All tagged Patrick Ness

Guest Review: A Monster Call by Patrick Ness

Guest Review: A Monster Call by Patrick Ness

Anushree Nande
Books

There are books you pick up with no idea of what to expect...and sometimes those end up being the best reads, the ones you didn’t even know you needed. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, based on an idea by late YA author Siobhan Dowd, has the added poignancy of Dowd’s own lack of time, her untimely death at the age of 47 after writing only 4 novels (all highly acclaimed). Winner of the Cilip Carnegie Medal, I finished it in a few hours---stunned and blindsided by the sheer power, emotion and depth of this deceptively simple story. I’m trying to remember the last time I cried so much while reading a book and coming up with a big recent blank.

{Book Matchmaker} Erica Hearts Dystopia

Sarah Moon
Book Matchmaker

Meet Erica, our latest Book Matchmaker victim participant. Her favorite books are dystopians, but she also loves to read contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy. Erica took our Extremely Scientific Survey recently and these are her results.

YA or Adult: Surprise Me

Genres: Contemporary, Historical, Dystopia, Fantasy, Science Fiction

POV & Narrative Style: First Person, Third Person, Multiple POV

Swoon Factor: 3

Gross Out Factor: 5

Smut Factor:  4

Fluff Factor: 3

Favorite Books: Hunger Games, The Road, Oryx and Crake, The Giver

Hated Tropes: None, really 

The Results! 

[Note: We’re slimming down our recommendations to 3-5 from this point forward—come back for more once you’ve read these!]

On the Beach by Nevil Shute

On the Beach by Nevil Shute (Adult)

{Book Matchmaker} Shelly Needs Some Reads

Sarah Moon
Book Matchmaker

You may have noticed a new page on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves: Book Matchmaker.

This will be an irregular series in which we try to help you find your next favorite read! It’s pretty simple. You fill out a very thorough, scientific survey, and we apply proven analysis techniques to determine books that will be a good match. 

Our first victim lucky participant is Shelly, who is the owner of a very cool sewing pattern business and author of a nifty book called Sewing for Boys. She’s also the inspiration for this series. I met Shelly on an airplane about a year ago and we started talking books. One thing led to another and I ended up making her an extensive list of books she’d enjoy. 

Well, she’s read all those and is back for more! 

Shelly’s Responses to Our Questionnaire

YA or Adult: Surprise me!

Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery

POV & Narrative Style: First Person, Third Person, Present Tense, Male POV, Female POV

Swoon Factor: 3

Gross Out Factor: 3

Smut Factor: 3

Fluff Factor: 3

Favorite Books and/or Themes: “Hunger games…fun simple read with a unexpected storyline. Patricia Cornwell books—I like a good crime novel. All the books you have recommended to me to far :)!! [Mercy Thompson, etc] I love a good twist or a “NO WAY” moment. Bring on the drama”

Hated Tropes/Themes: “I can’t deal with a book that take 780 pages to get to the point. Historical novels. I can’t deal with a book that takes 780 pages to get to the point.”