Monster: A Novel

This was great. I always love a story without romance. Action, mystery, magic... what more could you want?

Such an amazing story! This clever and fun story did for Monsters what "Men in Black" did for aliens. This story had such a fun and eclectic cast of characters that I couldn't wait to jump in my car and hear more of this story. This is most definitely a fun book to read and laugh along to, so long as you don't mind a cynical jerk as your lead character. I got a kick out of it.

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy

Rated: PG13 some sexual situations

Static or Dynamic: Not overly either. It had descriptions, but wasn't tedious and it had plot twists but they weren't corkscrews.

1st or 3rd Person: 3rd person: follows 2-3 main characters through a slice of life in the fantasy realm

Abstract or Concrete: Sufficiently both. Some things were abstract like the mechanics of fantastical retrograde amnesia, others parts were more concrete like the specific behaviors of a plethora of mystical animals.

Linear or Non-Linear: Weakly Linear: the plot goes forward through time but it's not until a ways in that you feel like it's actually leading to a conclusion.

Narrator: It's been a while since I've heard the book and I can't say that I particularly remember the experience. That can be good and bad. It wasn't so horrible I couldn't stand it, but it wasn't particularly spectacular.

Plot Outline: So mythical animals are all around us but you never notice them because your brain induces amnesia to counter the weirdness of it all. Monster, our protagonist is one of the guys that clears up these little monster sightings. Things get more complicated when some overly strange things tend to happen to one of the people he meets and the story floats around that for a while until it pulls towards a conclusion. I get the impression that the strange happenings of the story were devices for making jokes and poking fun at the mystical world that we apparently live in. This is mostly a comedy and if you're looking for something groundbreaking or overly involving you will probably be disappointed. However, if you'd like a chuckle on your way to work, this is perfect.

While Monster was a fun listen, this book was a little too cute for its own good (Demons use "Blessed" as a curse word! Even ethereal beings have to deal with paperwork! Our hero's name is Monster, and he catches monsters for a living!). There were some good ideas, and human existence was at stake, but the ideas weren't fleshed out enough and the fate of the universe never really seemed in doubt. It felt as though the author was thinking, "Wouldn't it be clever if I threw this in?" as he was writing it, but never stopped long enough on an idea to give it weight. Our protagonist is an overall unlikable guy, and we never really get a good sense of his back-story. The main villain's motivation seemed to be "Just because," which is pretty weak.

The narrator does a pretty good job with the different characters, and he keeps the book moving at a good clip. The 8+ hours absolutely flew by, which makes it great for a week's worth of driving to work. The story is straightforward and uncomplicated, though I'm a little disappointed because it had a lot more to offer and never really got there. Overall, I'd say this is a light, fun book with some very forgettable characters.

The guy is funny! I'm a big fan of A. Lee Martinez and he didn't disappoint with monster. Original story and characters. Worth your time.

It was a pretty good story, made me laugh, trouble seems to find the heroine, the hero is of a differant breed (literally) with an animated oragami sidekick...

Monster the book or Monster the character. The character is a reluctant dysfuntional hero who finds that he has to deal a w woman who does not believe in magic, which means him.

The world according to Martinez pokes fun at the basic issues of life and he put it in Monster the book.

The inability or ability of how one's belief can effect their perception of the world.

The scene opens in a supermarket. The store clerks are rather surprised to find a yeti devouring all the ice cream and generally making a mess. But (to the rescue!) a team composed of a young man (Monster) and his assistant paper cutout man come to the rescue.
That is the start and the of a never ending slap stick ride.

Yes. What I actually did was to buy all the other books by Martinez

Read it Love it and then read all of Martinez's books!

Great story and great performance!!

A complete universe and strong character development!!

Ed and Chester!!!!

Almost

I just wished this was a series.... =(

A fresh interpretation!

Obviously writing about the supernatural is big business these days, but Monster has such a hapless main character that I found it quite unique. Everyone is kinda nasty, but it's hilarious! I think the premise is very promising, and although the writing could use some polish, seeing the characters develop could be great fun if this continues on in a series.

It's truly hard to find something a little bit different, and this was it. I listened to Automatic Detective and was impressed with it, too, so thought I'd try Monster. Such a sense of fun in the writing and story.

Pretty much did - kept walking around with it at work and plugging myself in whenever I had a spare minute or two. :)