My Name Is Monster
A journey through isolation and the strength of female bonds
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Canongate Books
Published:7th Jan '21
Should be back in stock very soon
In a post-apocalyptic world, My Name Is Monster follows a survivor navigating isolation and the complexities of teaching another lost soul.
Inspired by classic literature, My Name Is Monster explores themes of power, isolation, and the complexities of female relationships. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the story follows the protagonist, known as Monster, who emerges from an Arctic vault after a devastating sickness has wiped out her family and much of humanity. Alone in a desolate landscape, she believes she is the last survivor, grappling with the weight of solitude and the remnants of her past life.
As Monster begins to rebuild her existence on the coast of Scotland, she encounters another survivor—a young girl who is wild and untamed. The bond that forms between them becomes a focal point of the narrative, as Monster takes on the role of mentor. However, the lessons imparted are not solely about survival; they delve into deeper emotional and psychological realms. The girl’s journey of learning becomes a reflection of Monster’s own struggles with identity and connection in a world that has been irrevocably altered.
My Name Is Monster is a poignant tale that challenges the notions of companionship and the inherent power dynamics in relationships. As the story unfolds, the reader is invited to reflect on what it means to be human in the face of overwhelming adversity, and how connections can be both a source of strength and vulnerability.
Fresh and powerful . . . Hale's writing is assured and . . . strikingly beautiful . . . Most of all, the book has a great generosity and empathy for monsterdom, and refreshingly allows its characters to find happiness without becoming more ordinary . . . Hale is certainly a skilful writer with a compelling voice, and her ideas are bold and promising * * Guardian * *
A terrific piece of writing; tough and tender and insightful. Loved it -- JOANNE HARRIS
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 -- KIRSTY LOGAN, author of THE GRACEKEEPERS
Taut, tough and sensitive, the narrative conjures up a devastated world, inhabited by two intriguing characters, with precision and real atmosphere * * Daily Mail * *
Katie Hale has written two fascinating, flawed and compelling characters and, with only two people and an empty world, has created a novel that is gripping, insightful and unique -- CLAIRE FULLER, author of OUR ENDLESS NUMBERED DAYS
In a novel in which the entire planet has been devastated, Hale, a poet, narrows her focus right down to the inner lives of her two protagonists and their relationship with each other, dissecting each layer as it is uncovered with delicacy and lyricism * * Herald * *
A riveting and disturbing novel, part twisted fairy tale and part dystopian nightmare, in which the primal human need to find meaning and love shines through the darkness of a ruined world -- MICK KITSON, author of SAL
Powerful and unflinching . . . This is a humane, tender and often painful exploration of the ways in which daughters consider themselves to be braver, smarter and more independent than their mothers, as well as the strength of love and hope in an empty world. Hale has crafted a gripping and intense dystopian fairytale . . . Beautifully written . . . A must-read * * The Skinny * *
Held together by skilful, well-crafted prose . . . Keep[s] the reader hooked to the last page . . . Her writing is superb * * Wee Review * *
A gripping study of loneliness and what it can do to your psyche . . . Hale's style means we'll be interested in what she writes next * * Herald * *
- Short-listed for The Kitschies Golden Tentacle 2020 (UK)
ISBN: 9781786896360
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 19mm
Weight: 215g
320 pages
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