A Monster Calls

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Jim Kay, Patrick Ness: A Monster Calls (2011, Walker Books Ltd.)

hardcover, 214 pages

Published May 1, 2011 by Walker Books Ltd..

ISBN:
978-1-4063-1152-5
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5 stars (2 reviews)

4 editions

Brilliant!

5 stars

One of my Top Ten Books of 2015

I've had a different Patrick Ness book, More Than This, on my Goodreads To Be Read list for ages, but recently spotted A Monster Calls as part of an Audible two-for-one offer so ended up buying it first. A relatively short audio book at just under four hours, I listened to it in two chunks whilst walking around Mojacar in Spain. Had I known what an amazing listen it was going to be, I think I would have arranged to complete the whole tale in a single walk! I understand that the printed version has some excellent illustrations which are obviously not included in the audio, but, for me, Jason Isaacs' superb narration more than compensated. His voice and style are perfect.

Patrick Ness has an uncannily accurate understanding of the guilt and anguish of slow bereavement. His story is told through …