, as did The English Patient. I'm dreading the time when my dog Rhonda dies; she's 12 and has Alzheimer's, and I'm sure it will be within a few years. I was gutted when Prince passed.

That all said, I really shouldn't have read this novel, but I didn't know what it was about. I try to avoid any information about the novels before I read them, so my take won't be colored by someone else's.

It is very good and if I didn't have such a tough time dealing with death and loss I might have even enjoyed the writing.

Length: 205 pages

Rereadability: absolutely not :-(

Classic: yes, this is an excellent novel