Friday 27 June 2014

Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd & Jim Kay, A Monster Calls

Whilst picking up The Chaos Walking Trilogy from the library (see my review here) I spotted A Monster Calls on the shelf.
Jim Kay, illustrated, YA Fiction, cancer, death, Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd, A Monster Calls, pictures, inside, review, photograph, book, graphic novel, grief, bereavement, yew tree

The Plot: Conor's mum is dying. One night a monster comes to call, he will tell three stories and in return expects Conor to tell the final tale.

Rating: «««« (4/5)

Siobhan Dowd dies of cancer before completing this story, so the novel was completed by Patrick Ness. This gives the novel added poignancy, and the narrative is sad enough as it is. I'm not ashamed to admit I had a little cry.

More pictures under the jump:-



Jim Kay, illustrated, YA Fiction, cancer, death, Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd, A Monster Calls, pictures, inside, review, photograph, book, graphic novel, grief, bereavement, yew tree

 A Monster Calls is illustrated by Jim Kay and his artwork is absolutely stunning. It's so textured, it almost looks etched. He has recently been commissioned to illustrate the Harry Potter series, and I'm really intrigued to see it.
Jim Kay, illustrated, YA Fiction, cancer, death, Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd, A Monster Calls, pictures, inside, review, photograph, book, graphic novel, grief, bereavement, yew tree


The book as a fairytale quality to it. The monster's three stories have ambiguous messages, and for book that is illustrated in monochrome, the message is not black and white.

Jim Kay, illustrated, YA Fiction, cancer, death, Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd, A Monster Calls, pictures, inside, review, photograph, book, graphic novel, grief, bereavement, yew tree

There's something about Jim Kay's illustrations that remind me of my fav street artist Phlegm. I think it's because they are both have minuscule detail and look tactile.
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