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My Name is Monster
After the Sickness has killed off her parents, and the bombs have fallen on the last safe cities, Monster emerges from the arctic vault which has kept her alive. When she washes up on the coast of Scotland, everyone she knows is dead, and she believes she is alone in an empty world.
Monster begins the long walk south, scavenging and learning the contours of this familiar land made new. Slowly, piece by piece, she begins to rebuild a life. Until, one day, she finds a girl: feral, and ready to be taught all that Monster knows. Changing her own name to Mother, Monster names the child after herself. As young Monster learns from Mother, she also discovers her own desires, realising that she wants very different things to the woman who made, but did not create, her.
Inspired by Robinson Crusoe and Frankenstein, My Name is Monster is a novel about power, about the things that society leaves imprinted on us when the rules no longer apply, and about the strength and the danger of a mother’s love.
Monster begins the long walk south, scavenging and learning the contours of this familiar land made new. Slowly, piece by piece, she begins to rebuild a life. Until, one day, she finds a girl: feral, and ready to be taught all that Monster knows. Changing her own name to Mother, Monster names the child after herself. As young Monster learns from Mother, she also discovers her own desires, realising that she wants very different things to the woman who made, but did not create, her.
Inspired by Robinson Crusoe and Frankenstein, My Name is Monster is a novel about power, about the things that society leaves imprinted on us when the rules no longer apply, and about the strength and the danger of a mother’s love.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2019
45 people are currently reading
2770 people want to read
About the author
Katie Hale
19 books31 followersBorn in Cumbria, Katie is the author of a novel, My Name is Monster (Canongate, 2019), and two poetry pamphlets: Breaking the Surface (Flipped Eye, 2017) and Assembly Instructions (Southword Editions, 2019), which won the Munster Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition. In 2019, she was awarded a MacDowell Fellowship, and was Poet in Residence at the Wordsworth Trust.
She has recently won the Buzzwords Poetry Prize, the Jane Martin Poetry Prize and the Ware Poetry Prize, and has been shortlisted for the Manchester Poetry Prize, the University of Canberra Vice Chancellor’s International Poetry Prize and the Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize. Her poetry has been published in Poetry Review, The North and Interpreter’s House, among others. In 2017, Katie was mentored by Penguin Random House on their inaugural WriteNow scheme. Her musical, The Inevitable Quiet of the Crash, co-written with composer Stephen Hyde, premiered at Edinburgh Fringe in August 2017.
She has recently won the Buzzwords Poetry Prize, the Jane Martin Poetry Prize and the Ware Poetry Prize, and has been shortlisted for the Manchester Poetry Prize, the University of Canberra Vice Chancellor’s International Poetry Prize and the Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize. Her poetry has been published in Poetry Review, The North and Interpreter’s House, among others. In 2017, Katie was mentored by Penguin Random House on their inaugural WriteNow scheme. Her musical, The Inevitable Quiet of the Crash, co-written with composer Stephen Hyde, premiered at Edinburgh Fringe in August 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
June 15, 2020
okay WOW!
This book was wonderful! I downloaded a sample on Kindle and *very* nearly didn't read it because I didn't like the first few pages -- but I'm so glad I kept on going. This is one of the best books I've read this year.
Following a war where a sickness was released as a biological weapon, Monster is the last person left. We follow her story of survival and break between her visceral present and brief memories of before. Hale treats memory uniquely and wonderfully!
Monster eventually, however, comes across a feral child and raises her as her own. The book examines influence, creation and the role of a mother. In many ways, it is like Shelley's Frankenstein and I enjoyed drawing parallels when reading.
This book was wonderful! I downloaded a sample on Kindle and *very* nearly didn't read it because I didn't like the first few pages -- but I'm so glad I kept on going. This is one of the best books I've read this year.
Following a war where a sickness was released as a biological weapon, Monster is the last person left. We follow her story of survival and break between her visceral present and brief memories of before. Hale treats memory uniquely and wonderfully!
Monster eventually, however, comes across a feral child and raises her as her own. The book examines influence, creation and the role of a mother. In many ways, it is like Shelley's Frankenstein and I enjoyed drawing parallels when reading.
June 6, 2019
Sometimes the simplest premise and exquisite execution come together serendipitously and make for a totally absorbing thriller. My Name is Monster is one such powerhouse post-apocalyptic landscape in which humanity is dead. Gone. Extinct. Except for Monster. And Mother. We never quite know how it has come to this although reasons are alluded to throughout we are not given reliable or solid reasoning; I liked these mysterious parts of the book as my imagination ran away with itself and it was rather fun. Whilst Monster scavengers to survive she comes across a girl she names Monster, whilst changing her name to Mother, and foretelling the bond which will grow between the two of them.
The short, snappy chapter structure had something interesting happening in every one of them and helped to keep you turning the pages. I could relate to both Monster and Mother as Ms Hale has put a lot of detail into the personalities of these two girls, their feelings and their perceptions of the shattered world limply hanging around them. I could completely relate to their introverted natures and the enjoyment of being in one's own company. Both the aura surrounding the tale was chillingly atmospheric and the characters so, so enigmatic; this is what kept me up to find out what would happen to the pair.
If you are a reader who must have aspects spelt out to you in terms of what is going on with the plot then this may not be for you; this is because Ms Hale leaves a lot to the imagination. I always find it fascinating as no-one ever reads the same story due to everything being open to interpretation. It's really the story of Motherhood but not the usual innate relationship between mother and daughter but by two people who crave love, attention and tender moments in a world so devoid of love. A simple story about the enduring nature of companionship, respect and love and a touching and poignant debut. Many thanks to Canongate for an ARC.
The short, snappy chapter structure had something interesting happening in every one of them and helped to keep you turning the pages. I could relate to both Monster and Mother as Ms Hale has put a lot of detail into the personalities of these two girls, their feelings and their perceptions of the shattered world limply hanging around them. I could completely relate to their introverted natures and the enjoyment of being in one's own company. Both the aura surrounding the tale was chillingly atmospheric and the characters so, so enigmatic; this is what kept me up to find out what would happen to the pair.
If you are a reader who must have aspects spelt out to you in terms of what is going on with the plot then this may not be for you; this is because Ms Hale leaves a lot to the imagination. I always find it fascinating as no-one ever reads the same story due to everything being open to interpretation. It's really the story of Motherhood but not the usual innate relationship between mother and daughter but by two people who crave love, attention and tender moments in a world so devoid of love. A simple story about the enduring nature of companionship, respect and love and a touching and poignant debut. Many thanks to Canongate for an ARC.
December 12, 2021
I enjoyed reading this novel quite a bit. I couldn't help but compare its opening section with other novels I've read where the protagonist spends a good number of pages entirely alone: Robinson Crusoe, The Martian, My Side of the Mountain, Earth Abides. It's an interesting technical problem for a writer to solve and Hale's approach is a little different from these others--a first person/present tense account that focuses on the body and its experiences, more than on the environment that Monster is moving through. This feels profoundly female in a way that I can't easily explain (and all of these preceding reads had male protagonists). The shift to a two-person world, when it comes, and then to an entirely new narrator, was ambitious and thoughtfully done.
Read
December 24, 2018A terrific piece of writing; tough and tender and insightful. Loved it.
April 8, 2020
A surprising and unexpected read. I was drawn to the book for its cover because it was so enticing. The plot itself had the same effect on me: I was intrigued to see how Mother and Monster would develop and what sort of hope, if any, would be provided at the end.
Firstly, this is very much a dystopian novel. After a sickness and global war leaves no known survivors, apart from Monster and Mother, this novel explores the idea of establishing a new world, a new type of living in a stripped-back society. This theme of re-birth is continued throughout the narrative, right until the unexpected closing. To be honest, I had not read the blurb of the story – I was too distracted by the cover! – and was taken aback by the similarity to current circumstances. However, this did not deter me because I was curious to see what sort of world that Hale creates, and to escape from checking the news all of the time!
I really appreciated the parallels made to Shelley’s Frankenstein. It is a book I studied very long ago, yet I enjoyed the similarities that are made. Indeed, once the narrative shifts from Mother’s perspective to Monster’s, it reminded me of Frankenstein and his own creation. The love that exists between both pairs of characters is extremely raw and the concept of power through education is interesting to consider.
Some may consider this a very stagnant narrative. It is like many post-apocalyptic films where there is very little dialogue. Reported speech, flashbacks and short episodes are what create this structurally unusual narrative. Rather than having traditional chapters, there are parts of the narrative – often only spanning half a page. Whilst this did make the book a rapid read, I could understand why others may find the narrative too disjointed and lacking cohesion. However, I felt this reflected the “new world” that Mother and Monster inhabit: we are learning about these episodes at the same time the characters are experiencing them.
A pleasantly enjoyable narrative that was certainly thought-provoking, considering what is happening in the world today. I enjoyed Hale’s writing style but am unsure how she could follow this story with something as equally provocative. The love that exists between the two protagonists whilst may not be overt, shows readers that this is what quintessentially makes us human.
With thanks to Canongate books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly, this is very much a dystopian novel. After a sickness and global war leaves no known survivors, apart from Monster and Mother, this novel explores the idea of establishing a new world, a new type of living in a stripped-back society. This theme of re-birth is continued throughout the narrative, right until the unexpected closing. To be honest, I had not read the blurb of the story – I was too distracted by the cover! – and was taken aback by the similarity to current circumstances. However, this did not deter me because I was curious to see what sort of world that Hale creates, and to escape from checking the news all of the time!
I really appreciated the parallels made to Shelley’s Frankenstein. It is a book I studied very long ago, yet I enjoyed the similarities that are made. Indeed, once the narrative shifts from Mother’s perspective to Monster’s, it reminded me of Frankenstein and his own creation. The love that exists between both pairs of characters is extremely raw and the concept of power through education is interesting to consider.
Some may consider this a very stagnant narrative. It is like many post-apocalyptic films where there is very little dialogue. Reported speech, flashbacks and short episodes are what create this structurally unusual narrative. Rather than having traditional chapters, there are parts of the narrative – often only spanning half a page. Whilst this did make the book a rapid read, I could understand why others may find the narrative too disjointed and lacking cohesion. However, I felt this reflected the “new world” that Mother and Monster inhabit: we are learning about these episodes at the same time the characters are experiencing them.
A pleasantly enjoyable narrative that was certainly thought-provoking, considering what is happening in the world today. I enjoyed Hale’s writing style but am unsure how she could follow this story with something as equally provocative. The love that exists between the two protagonists whilst may not be overt, shows readers that this is what quintessentially makes us human.
With thanks to Canongate books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2020
What a wonderful book! I was a little unsure at first as the story was about a virus wiping out most of mankind and I thought no, do I really want to read about a virus? But, I’m really glad I did as this is a beautiful story and not at all sad. It deals with two women and their relationship and what happens to them. The ending is empowering and will stay with me for a very long time.
I truly hope that Katie Hale writes more books in the future.
I truly hope that Katie Hale writes more books in the future.
July 18, 2019
‘My Name is Monster’ belongs to the tradition of post-apocalyptic final survivor fiction. Such tales do not depict attempts at rebuilding in the ruins or conflict amongst survivors. Instead they show a world denuded of humanity through the eyes of a witness, sometimes with a sole companion, who must cope with the enormity of humanity’s demise. The earliest example I know is Mary Shelley’s The Last Man (1826); The Purple Cloud (1901) also fits the bill. There is a capital-R Romantic sensibility to them, fraught with anxieties about both industrialisation and nature. Much of the 20th century post-apocalyptic fiction I’ve come across either assumes all of humanity will be wiped out, or that a community survives. In recent years, though, I’ve noticed a minor resurgence of the single (or dual) final witness to humanity’s end. There’s Into the Forest from 1998, and in the last few years arguably Anna and The White City, and definitely Borne, Doggerland, and Severance. The latter novel, which I highly recommend, seems like the most fitting heir to The Last Man. It also has some interesting similarities and contrasts with ‘My Name is Monster’.
Severance is full of urban settings, while ‘My Name is Monster’ revolves around a Scottish farm. The former examines the progression of civilisation’s collapse, whereas the latter simply labels them the Wars and the Sickness. On the other hand, they both choose a woman to witness the post-apocalyptic world and survive in it, after male characters have failed to. The protagonists are admirably practical in temperament, yet their survival is evidently based on luck rather than preparation or some heroic quality. Severance’s main character acts as an avatar for millennials under capitalism, while Monster is emphatically an outsider who resists allegory. I must admit, I preferred the critique of capitalism running through Severance to the less acutely observed examination of life outside society in ‘My Name is Monster’. Moreover, motherhood themes are rather lost on me, as I found with The End We Start From.
All this goes to show that I struggle to judge ‘My Name is Monster’ on its individual merits, as I see it in the context of many similar narratives that I’ve read before. Like most of the novels in this niche, it is written in the first person. Although I liked Monster and found her a distinctive and sympathetic character, I did not find the writing really took me into her head. She tended to report what she did, without much detail of what she thought or felt about it. Perhaps this was intended to show her repression, but I would have appreciated greater insight. What the reader does see of her emotions is movingly done. In general, given the novel’s carefully narrow scope, more depth to the characterisation and exploration of ideas would have distinguished it from similar post-apocalyptic fiction. Katie Hale strikes me as a writer to watch, though.
EDIT: This review articulates much more clearly what I was trying to get at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
Severance is full of urban settings, while ‘My Name is Monster’ revolves around a Scottish farm. The former examines the progression of civilisation’s collapse, whereas the latter simply labels them the Wars and the Sickness. On the other hand, they both choose a woman to witness the post-apocalyptic world and survive in it, after male characters have failed to. The protagonists are admirably practical in temperament, yet their survival is evidently based on luck rather than preparation or some heroic quality. Severance’s main character acts as an avatar for millennials under capitalism, while Monster is emphatically an outsider who resists allegory. I must admit, I preferred the critique of capitalism running through Severance to the less acutely observed examination of life outside society in ‘My Name is Monster’. Moreover, motherhood themes are rather lost on me, as I found with The End We Start From.
All this goes to show that I struggle to judge ‘My Name is Monster’ on its individual merits, as I see it in the context of many similar narratives that I’ve read before. Like most of the novels in this niche, it is written in the first person. Although I liked Monster and found her a distinctive and sympathetic character, I did not find the writing really took me into her head. She tended to report what she did, without much detail of what she thought or felt about it. Perhaps this was intended to show her repression, but I would have appreciated greater insight. What the reader does see of her emotions is movingly done. In general, given the novel’s carefully narrow scope, more depth to the characterisation and exploration of ideas would have distinguished it from similar post-apocalyptic fiction. Katie Hale strikes me as a writer to watch, though.
EDIT: This review articulates much more clearly what I was trying to get at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
November 18, 2019
Katie Hale’s debut is a thematically complex take on post-apocalyptic fiction that explores the notions of survival, belonging, the enduring influence of societal roles, and the complexities of motherhood.
The world has been decimated by war and disease. Our heroine – who refers to herself only by her childhood nickname, Monster – was an engineer who worked as part of a research team dedicated to finding a cure for the world’s Sickness. When the last of her team dies, she emerges from their arctic vault, convinced she is the last human on Earth. During the perilous journey back towards her parent’s home in Scotland, she establishes a rhythm of survival, embracing her animalistic instincts. When she finds and takes in a feral young girl, she must learn how to care for someone other than herself for the first time, and find a way to reset the boundary between surviving and living.
Though this functions as a nuanced and compelling novel in its own right, it draws heavily on the primary themes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, establishing many literary parallels that enhance its impact. From the moment Monster adopts the young girl as her own, she bestows her name upon her new protégé and restyles herself simply as Mother. This is interesting for a number of reasons. In a very literal sense, it’s suggestive of the idea that many women feel compelled to sacrifice their individuality the moment they become a mother, completely defined by their role as a caregiver (“… to create a person you must lose a person.”). On the other hand, it’s one of many allusions to Frankenstein; a playful nod to the concept of role reversals and the common misconception concerning the true ‘monster’ of the piece. It also serves as an in to the book’s look at the dynamic between creator and creation, with Mother quite literally attempting to shape Monster in her own image; to give her the life she never had – for better or worse.
I thought the worldbuilding was handled really well. We’re given glimpses of society’s collapse, but never enough in one go for it to feel like an info-dump, or for it to inhibit the reader’s imagination. I always admire when an author resists the temptation to spoon-feed their audience every extraneous detail, allowing the world to reveal itself just enough, without ever overshadowing the characters. This sentiment is reflected in the prose as well, which paints beautiful pictures without ever feeling overdone.
As with Frankenstein, the book also explores the power and wonder of language, as Monster learns how to define the world around her, and comes to understand the shortfall between literal meaning and truth. Most fascinating of all, however, is its look at ingrained societal roles. Not only does Mother instantly abandon her previous assertion that she thrives as a loner once the possibility of companionship arises, but she very quickly begins to enforce strict routine upon her daughter. The savagery of survival and the natural instincts that kept Mother alive when she was alone are no longer enough; the moment there is a semblance of society or community, old taboos regain their horror, and notions of decency and etiquette rise to the surface once more. From here, Hale is able to explore both the beauty and the danger that come with love and mentorship, and the unique brand of hope inherent to a fresh start: “Maybe getting better doesn’t mean going back to how it used to be, but moving forwards instead.”
This is the kind of read that is so intelligent, subtle, and layered in its approach, that it only improves the more time I take to mull it over. I can’t wait to see what Hale writes next.
The world has been decimated by war and disease. Our heroine – who refers to herself only by her childhood nickname, Monster – was an engineer who worked as part of a research team dedicated to finding a cure for the world’s Sickness. When the last of her team dies, she emerges from their arctic vault, convinced she is the last human on Earth. During the perilous journey back towards her parent’s home in Scotland, she establishes a rhythm of survival, embracing her animalistic instincts. When she finds and takes in a feral young girl, she must learn how to care for someone other than herself for the first time, and find a way to reset the boundary between surviving and living.
Though this functions as a nuanced and compelling novel in its own right, it draws heavily on the primary themes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, establishing many literary parallels that enhance its impact. From the moment Monster adopts the young girl as her own, she bestows her name upon her new protégé and restyles herself simply as Mother. This is interesting for a number of reasons. In a very literal sense, it’s suggestive of the idea that many women feel compelled to sacrifice their individuality the moment they become a mother, completely defined by their role as a caregiver (“… to create a person you must lose a person.”). On the other hand, it’s one of many allusions to Frankenstein; a playful nod to the concept of role reversals and the common misconception concerning the true ‘monster’ of the piece. It also serves as an in to the book’s look at the dynamic between creator and creation, with Mother quite literally attempting to shape Monster in her own image; to give her the life she never had – for better or worse.
I thought the worldbuilding was handled really well. We’re given glimpses of society’s collapse, but never enough in one go for it to feel like an info-dump, or for it to inhibit the reader’s imagination. I always admire when an author resists the temptation to spoon-feed their audience every extraneous detail, allowing the world to reveal itself just enough, without ever overshadowing the characters. This sentiment is reflected in the prose as well, which paints beautiful pictures without ever feeling overdone.
As with Frankenstein, the book also explores the power and wonder of language, as Monster learns how to define the world around her, and comes to understand the shortfall between literal meaning and truth. Most fascinating of all, however, is its look at ingrained societal roles. Not only does Mother instantly abandon her previous assertion that she thrives as a loner once the possibility of companionship arises, but she very quickly begins to enforce strict routine upon her daughter. The savagery of survival and the natural instincts that kept Mother alive when she was alone are no longer enough; the moment there is a semblance of society or community, old taboos regain their horror, and notions of decency and etiquette rise to the surface once more. From here, Hale is able to explore both the beauty and the danger that come with love and mentorship, and the unique brand of hope inherent to a fresh start: “Maybe getting better doesn’t mean going back to how it used to be, but moving forwards instead.”
This is the kind of read that is so intelligent, subtle, and layered in its approach, that it only improves the more time I take to mull it over. I can’t wait to see what Hale writes next.
February 11, 2025
Recensione apparsa su Leggere Distopico!
Un mondo di devastazione è quello che Mostro vede con i suoi occhi dopo essere uscita dal Deposito dei Semi. Con la consapevolezza di essere, forse, l’unica superstite di un disastro epidemiologico ha un unico obiettivo: tornare a casa e rendersi conto di persona che adesso è rimasta davvero sola al mondo.
All’inizio è tutto un susseguirsi di marcia e perlustrazione, ma intanto ci introduce nel suo io più profondo, ripercorrendo i conflitti di una vita e ricordi non proprio felici. Fino a quando a prendere le redini della narrazione non sarà una ragazzina che ha dimenticato ogni cosa - perfino il linguaggio - e alla quale la donna darà gli strumenti per sopravvivere e le cederà anche il suo nome, nella speranza che, al momento della sua dipartita, qualcosa di lei rimarrà ancora.
La “nuova” Mostro è un’adolescente che con spontaneità e grande coraggio, sperimenterà in prima persona il piacere della scoperta. Come una tabula rasa non ha pregiudizi e l’emozione del conoscere le insidie e le meraviglie della natura sarà crescente in lei, provocandole dei moti di ribellione.
Un’ambientazione catastrofista fa da contorno alla storia di due donne e del loro tortuoso cammino. Un cammino tanto fisico quanto attraverso le proprie insicurezze, dove a emergere sarà tutta la loro resilienza. È quando ci troviamo di fronte alla Fine che risaliamo la china e tiriamo fuori il meglio di noi stessi.
Sono due le voci che con estrema naturalezza narrano gli eventi in prima persona, ci raccontano di come, a causa della malattia e della guerra, il genere umano sia stato annientato lasciandole in balia di questo mondo in rovina.
Quella che ci troviamo davanti è una distopia di stampo femen, ma con rimandi alla speculative fiction post-apocalittica.
Di spiegazioni, Katie Hale, ne concede ben poche, preferisce distogliere la nostra attenzione dai come e perché si sia arrivati a questa catastrofe, focalizzandola su quel processo di "rinascita" che dapprima ha inizio quasi per inerzia, ma acquisisce valore pagina dopo pagina.
L'ambientazione periurbana post-apocalittica è ridimensionata per dare il giusto spessore, ma in maniera graduale, a temi come quello dell’accettazione della propria femminilità, del prendere consapevolezza dell’istinto materno che giace sopito in ogni donna, viene anche svecchiato il canonico concetto di “famiglia”.
Un’atmosfera rarefatta di contro a uno stile "pacato" e severo. La penna dell’autrice è intrisa di “misuratezza” e pensieri sobri, anche il silenzio e la staticità acquisiscono un grande rilievo ai fini della narrazione. Non si tratta di un testo che spicca per ritmi concitati o colpi di scena dagli effetti speciali, Hale punta tutto sull’introspezione degli attori principali e sul loro percorso di “rinnovamento”.
La struttura fatta di brevi capitoli rende agevole la lettura, riusciamo a seguirne lo sviluppo con lucidità ed empatia. Due personaggi concreti, ognuno con la propria personalità, che - anche nei momenti di attrito - faranno fronte comune per fronteggiare la solitudine e restare in vita.
Mostro, protagonista della prima parte del libro, si rapporta a questa ignota realtà con una freddezza innaturale, dai suoi pensieri e azioni capiamo che nutre una radicata avversione verso “gli altri”. Vaga meccanicamente tra le macerie, cerca un rifugio, acqua e cibo, sopravvive ma la mente corre al passato e, intanto, persiste nel suo atteggiamento da nomade. Che quel pellegrinaggio sia una scappatoia per tenersi occupata e fuggire da una realtà che non riesce ancora ad accettare?
Tuttavia quando incappa in questa ragazzina, la “nuova” Mostro, la sua corazza d’indifferenza s’incrina e inizia a provare davvero dell’affetto, pur non perdendo mai del tutto quel cinismo che la contraddistingue.
Destreggiandoci in mezzo al parapiglia di pensieri percepiamo che sono due figure femminili forti che, pur vivendo una situazione di disagio, non suscitano compassione né risultano drammatiche eppure riescono a fare breccia nel cuore del lettore.
Un gioco di rimandi profuso di malinconia quel presente fatto di desolazione e poche speranze, sembra specchio di questi ultimi mesi di incertezza dovuti alla diffusione del Covid19.
Katie Hale con questo suo romanzo d'esordio ci regala una storia di rinascita dove non tutto è perduto e la speranza si affaccia come un fuoco che cova sotto la cenere.
January 4, 2019
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Post apocalyptic novel told from an interesting viewpoint.
I eagerly requested this book from Netgalley as my fellow book-reviewers suggested it might be my sort of thing. And it was... kind of. I enjoyed it, but had a few minor reservations.
It tells the tale of 'Monster' - a woman who is left alone after humanity has been wiped out by war and the Sickness. She was fortunate enough to be in a Seed Store when things were getting apocalyptic outside, and has only one goal... to survive.
However, she's not alone. She discovers a girl who she calls Monster too - and becomes a mother of sorts to her. Together, they forge some sort of a life together, though there's a lot going on in the girl's head that the older woman has no idea about...
Firstly, let's start with what was good about this book. It has atmosphere in spade-loads. Thanks to the author's skilfully deft writing, I was thrown into this deserted, haunted landscape, and could visualise every detail of it. I liked the focus on the protagonist's survival too, rather than her emotions - in that aspect, it reminded me of The Martian.
I loved the sudden shift in narrative voice as well, about halfway into the book. It answered a lot of unresolved questions in a really clever way - a nice structural device that was satisfying to read.
As for the plot itself? Well, to be honest, I'm a bit done in with post-apocalyptic literature. Other books (such as The Girl with All the Gifts) I feel did it a bit better; they came at it from a more unusual angle. This one was mostly a survival story, and while it was beautifully executed, it didn't really cover any new ground. After all, haven't we heard the 'human race is wiped out by warfare / disease' story before? I'd like to hear one that's closer to what will probably happen; i.e. fighting for resources and land.
I also found the elusiveness of the story frustrating at times. Who released this mysterious 'Sickness'? What happened to get the human race to that point? Whilst I understand that this book wasn't designed to examine the downfall of humanity, a little more detail would have helped the reader to understand Monster's mind a bit more. Also, how the hell did a young girl survive through it all? This question was never really answered (or if it was, I missed it) and I found that slightly bemusing.
However, I think the author is staggeringly good writing deftly and elegantly, minus any waffle or weight - and that's a big thing in itself. I'd definitely read more of her stuff, but perhaps this wasn't quite the right story for me.
Post apocalyptic novel told from an interesting viewpoint.
I eagerly requested this book from Netgalley as my fellow book-reviewers suggested it might be my sort of thing. And it was... kind of. I enjoyed it, but had a few minor reservations.
It tells the tale of 'Monster' - a woman who is left alone after humanity has been wiped out by war and the Sickness. She was fortunate enough to be in a Seed Store when things were getting apocalyptic outside, and has only one goal... to survive.
However, she's not alone. She discovers a girl who she calls Monster too - and becomes a mother of sorts to her. Together, they forge some sort of a life together, though there's a lot going on in the girl's head that the older woman has no idea about...
Firstly, let's start with what was good about this book. It has atmosphere in spade-loads. Thanks to the author's skilfully deft writing, I was thrown into this deserted, haunted landscape, and could visualise every detail of it. I liked the focus on the protagonist's survival too, rather than her emotions - in that aspect, it reminded me of The Martian.
I loved the sudden shift in narrative voice as well, about halfway into the book. It answered a lot of unresolved questions in a really clever way - a nice structural device that was satisfying to read.
As for the plot itself? Well, to be honest, I'm a bit done in with post-apocalyptic literature. Other books (such as The Girl with All the Gifts) I feel did it a bit better; they came at it from a more unusual angle. This one was mostly a survival story, and while it was beautifully executed, it didn't really cover any new ground. After all, haven't we heard the 'human race is wiped out by warfare / disease' story before? I'd like to hear one that's closer to what will probably happen; i.e. fighting for resources and land.
I also found the elusiveness of the story frustrating at times. Who released this mysterious 'Sickness'? What happened to get the human race to that point? Whilst I understand that this book wasn't designed to examine the downfall of humanity, a little more detail would have helped the reader to understand Monster's mind a bit more. Also, how the hell did a young girl survive through it all? This question was never really answered (or if it was, I missed it) and I found that slightly bemusing.
However, I think the author is staggeringly good writing deftly and elegantly, minus any waffle or weight - and that's a big thing in itself. I'd definitely read more of her stuff, but perhaps this wasn't quite the right story for me.
August 28, 2019
The two stars feels a little harsh, because Hale is a beautiful writer and her prose in the first half especially was wonderful, but this one just wasn’t for me.
My Name is Monster is a slow, often dreary story of solitude in which not much happens but a lot of deep introspection from its titular two characters, and some stilted, unhappy interpersonal struggles. I found Monster unlikeable but interesting enough to keep me reading through the endless solitary hiking and farming in the beginning, but at the halfway mark it became harder.
About halfway through the book our first narrator, who believes herself the only human alive, finds a strange child and gives that child her own name. In a moment of fanciful impulse, Monster becomes Mother, and the strange feral child is now known as Monster, and after a while this new Monster takes up the first person narration. It’s an interesting device to explore motherhood, inheritance and identity, which this book does in a number of ways! But I just couldn’t adjust to the new Monster’s narration, which is weird and childlike and makes some of her later thoughts and actions confusing and uncomfortable. I kept waiting to learn what had happened to make her forget most language, most of how the world works, and everything that had previously happened in her life. Even ordinary things like snow were somehow new to her, despite her being old enough to menstruate and incredibly (by which I mean I was incredulous!!) inseminate herself with frozen sperm she found in a clinic and later give birth. But her history and even some of the things she does and experiences in the course of the book are left mysterious, some of it left out entirely and some described in sketchy half memories that are more puzzling than meaningful. The second half of the book was an uncomfortable and frustrating read, for me, and I was left wondering what the point of it all was.
Ultimately, though the writing is often beautiful and the motherhood themes were interesting, I think I would have liked this more as a short story. Harsh though it seems!
My Name is Monster is a slow, often dreary story of solitude in which not much happens but a lot of deep introspection from its titular two characters, and some stilted, unhappy interpersonal struggles. I found Monster unlikeable but interesting enough to keep me reading through the endless solitary hiking and farming in the beginning, but at the halfway mark it became harder.
About halfway through the book our first narrator, who believes herself the only human alive, finds a strange child and gives that child her own name. In a moment of fanciful impulse, Monster becomes Mother, and the strange feral child is now known as Monster, and after a while this new Monster takes up the first person narration. It’s an interesting device to explore motherhood, inheritance and identity, which this book does in a number of ways! But I just couldn’t adjust to the new Monster’s narration, which is weird and childlike and makes some of her later thoughts and actions confusing and uncomfortable. I kept waiting to learn what had happened to make her forget most language, most of how the world works, and everything that had previously happened in her life. Even ordinary things like snow were somehow new to her, despite her being old enough to menstruate and incredibly (by which I mean I was incredulous!!) inseminate herself with frozen sperm she found in a clinic and later give birth. But her history and even some of the things she does and experiences in the course of the book are left mysterious, some of it left out entirely and some described in sketchy half memories that are more puzzling than meaningful. The second half of the book was an uncomfortable and frustrating read, for me, and I was left wondering what the point of it all was.
Ultimately, though the writing is often beautiful and the motherhood themes were interesting, I think I would have liked this more as a short story. Harsh though it seems!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2019
It is always a brave thing to write an entire book from just one or two points of view. No supporting characters, very little supporting action. Just one person and their thoughts. It is particularly brave to make that one central POV character not particularly likable.
The writing itself is simply lovely. Very prettily written and it's so easy to just devour this book in one or two sittings. The atmosphere is fantastic and the psychology is fascinating.
I am a bit of a sucker for post-apocalyptic fiction and this end of the world scenario is particularly juicy. I almost wish we could have seen more of it, rather than just the aftermath. Honestly, this book could have been double the length and I would have been happy for the extra content!
At the end of the book we are left with many unanswered questions and not everything is wrapped up. This is perhaps a little frustrating.
There is one scene in the book that honestly made me feel uncomfortable. There is a rather graphic scene of young Monster masturbating for the first time. We don't know exactly how old Monster is but it's safe to say that she is a child. Although masturbation is absolutely a natural thing, I felt rather uncomfortable reading it from the point of view of a (very innocent) child.
Overall I very much enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down, I just wish there wasn't so many unanswered questions at the end!
Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review
The writing itself is simply lovely. Very prettily written and it's so easy to just devour this book in one or two sittings. The atmosphere is fantastic and the psychology is fascinating.
I am a bit of a sucker for post-apocalyptic fiction and this end of the world scenario is particularly juicy. I almost wish we could have seen more of it, rather than just the aftermath. Honestly, this book could have been double the length and I would have been happy for the extra content!
At the end of the book we are left with many unanswered questions and not everything is wrapped up. This is perhaps a little frustrating.
There is one scene in the book that honestly made me feel uncomfortable. There is a rather graphic scene of young Monster masturbating for the first time. We don't know exactly how old Monster is but it's safe to say that she is a child. Although masturbation is absolutely a natural thing, I felt rather uncomfortable reading it from the point of view of a (very innocent) child.
Overall I very much enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down, I just wish there wasn't so many unanswered questions at the end!
Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review
February 15, 2019
This is Katie Hale’s debut novel and I was so intrigue by the post apocalyptic premise and an original sounding blurb.
I found this to be a wonderfully well written book. The descriptive language drew me in to this emotional, cold and dark world.
This is a post apocalyptic story of a young woman who believes she is the only person left alive after The Sickness. Her name is Monster, a nickname given to her by her parents when she was younger and a bit of a loner.
Monster manages to survive by making a life for herself, away from a nearby city, but close enough to visit it to scavenge, on one of these trips she finds a young girl, who like her is practically feral. She takes her home and gives her the name Monster......and she renames herself Mother.
The book is told from two perspectives, firstly from Mother, then from Monster. It shows how they both see things differently and how Monster grows with her own thoughts and descriptive language.
I didn’t feel there was any particular plot to follow, just a story of life, nature and nurture in a decimated world, beautifully told. I can thoroughly recommend it...
I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review
I found this to be a wonderfully well written book. The descriptive language drew me in to this emotional, cold and dark world.
This is a post apocalyptic story of a young woman who believes she is the only person left alive after The Sickness. Her name is Monster, a nickname given to her by her parents when she was younger and a bit of a loner.
Monster manages to survive by making a life for herself, away from a nearby city, but close enough to visit it to scavenge, on one of these trips she finds a young girl, who like her is practically feral. She takes her home and gives her the name Monster......and she renames herself Mother.
The book is told from two perspectives, firstly from Mother, then from Monster. It shows how they both see things differently and how Monster grows with her own thoughts and descriptive language.
I didn’t feel there was any particular plot to follow, just a story of life, nature and nurture in a decimated world, beautifully told. I can thoroughly recommend it...
I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review
Read
October 17, 2020I don't know why I buy such expensive books when the writing doesn't appeal to me.
I am promising myself for the next time: I must not buy books on how the cover is... I must at least read a page before I buy it.
I am promising myself for the next time: I must not buy books on how the cover is... I must at least read a page before I buy it.
February 17, 2022
Nach einem Krieg und einem gestreuten Virus, ist die Menschheit und sehr viele Tiere ausgerottet. Bis auf „Monster“. Monster ist Ende 20 und wurde als Kind spaßeshalber durch ihren Vater so genannt, der Name war ihr aber so angenehm, dass sie ihn fortan immer trug. Monster war an der Schule bereits eine Außenseiterin, die nirgends reinzupassen schien. Als nun der Krieg ausbrach, saß sie fern ihrer Eltern in einem sicheren Saatguttank auf Spitzbergen. Alle Menschen um sie herum sind tot und so macht sie sich auf eine einsame Reise, um ihr altes Elternhaus zu besuchen und auch für sich eine dauerhafte Bleibe zu finden. Die Einsamkeit macht ihr nicht groß was aus, kennt sie diese ja bereits aus ihrer Kindheit. Sie sammelt Lebensmittel, in Läden zurückgebliebene Kleidung, ein paar Saatgut-Tütchen und findet in einem verlassenen Haus sogar ein paar abgemagerte Hühner in einer Stallung. Durch all diese Dinge schafft sie sich ein „Zuhause“ und überlebt, trotz mancher Gefahren.
Auf ihren Streifzügen in der Stadt findet sie plötzlich ein mageres Mädchen. Dieses scheint geistig verwirrt zu sein oder unter Erinnerungsproblemen zu leiden. Monster gibt ihren Namen an das Mädchen ab und lässt sich von diesem jetzt „Mutter“ nennen. Die kleine Monster scheint am Anfang ihrer Teenager Jahre zu stehen, genau einschätzen kann man ihr Alter jedoch nicht. Mutter lernt Monster erneut das Sprechen und zeigt ihr, wie man das Land bewirtschaftet, sich ernährt, pflegt und überlebt. Mutter und Monster leben so in einer Art Mutter-Kind-Gebilde.
Das Buch ist in zwei Teile geteilt. Der erste Teil handelt von Monster, später Mutter genannt und ist unfassbar spannend und richtig gut umgesetzt. Man kann jegliche Gedankengänge nachfühlen. Monster vermisst Töne, Geräusche, Menschen, Leben, den Geschmack von guter und gesunder Nahrung, sauberes Wasser, medizinische Versorgung, Wärme, Sicherheit. Eine absolut grandiose Umsetzung.
Der zweite Teil handelt von dem Teenager-Mädchen, jetzt auch Monster genannt. Ab hier ist der Schreibstil und die Umsetzung plötzlich anders. Monster kann jetzt wieder sprechen, scheint sich an Dinge von früher zu erinnern, haut öfter von Mutter ab und entwickelt kuriose Tendenzen. Monster ist interessiert am Geschlecht und ihrer sexuellen Entwicklung, Monster möchte Leben erschaffen. Mutter hält all diese Dinge für unrein oder ist selbst eigentlich zu unerfahren, um Monster in diesen Dingen zu unterrichten. Die Story wirkt hier manchmal etwas creepy und verrückt, so ganz anders als im ersten Teil, welcher mir persönlich wesentlich besser gefallen hat.
Insgesamt mochte ich die Umsetzung jedoch sehr und habe das Buch daher total verschlungen. Absolute Empfehlung.
Auf ihren Streifzügen in der Stadt findet sie plötzlich ein mageres Mädchen. Dieses scheint geistig verwirrt zu sein oder unter Erinnerungsproblemen zu leiden. Monster gibt ihren Namen an das Mädchen ab und lässt sich von diesem jetzt „Mutter“ nennen. Die kleine Monster scheint am Anfang ihrer Teenager Jahre zu stehen, genau einschätzen kann man ihr Alter jedoch nicht. Mutter lernt Monster erneut das Sprechen und zeigt ihr, wie man das Land bewirtschaftet, sich ernährt, pflegt und überlebt. Mutter und Monster leben so in einer Art Mutter-Kind-Gebilde.
Das Buch ist in zwei Teile geteilt. Der erste Teil handelt von Monster, später Mutter genannt und ist unfassbar spannend und richtig gut umgesetzt. Man kann jegliche Gedankengänge nachfühlen. Monster vermisst Töne, Geräusche, Menschen, Leben, den Geschmack von guter und gesunder Nahrung, sauberes Wasser, medizinische Versorgung, Wärme, Sicherheit. Eine absolut grandiose Umsetzung.
Der zweite Teil handelt von dem Teenager-Mädchen, jetzt auch Monster genannt. Ab hier ist der Schreibstil und die Umsetzung plötzlich anders. Monster kann jetzt wieder sprechen, scheint sich an Dinge von früher zu erinnern, haut öfter von Mutter ab und entwickelt kuriose Tendenzen. Monster ist interessiert am Geschlecht und ihrer sexuellen Entwicklung, Monster möchte Leben erschaffen. Mutter hält all diese Dinge für unrein oder ist selbst eigentlich zu unerfahren, um Monster in diesen Dingen zu unterrichten. Die Story wirkt hier manchmal etwas creepy und verrückt, so ganz anders als im ersten Teil, welcher mir persönlich wesentlich besser gefallen hat.
Insgesamt mochte ich die Umsetzung jedoch sehr und habe das Buch daher total verschlungen. Absolute Empfehlung.
June 4, 2019
Lil' spoilers, maybe?
4.5*?
This is a very think-y book and I loved it. For a post-apocalyptic setting, not a lot happened, but there was a lot in it still. The characters (all two of them!) were very tangible and different and both of them were fiercely understandable – but not necessarily relatable – even when they were at odds, even when you were in the other character's perspective. It was about aloneness and not wanting to be alone even if being together is difficult, and about words and meaning and (mis)information. At first I was worried that there were some weirdly out of tune insensitive things in this book, but soon I realised it was the first main character's internalised misogyny, later called into question by the second main character. Her irrational fear of and insecurity about body and sexuality and touch is something many can relate to on some level, I think, and passing that on – or not – is a bog part of this book. Some bits felt a bit contrived, and some bits from the perspective of the second main character were a little harder to read, but it was supposed to be a tiny world and she was supposed to talk differently, so I'm not sure I can call these things faults, per se.
4.5*?
This is a very think-y book and I loved it. For a post-apocalyptic setting, not a lot happened, but there was a lot in it still. The characters (all two of them!) were very tangible and different and both of them were fiercely understandable – but not necessarily relatable – even when they were at odds, even when you were in the other character's perspective. It was about aloneness and not wanting to be alone even if being together is difficult, and about words and meaning and (mis)information. At first I was worried that there were some weirdly out of tune insensitive things in this book, but soon I realised it was the first main character's internalised misogyny, later called into question by the second main character. Her irrational fear of and insecurity about body and sexuality and touch is something many can relate to on some level, I think, and passing that on – or not – is a bog part of this book. Some bits felt a bit contrived, and some bits from the perspective of the second main character were a little harder to read, but it was supposed to be a tiny world and she was supposed to talk differently, so I'm not sure I can call these things faults, per se.
May 20, 2019
A complex, accomplished debut. The prose dazzles while the themes of feminism, power and fertility sneak in for a gut-punch. It kept me gripped from the first page, and the characters continue to live and breathe in my imagination.
December 30, 2018
An insubstantial story in terms of action, but with surprising depth as the relationship between ‘Mother’ and her protegee ‘Monster’ unfolds. Both have survived the war and sickness that has destroyed practically every human on earth and meet by chance during one of Mother’s forays into the city for supplies. She takes the child back to her farm, nurtures her body back to health and teaches her the skills she needs to survive, many of them hangovers from her own lonely, excluded childhood back in the old days. What I know is this: that survival is not about being stronger than other people. It is about ignoring other people altogether.
As the years go by, though, and the child grows up, it becomes clear that Mother has no maternal instinct and fails to create any real emotional bond between them. Mother believes that there is safety in solitude while Monster craves more warmth and companionship, and hopes that there may be more survivors out there. There lies their dilemma. In Mother’s experience: Hope is a killer. It puffs you up like a balloon, then turns away as reality jabs like a needle. Hope is no help to a survivor. A bleak tale, but not entirely without hope at the end - for Monster at least.
A debut novel, written with sensitivity and insight, that interested me enough to look forward to this author’s future work. With thanks to Canongate via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.
As the years go by, though, and the child grows up, it becomes clear that Mother has no maternal instinct and fails to create any real emotional bond between them. Mother believes that there is safety in solitude while Monster craves more warmth and companionship, and hopes that there may be more survivors out there. There lies their dilemma. In Mother’s experience: Hope is a killer. It puffs you up like a balloon, then turns away as reality jabs like a needle. Hope is no help to a survivor. A bleak tale, but not entirely without hope at the end - for Monster at least.
A debut novel, written with sensitivity and insight, that interested me enough to look forward to this author’s future work. With thanks to Canongate via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.
June 9, 2020
3.5 stars
This review can also be found on my blog.
I can really appreciate the appeal behind this novel, even if it didn't do much for me personally. This is a quiet post-apocalyptic character study of two characters: Monster-turned-Mother and Monster (the second). The naming seems confusing, but it absolutely makes sense within the story and is quite easy to follow. The first half of the novel follows Monster (to-be-Mother) as she travels home following an apocalyptic war slash disease. The "Sickness" itself is more of a backstory and isn't much focused on itself, but some of the flashbacks did remind me of the current situation we're dealing with. Close to the halfway point, Monster comes across a young girl and decides to change her own name to Mother while referring to the girl as Monster.
The concept is strange, but it works. The first half is a combination of flashbacks and present-day as Monster-to-be-Mother reflects on her life and deals with the struggles of surviving alone in a lonely, barren landscape. This is flipped in the second half as (the new) Monster bemoans the woes of her restrictive life and looks down upon Mother for her fear and dependency on their lifestyle. It was so frustrating for me to read Monster's perspective since she's the post-apocalyptic version of the spoiled brat. We learn in the first half of the novel the extensive trauma Mother has undergone and the pains she took to get where she is now. Monster follows this up by insisting she is braver than Mother and by continually placing herself in dangerous situations -- or trying to.
I think, though, this is part of the point of the novel. Because Mother tries to forget her trauma instead of processing it and teaching Monster about the true dangers of the world, she enables this way of behavior and thinking. Monster cannot learn from Mother's experiences if Mother does not share them. The problem is that it is just too difficult for me to read books where things could be solved by some simple communication. If Mother had just opened up, or given some kind of explanations to Monster, this all could have been averted. Regardless, it is fairly well-written and as I said, I can see the appeal.
I do wish some things were explained further. I don't know if certain plot points just went over my head, or what. (The second) Monster's past was so confusing to me. I know it was difficult to spell things out more clearly since she did not have the language to communicate it, but I was... not really sure what had happened to her. I think one of the plot points of her past was weirdly far-fetched and didn't make any sense without explanation. Every time it came up, I was so confused!
Overall, though, I'd say this is worth reading if it sounds like it suits you. Like I said, it is a character study so there isn't a TON of plot. It's not your typical post-apocalyptic read, so I'd go for this if you like something a little more literary.
content warnings: apocalyptic war; graphic depictions of wounds; death of a loved one.
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This review can also be found on my blog.
I can really appreciate the appeal behind this novel, even if it didn't do much for me personally. This is a quiet post-apocalyptic character study of two characters: Monster-turned-Mother and Monster (the second). The naming seems confusing, but it absolutely makes sense within the story and is quite easy to follow. The first half of the novel follows Monster (to-be-Mother) as she travels home following an apocalyptic war slash disease. The "Sickness" itself is more of a backstory and isn't much focused on itself, but some of the flashbacks did remind me of the current situation we're dealing with. Close to the halfway point, Monster comes across a young girl and decides to change her own name to Mother while referring to the girl as Monster.
I have not survived this long only to die on a shit-splattered beach in Scotland.
The concept is strange, but it works. The first half is a combination of flashbacks and present-day as Monster-to-be-Mother reflects on her life and deals with the struggles of surviving alone in a lonely, barren landscape. This is flipped in the second half as (the new) Monster bemoans the woes of her restrictive life and looks down upon Mother for her fear and dependency on their lifestyle. It was so frustrating for me to read Monster's perspective since she's the post-apocalyptic version of the spoiled brat. We learn in the first half of the novel the extensive trauma Mother has undergone and the pains she took to get where she is now. Monster follows this up by insisting she is braver than Mother and by continually placing herself in dangerous situations -- or trying to.
People always marvel at waterfalls, and nobody pays enough attention to the chasm underneath.
I think, though, this is part of the point of the novel. Because Mother tries to forget her trauma instead of processing it and teaching Monster about the true dangers of the world, she enables this way of behavior and thinking. Monster cannot learn from Mother's experiences if Mother does not share them. The problem is that it is just too difficult for me to read books where things could be solved by some simple communication. If Mother had just opened up, or given some kind of explanations to Monster, this all could have been averted. Regardless, it is fairly well-written and as I said, I can see the appeal.
Decisions made at night are tricksters, elusive and fickle, slippery as fish.
I do wish some things were explained further. I don't know if certain plot points just went over my head, or what. (The second) Monster's past was so confusing to me. I know it was difficult to spell things out more clearly since she did not have the language to communicate it, but I was... not really sure what had happened to her. I think one of the plot points of her past was weirdly far-fetched and didn't make any sense without explanation. Every time it came up, I was so confused!
[...]maybe healing really means making something different. Maybe getting better doesn’t mean going back to how it used to be, but moving forwards instead[...]
Overall, though, I'd say this is worth reading if it sounds like it suits you. Like I said, it is a character study so there isn't a TON of plot. It's not your typical post-apocalyptic read, so I'd go for this if you like something a little more literary.
content warnings: apocalyptic war; graphic depictions of wounds; death of a loved one.
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August 31, 2024
This was a book of two halves a bit like the two characters. The first half which focuses on the OG monster was a five star read but when we switched Monsters we also seemed to hit the tempo button to interminably slow and this became a survivalist snoozefest that even left me longing for an end of days and it’s only 300 pages… the orangery was a shot of vitamin c too late 🍊 for this anaemic story.
May 13, 2020
Just WOW.
Full review to come at http://natysbookshelf.wordpress.com
Full review to come at http://natysbookshelf.wordpress.com
August 11, 2021
I will admit that I bought My Name is Monster for one reason and it is a shallow one: I LIKED the cover. There I said it. I also knew that it’s a post apocalyptic novel and that drew me in as well.
The setting of the book is a country that has been put to waste via war and a disease. The narrator, called Monster, is the sole survivor as she travels the land for food and shelter. Eventually she does find a farm complete with chickens and she settles down, venturing to town in order to loot abandoned supermarkets.
The book is divided into page long pieces, which span the Monster’s past: how she was bullied in her youth due to the fact that her interests diverged from what society prescribes for girls. Later on we see Monster living up to her nickname; being uncaring and showing little regard for people’s feeling.
From the past memories we then move on to the wars and sickness which wiped out everyone in the country.
At this point the book is a survival tale of all types. Monster has to survive bullying (the real monsters being the bullies) and in the present day she has to survive the challenges which she faces, ranging from wolf dogs (there’s a great passage about a festering bite) to bad weather.
The book changes when Monster finds a feral child in a store. She then bestows her old name to the child and calls herself mother.
The second Mother becomes a parent she changes completely. She becomes sensitive, caring and learns to love Monster. This leads to the second part of the book in which we see everything from the perspective of the new monster and she talks about her relationship with mother. There is a further twist to the narrative which pushes the motherhood theme to the forefront of the novel.
As books on motherhood go, and I have read a lot over the past two years, My Name is Monster is quite an original one: the setting for starters, also it’s the first time I’ve read a novel about someone changing once one becomes a mother. It’s an interesting take and it also doubles as a good book about gender roles.
Although I did enjoy reading My Name is Monster, I did feel that the second half of the book lacked the energy and grit of the first part, which makes sense as mother has new responsibilities and thus the tone changes. Still I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed with part 2.
As a first novel, despite the little bugs, My Name is Monster is a book which tackles quite a few issues with a new look. I will definitely look forward to Katie Hale’s next novel.
The setting of the book is a country that has been put to waste via war and a disease. The narrator, called Monster, is the sole survivor as she travels the land for food and shelter. Eventually she does find a farm complete with chickens and she settles down, venturing to town in order to loot abandoned supermarkets.
The book is divided into page long pieces, which span the Monster’s past: how she was bullied in her youth due to the fact that her interests diverged from what society prescribes for girls. Later on we see Monster living up to her nickname; being uncaring and showing little regard for people’s feeling.
From the past memories we then move on to the wars and sickness which wiped out everyone in the country.
At this point the book is a survival tale of all types. Monster has to survive bullying (the real monsters being the bullies) and in the present day she has to survive the challenges which she faces, ranging from wolf dogs (there’s a great passage about a festering bite) to bad weather.
The book changes when Monster finds a feral child in a store. She then bestows her old name to the child and calls herself mother.
The second Mother becomes a parent she changes completely. She becomes sensitive, caring and learns to love Monster. This leads to the second part of the book in which we see everything from the perspective of the new monster and she talks about her relationship with mother. There is a further twist to the narrative which pushes the motherhood theme to the forefront of the novel.
As books on motherhood go, and I have read a lot over the past two years, My Name is Monster is quite an original one: the setting for starters, also it’s the first time I’ve read a novel about someone changing once one becomes a mother. It’s an interesting take and it also doubles as a good book about gender roles.
Although I did enjoy reading My Name is Monster, I did feel that the second half of the book lacked the energy and grit of the first part, which makes sense as mother has new responsibilities and thus the tone changes. Still I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed with part 2.
As a first novel, despite the little bugs, My Name is Monster is a book which tackles quite a few issues with a new look. I will definitely look forward to Katie Hale’s next novel.
April 26, 2021
After war and the Sickness wipes out humanity, Monster evolves from a seed vault in the Arctic, where she hid when the missiles were headed her way. She makes her way back to her family's home in Scotland, knowing that they and everyone else, is dead. She scavenges for food and supplies and considers herself a survivor. She reflects on her life a little as she makes her way across the countryside and bombed out towns. She was always a bit of a loner, so she isn't too overcome with the loss of people. Then she finds a feral young girl and brings her back to where she's settled. Monster changes her own name to Mother and gives the girl the name Monster.
This book was cleaved into two halves. The first half is told from the perspective of the adult Monster and the second half is told from the young Monster that she takes under her wing. This book was dark yet fascinating. We are dropped into a post-apocalyptic world where we only see two people, the protagonists. Everything is destroyed or abandoned. Many homes and businesses were looted by the last survivors, before they too died. It had some flavors of The Road (Cormac McCarthy), which is one of my favorite books. The writing is powerful and I would even say isolating...since we are seeing things from the perspective of these two people who never encounter another human other than each other in their "current day". The direness yet monotony of their lives is made clear. Life centers around staying fed and warm. The elder Monster/Mother remembers life as it was , but is determined to be a survivor and faces the new way of life stoically. Meanwhile, the younger Monster only has snippets of memory from before she was found by Mother so is curious about how things were and yearns for more than their repetitive existence.
I highly recommend this one!
What to listen to while reading...
In the Air Tonight by Lucy Dacus
Exit Music by Radiohead
Game of Survival by Ruelle
A World Alone by Lorde
Beaten Down by Sharon Van Etten
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy!
This book was cleaved into two halves. The first half is told from the perspective of the adult Monster and the second half is told from the young Monster that she takes under her wing. This book was dark yet fascinating. We are dropped into a post-apocalyptic world where we only see two people, the protagonists. Everything is destroyed or abandoned. Many homes and businesses were looted by the last survivors, before they too died. It had some flavors of The Road (Cormac McCarthy), which is one of my favorite books. The writing is powerful and I would even say isolating...since we are seeing things from the perspective of these two people who never encounter another human other than each other in their "current day". The direness yet monotony of their lives is made clear. Life centers around staying fed and warm. The elder Monster/Mother remembers life as it was , but is determined to be a survivor and faces the new way of life stoically. Meanwhile, the younger Monster only has snippets of memory from before she was found by Mother so is curious about how things were and yearns for more than their repetitive existence.
I highly recommend this one!
What to listen to while reading...
In the Air Tonight by Lucy Dacus
Exit Music by Radiohead
Game of Survival by Ruelle
A World Alone by Lorde
Beaten Down by Sharon Van Etten
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy!
June 8, 2020
Die Welt: Am Abgrund.
Die Menschheit: Ausgelöscht.
Eine junge Frau scheint die letzte zu sein, die übrig geblieben ist. Alle anderen wurden von der Krankheit ausgelöscht.
Mit kaum ausreichend Nahrung macht sie sich auf, das Haus ihrer Eltern aufzusuchen – wohlwissend, dass sie nicht überlebt haben können. Auf dem Weg durch die Überreste Englands landet sie schließlich in einem Haus, in dem sie sich einrichtet. Einsamkeit stört sie nicht, bereits vor der Pandemie hatte sie kaum bis keine Freunde.
Das ändert sich, als sie auf das Mädchen trifft. Wie kann ein Kind, das kaum weiß, wie man spricht, so viele Jahre allein überlebt haben? Wovon hat sie sich ernährt, wie gewärmt?
Doch die Frau weiß, dass sie etwas gemeinsam haben: sie sind Kämpferinnen, Überlebende.
Und so gibt sie dem Kind einen Namen: Monster.
Und anschließend sich selbst: Mutter.
Es fiel mir selten so schwer zu erklären, ein Buch zu bewerten, wie „Mein Name ist Monster“. Denn sowohl der Schreibstil als auch das Gefühl, das die Autorin vermittelt, waren gut. Die Düsternis, die Einsamkeit, die Hoffnungslosigkeit und gleichzeitig das Aufkeimen der Hoffnung, als die Protagonistin auf Monster trifft, waren absolut greifbar.
Doch gleichzeitig hat mich die Geschichte an keiner Stelle berührt. Es fehlte ihr an Spannung, an Plotentwicklung und an Handlung. Die Geschichte floss ab Seite eins vor sich hin, ohne großartige Spannungselemente zu entwickeln und hat mich dadurch stark gelangweilt, obwohl ich immer weiter umgeblättert habe.
Dass zudem in der zweiten Hälfte ein gewisses Geschehnis (das trotzdem keinen Spannungsumschwung verursachte) in meinen Augen entweder a) absolut unrealistisch war oder ich b) zu blöd, es zu kapieren, wurde mir das Buch absolut leid.
Sehr schade, denn ich hatte mir hier tatsächlich ein Highlight erhofft. Der fehlende Spannungsbogen und wahrscheinlich auch das aktuelle Weltgeschehen, haben mir das Buch leider verdorben.
Die Menschheit: Ausgelöscht.
Eine junge Frau scheint die letzte zu sein, die übrig geblieben ist. Alle anderen wurden von der Krankheit ausgelöscht.
Mit kaum ausreichend Nahrung macht sie sich auf, das Haus ihrer Eltern aufzusuchen – wohlwissend, dass sie nicht überlebt haben können. Auf dem Weg durch die Überreste Englands landet sie schließlich in einem Haus, in dem sie sich einrichtet. Einsamkeit stört sie nicht, bereits vor der Pandemie hatte sie kaum bis keine Freunde.
Das ändert sich, als sie auf das Mädchen trifft. Wie kann ein Kind, das kaum weiß, wie man spricht, so viele Jahre allein überlebt haben? Wovon hat sie sich ernährt, wie gewärmt?
Doch die Frau weiß, dass sie etwas gemeinsam haben: sie sind Kämpferinnen, Überlebende.
Und so gibt sie dem Kind einen Namen: Monster.
Und anschließend sich selbst: Mutter.
Es fiel mir selten so schwer zu erklären, ein Buch zu bewerten, wie „Mein Name ist Monster“. Denn sowohl der Schreibstil als auch das Gefühl, das die Autorin vermittelt, waren gut. Die Düsternis, die Einsamkeit, die Hoffnungslosigkeit und gleichzeitig das Aufkeimen der Hoffnung, als die Protagonistin auf Monster trifft, waren absolut greifbar.
Doch gleichzeitig hat mich die Geschichte an keiner Stelle berührt. Es fehlte ihr an Spannung, an Plotentwicklung und an Handlung. Die Geschichte floss ab Seite eins vor sich hin, ohne großartige Spannungselemente zu entwickeln und hat mich dadurch stark gelangweilt, obwohl ich immer weiter umgeblättert habe.
Dass zudem in der zweiten Hälfte ein gewisses Geschehnis (das trotzdem keinen Spannungsumschwung verursachte) in meinen Augen entweder a) absolut unrealistisch war oder ich b) zu blöd, es zu kapieren, wurde mir das Buch absolut leid.
Sehr schade, denn ich hatte mir hier tatsächlich ein Highlight erhofft. Der fehlende Spannungsbogen und wahrscheinlich auch das aktuelle Weltgeschehen, haben mir das Buch leider verdorben.
April 9, 2021
Die Städte sind zerstört. Fast alles Leben ausgelöscht. Aber eine junge Frau hat in einem Saatguttresor überlegt. Sie glaubt, der einzige lebende Mensch zu sein. Doch dann findet sie "Monster", ein junges Mädchen, das sie fortan unter ihre Fittiche nimmt. Doch was ist das für ein Leeben? Werden die Menschen mit dem Tod der beiden Frauen aussterben?
.
Die Idee fand ich wahnsinnig interessant: Was macht man, wenn man sich allein auf Erden wägt? Wenn man glaubt, die letzte eines aussterbenden Geschlechts zu sein? Kann man dieses Leben überhaupt noch lieben?😳
.
Man merkt am Schreibstil der Autorin, dass sie Lyrikerin ist. Ihr Schreibstil ist sehr bildlich und hat mir wirklich gut gefallen!😍
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Sowohl die junge Frau, als auch "Monster" erzählen eine Hälfte des Buchs aus ihrer Sicht. Am Anfang fand ich beide Teile wirklich stark, doch ca. ab der Hälfte jeder Sichtweise dümpelte die Story leider nur noch vor sich hin ... 😕
.
Ich hätte mir da einfach mehr Handlung und weniger Innenleben gewünscht. Denn irgendwann sind die immer gleichen Gedankengänge einfach nicht mehr so interessant ...🙊
.
Die Idee fand ich wahnsinnig interessant: Was macht man, wenn man sich allein auf Erden wägt? Wenn man glaubt, die letzte eines aussterbenden Geschlechts zu sein? Kann man dieses Leben überhaupt noch lieben?😳
.
Man merkt am Schreibstil der Autorin, dass sie Lyrikerin ist. Ihr Schreibstil ist sehr bildlich und hat mir wirklich gut gefallen!😍
.
Sowohl die junge Frau, als auch "Monster" erzählen eine Hälfte des Buchs aus ihrer Sicht. Am Anfang fand ich beide Teile wirklich stark, doch ca. ab der Hälfte jeder Sichtweise dümpelte die Story leider nur noch vor sich hin ... 😕
.
Ich hätte mir da einfach mehr Handlung und weniger Innenleben gewünscht. Denn irgendwann sind die immer gleichen Gedankengänge einfach nicht mehr so interessant ...🙊
February 17, 2019
'My Name Is Monster' by Katie Hale is a work of dystopian fiction which uses stark language to convey the desolation of our main characters existence.
'Monster' believes that she is the only surviving human in post-apocalyptic Britain but finds a girl who she becomes something of a mother figure to, the first part of the novel being from Monsters perspective and the second part of the novel being the girls.
While I appreciate the concept and why it is written in such a way, it was a bleak reading experience for me personally, and I feel didn't really cover any new ground within the post-apocalyptic genre.
~ Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this title. ~
'Monster' believes that she is the only surviving human in post-apocalyptic Britain but finds a girl who she becomes something of a mother figure to, the first part of the novel being from Monsters perspective and the second part of the novel being the girls.
While I appreciate the concept and why it is written in such a way, it was a bleak reading experience for me personally, and I feel didn't really cover any new ground within the post-apocalyptic genre.
~ Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this title. ~
March 2, 2021
Creepy, confusing, brilliant.
March 24, 2020
Während einer nicht näher beschriebenen Apokalypse hat eine junge Frau im Saatgut-Tresor auf Spitzbergen überlebt und macht sich nun per Boot und zu Fuß auf den Weg in ihr Elternhaus in Schottland. Alle Mitarbeiter des Projekts waren längst aus Spitzbergen geflüchtet, nur die Erzählerin und ihr Kollege Erik blieben zurück. Zuvor hatte sie die in England wütende Pandemie isoliert in einer Hütte überstanden.
Englands Straßen sind gefüllt von liegengebliebenen Autos und Menschen, die auf ihrer Flucht von einer tödlichen Krankheit eingeholt wurden. Die Icherzählerin nennt sich „Monster“. Der Spitzname ihrer Teenager-Zeit könnte ihren Neuanfang in einer postapokalyptischen Welt markieren. Die einzige Überlebende braucht Wasser und Nahrungsmittel – und sie muss ihren Besitz im Rucksack transportieren. Ihre Umwelt wirkt überwuchert und verwildert; denn ohne Bauern und ohne Vieh braucht niemand mehr Wege und Zäune. Ohne ihre Eltern ist ein Haus kein Zuhause, stellt sie nach ihrer Ankunft in Schottland fest.
Monster geht in Gedanken die Menschen durch, die sie früher gekannt hat. Als eigenbrötlerisches Kind mit Interesse an selbst gesammelten Schätzen war sie stets Zielscheibe für den Spott anderer Kinder. Menschen sind unlogisch und komplex, Monster kann deren Bedürfnisse nicht nachvollziehen. Ihre Sicht auf die Welt lässt Züge aus dem autistischen Spektrum vermuten. Während die meisten Menschen ohne Ansprache anderer nicht lange überleben können, erweist sich Monsters spezielle Art als Überlebensvorteil – sie braucht andere Menschen nicht. Und doch kreisen ihre Gedanken um ihre eigene psychische Verfassung und wie sie ihre Situation bewältigen wird. Bisher hat Monster in verlassenen Häusern noch immer Vorräte gefunden, die sie gebrauchen kann. Sie findet Saatgut, ein paar zurückgelassene Hühner, ihre Welt nimmt dadurch Struktur an. Auf ihren Beschaffungsgängen trifft sie auf ein Kind, das sich circa 2 Jahre allein durchgeschlagen haben muss, wenn man zur Pandemie zurückrechnet.
Monster lässt sich von der mageren 12-Jährigen „Mutter“ nennen und bringt ihr Schritt für Schritt ihr Weltwissen bei. Das Wolfskind nennt sie nun „Monster“. Die beiden Überlebenden säen, ernten und gehen immer seltener in der leeren Welt Dinge beschaffen. Doch „Mutter“ muss sich damit abfinden, dass die junge „Monster“ kein unbeschriebenes Blatt ist, dazu völlig anders empfindet als sie selbst. Im zweiten Teil des Buches erzählt das Wolfsmädchen aus seiner Perspektive, wie „Mutter“ versucht, sie nach ihrem Bild zu formen. Sie jedoch ist überzeugt davon, dass es auf dieser Welt Dinge und Emotionen geben muss, von denen „Mutter“ nichts weiß und die sie nicht begreifen würde.
In ruhiger reflektierter Sprache kommt zunächst eine Einzelgängerin zu Wort, die die Pandemie vermutlich allein aufgrund ihrer besonderen Persönlichkeit überlebt hat. Ihr Anderssein zeigt sich zunächst als Stärke. Ob „Mutter“ es allerdings schaffen wird, sich auf eine Welt einzustellen, die doch anders ist als erwartet, muss sich zeigen. Das Szenario einer Pandemie mit wenigen Überlebenden wirkt im März 2020 zunächst makaber. Postapokalyptische Romane spielen selten länger als einen Jahreslauf hindurch, weil es kleinen Gruppen selten gelingt, Nahrungsmittel anzubauen, sich gleichzeitig gegen Konkurrenten zu verteidigen oder gar fortzupflanzen. Mutter und Monster leben dagegen bereits über mehrere Pflanzperioden.
Wer keine Ansprüche an die Logik einer Weltenbildung stellt und sich auf die Persönlichkeit der beiden Figuren konzentriert, findet hier einen klar und ruhig erzählten Endzeitroman.
Englands Straßen sind gefüllt von liegengebliebenen Autos und Menschen, die auf ihrer Flucht von einer tödlichen Krankheit eingeholt wurden. Die Icherzählerin nennt sich „Monster“. Der Spitzname ihrer Teenager-Zeit könnte ihren Neuanfang in einer postapokalyptischen Welt markieren. Die einzige Überlebende braucht Wasser und Nahrungsmittel – und sie muss ihren Besitz im Rucksack transportieren. Ihre Umwelt wirkt überwuchert und verwildert; denn ohne Bauern und ohne Vieh braucht niemand mehr Wege und Zäune. Ohne ihre Eltern ist ein Haus kein Zuhause, stellt sie nach ihrer Ankunft in Schottland fest.
Monster geht in Gedanken die Menschen durch, die sie früher gekannt hat. Als eigenbrötlerisches Kind mit Interesse an selbst gesammelten Schätzen war sie stets Zielscheibe für den Spott anderer Kinder. Menschen sind unlogisch und komplex, Monster kann deren Bedürfnisse nicht nachvollziehen. Ihre Sicht auf die Welt lässt Züge aus dem autistischen Spektrum vermuten. Während die meisten Menschen ohne Ansprache anderer nicht lange überleben können, erweist sich Monsters spezielle Art als Überlebensvorteil – sie braucht andere Menschen nicht. Und doch kreisen ihre Gedanken um ihre eigene psychische Verfassung und wie sie ihre Situation bewältigen wird. Bisher hat Monster in verlassenen Häusern noch immer Vorräte gefunden, die sie gebrauchen kann. Sie findet Saatgut, ein paar zurückgelassene Hühner, ihre Welt nimmt dadurch Struktur an. Auf ihren Beschaffungsgängen trifft sie auf ein Kind, das sich circa 2 Jahre allein durchgeschlagen haben muss, wenn man zur Pandemie zurückrechnet.
Monster lässt sich von der mageren 12-Jährigen „Mutter“ nennen und bringt ihr Schritt für Schritt ihr Weltwissen bei. Das Wolfskind nennt sie nun „Monster“. Die beiden Überlebenden säen, ernten und gehen immer seltener in der leeren Welt Dinge beschaffen. Doch „Mutter“ muss sich damit abfinden, dass die junge „Monster“ kein unbeschriebenes Blatt ist, dazu völlig anders empfindet als sie selbst. Im zweiten Teil des Buches erzählt das Wolfsmädchen aus seiner Perspektive, wie „Mutter“ versucht, sie nach ihrem Bild zu formen. Sie jedoch ist überzeugt davon, dass es auf dieser Welt Dinge und Emotionen geben muss, von denen „Mutter“ nichts weiß und die sie nicht begreifen würde.
In ruhiger reflektierter Sprache kommt zunächst eine Einzelgängerin zu Wort, die die Pandemie vermutlich allein aufgrund ihrer besonderen Persönlichkeit überlebt hat. Ihr Anderssein zeigt sich zunächst als Stärke. Ob „Mutter“ es allerdings schaffen wird, sich auf eine Welt einzustellen, die doch anders ist als erwartet, muss sich zeigen. Das Szenario einer Pandemie mit wenigen Überlebenden wirkt im März 2020 zunächst makaber. Postapokalyptische Romane spielen selten länger als einen Jahreslauf hindurch, weil es kleinen Gruppen selten gelingt, Nahrungsmittel anzubauen, sich gleichzeitig gegen Konkurrenten zu verteidigen oder gar fortzupflanzen. Mutter und Monster leben dagegen bereits über mehrere Pflanzperioden.
Wer keine Ansprüche an die Logik einer Weltenbildung stellt und sich auf die Persönlichkeit der beiden Figuren konzentriert, findet hier einen klar und ruhig erzählten Endzeitroman.
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