It's funny being a book lover, a reader, someone who lives thousands of other lives in their own lifetime, because you're never sure what you're going to get when you pick up a book. Stories are amazing creatures, and they have the ability to affect you in unpredictable ways when you read them, sometimes causing you to smile or laugh, and other times causing you to become completely unglued. During my short life, I have only ever cried a few times while reading a book, though I'm usually able to hold my emotions back until I at least finish the page, chapter, or book itself, but not this time.
In my defense, I listened to A Monster Calls as I went on my morning walks with baby girl. I've found these walks are a fantastic way to get a lot of things done at once: Stay fit, get baby girl outside for a while, take May-May for a walk, and most recently read a book. I have very little time these days to actually pick up a physical book and read it, so I've decided to multitask and "read" one while I walk. This book was brilliantly recorded by Jason Isaacs, who has a lovely voice with a British accent to boot, and I actually highly recommend listening to it rather than reading it. Isaacs does a great job with the words, the timing and the characters, and it made the book feel incredibly real to me.
Maybe that's why I was a sobbing mess during my morning walk yesterday.
A Monster Calls synopsis:
At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Connor'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.
This book literally changed me. Changed me from the inside out as I listened to this thirteen year old boy struggle with his mother's illness. I loved Conor. I loved him so much I thought I was going to tear apart inside. This sweet, darling little boy who is doing the best he can with what he has. This story made me take a step back and think about how we treat our loved ones, especially when they are struggling, no matter what that struggle is. This story taught me that sometimes things aren't fair, but that we can get through it with the help of others.
Five stars. Ten stars. Ten out of ten. Two thumbs up, with wads of tissues in both hands. This book was an absolute wonder, and I recommend it to everyone. Even as I type this I can feel that lump in my throat that I felt so often as I listened to Conor's story. Listened to the monster.
Apologies to the college students who walked by me yesterday morning, for the blubbering mess I was. Everything was fine, I promise.
Stories are amazing creatures.
