annebennett1957's review against another edition
4.0
I will have to digest this one for a while to determine if I love or dislike it.
The world is upside down and from the point of view of the whales. But deeper, it is about the inanity of war. The last line is the best:
"For there are devils in the deep,
and worst are the ones
we make."
The world is upside down and from the point of view of the whales. But deeper, it is about the inanity of war. The last line is the best:
"For there are devils in the deep,
and worst are the ones
we make."
thebookofdanny's review against another edition
1.0
Toby Wick!?
"I'm an original creation, like Rickey Rouse and Monald Muck."
Total drivel. So inflated with self-importance that it's practically buoyant.
"I'm an original creation, like Rickey Rouse and Monald Muck."
Total drivel. So inflated with self-importance that it's practically buoyant.
holkazaknihou's review against another edition
5.0
Vypada to jako obycejny pribeh, ale popravde se v nem skryva tolik krasnych myslenek
la5zl0's review against another edition
5.0
sprachgewaltig und wunderschöne illustrationen, die die stimmung perfekt einfangen.
nata_sa_b's review against another edition
4.0
Patrick Ness je skrátka autor, ktorý dokáže do svojich kníh dať vždy o niečo viac než iní autori. Síce A Monster Calls je pre mňa stále jedna z jeho najlepších kníh And the Ocean Was Our Sky je hneď môj druhý obľúbený príbeh. Obsahuje toľko myšlienok, nad ktorými sa určite pozastavíte a porozmýšľate nad tým kam to celé smeruje. Je príbeh o nenávisti a tak ako hovorí posledná veta zo slovenskej anotácie: "Toto je príbeh o hneve, nenávisti a našej potrebe bojovať až do úplného konca, keď už neostáva nič iné len česť a smrť." Myslím, že viac o tom nepotrebujete vedieť, len to, že svet potrebuje viac takýchto kníh, pri ktorých nie je dôležitý koniec, ale skôr to ako sme sa ku koncu dopracovali. Pre niektorých nudné priemerné dielo, ale pre mňa niečo, čo by dokázalo niektorým ľuďom otvoriť oči a trochu pouvažovať nad ich správaním.
benjaminvr's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Full Review Posted 🐋
This book is a mixture of Finding Nemo and Moby Dick with blood, philosophy and talking whales as protagonists.
Will there be a time when a man is prepared enough to review a philosophical book about whales and devil, created by the same human who wrote “A Monster Calls”?
This is a very difficult book to rate. How am I supposed to rate the story of a talking whale, of a world where whales hunt humans the same way humans hunt them?
It has been a weird experience to read a book like this one, I’m well aware that there are lots of books out there with animal characterization, but it is my first time (lol) reading one of that kind.Besides, did I tell you how much I love whales that I actually have a whale tattoo on my left butt chick? (That’s a lie, but if I ever get a tattoo, a whale will be one of my options).
If I had to rate this book by its plot, characters (?), the story development or the writing style, it might not be even a 2-star book, but I have learned that isn’t the way you rate this kind of story.
It is because of the above mentioned that I don’t find necessary to talk about what this book really about is, but of what the meaning of it truly is. While reading it there were many emotions that passed through my mind and heart, too many thoughts about things I don’t usually think and things that made me question myself. (I know, that’s not something new when referring to Patrick Ness).
This time Ness has taught me how the devil is created, how each of us, each of our actions and our own beliefs are things which shape reality, which give birth to things we have first only imagined. It is through our emotions that we created amazing things or terrible monsters.
A journey not made for everyone, but worth it for those who dare take the risk.
Full Review Posted 🐋
This book is a mixture of Finding Nemo and Moby Dick with blood, philosophy and talking whales as protagonists.
Will there be a time when a man is prepared enough to review a philosophical book about whales and devil, created by the same human who wrote “A Monster Calls”?
This is a very difficult book to rate. How am I supposed to rate the story of a talking whale, of a world where whales hunt humans the same way humans hunt them?
It has been a weird experience to read a book like this one, I’m well aware that there are lots of books out there with animal characterization, but it is my first time (lol) reading one of that kind.
If I had to rate this book by its plot, characters (?), the story development or the writing style, it might not be even a 2-star book, but I have learned that isn’t the way you rate this kind of story.
It is because of the above mentioned that I don’t find necessary to talk about what this book really about is, but of what the meaning of it truly is. While reading it there were many emotions that passed through my mind and heart, too many thoughts about things I don’t usually think and things that made me question myself. (I know, that’s not something new when referring to Patrick Ness).
This time Ness has taught me how the devil is created, how each of us, each of our actions and our own beliefs are things which shape reality, which give birth to things we have first only imagined. It is through our emotions that we created amazing things or terrible monsters.
A journey not made for everyone, but worth it for those who dare take the risk.
godlizza's review against another edition
4.0
"The great trick of the devil is to make you want to see him. But it is only when you see him that you fear him. And by then, it is too late."
This was a very funky, weird story about war, perspective, and myth. Can't say I've ever read a book where the narrator is a whale named Bathsheba, but here we are.
I really dug this! I love how the framing of the ocean, the abyss, and the inverted gravity was a metaphor for perspective. How this book really said 'there are no good people in war'. And dude! That ending! My goodness! This was a very cool way to retell Moby Dick, and I'm here for it.
This was a very funky, weird story about war, perspective, and myth. Can't say I've ever read a book where the narrator is a whale named Bathsheba, but here we are.
I really dug this! I love how the framing of the ocean, the abyss, and the inverted gravity was a metaphor for perspective. How this book really said 'there are no good people in war'. And dude! That ending! My goodness! This was a very cool way to retell Moby Dick, and I'm here for it.
elyssam's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Solid and introspective retelling of Moby Duck where the scupper is flipped. And nice and short! Wish I had an copy of the book to follow along with the audio but none were available.
millennialbookreview's review against another edition
4.0
I was intrigued by the idea of a "reverse Moby Dick" where whales are hunting humans and not the other way around. I wasn't disappointed in the least. This is a very poignant work, with themes touching on identity, war and humanity, which I didn't expect going into the story. It was beautifully told as well, without trying to be too ambitious in terms of scale. The illustrations within the book are bold and captivating.