More Than This by Patrick Ness • contains 472 pages • published September 10, 2013 by Candlewick Press • classified as Science Fiction, Young Adult • obtained through library • read as hardcover • shelve on Goodreads • shelve on The StoryGraph
Synopsis:
A boy named Seth drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments, losing his life as the pounding sea claims him. But then he wakes. He is naked, thirsty, starving. But alive. How is that possible? He remembers dying, his bones breaking, his skull dashed upon the rocks. So how is he here? And where is this place? It looks like the suburban English town where he lived as a child, before an unthinkable tragedy happened and his family moved to America. But the neighborhood around his old house is overgrown, covered in dust, and completely abandoned. What’s going on? And why is it that whenever he closes his eyes, he falls prey to vivid, agonizing memories that seem more real than the world around him? Seth begins a search for answers, hoping that he might not be alone, that this might not be the hell he fears it to be, that there might be more than just this...
When I was done reading, I felt gobsmacked. More Than This is utterly confusing. Not because it lacks clarity of thought or writing. No. Rather, because existentialist questions somehow can never be answered to the full satisfaction of anyone. Every answer inevitably leads to new questions.
Existentialist Explorations
If anyone were to ask me what More Than This is about, I’d say existentialism. Ness tackled really difficult questions in this book, not least of all, what if there is more to life than what we believe? Yet true to existentialist thought, with every answer that was given, a million more questions arose.
Very often when reading a book, I expect answers. I want to know how things end for the characters and how they ended up in whatever predicament in the first place. More Than This starts with a drowning boy. He dies. But what comes after? He thinks he has landed in some kind of hell — a very personal one, one of his own making at that. His dreams and memories torture him as he seeks answers.
Disturbing yet Gripping
It’s not a philosophical quest altogether though. More Than This, in many ways is very dark and has very grotesque portrayals of things I very much prefer not to imagine. Yet I couldn’t look away. From the very first page on which the boy was struggling in the water, his lungs begging for air, I could not turn away. The prose is raw but strong, and completely lured me into reading the entire book, no matter how disturbed I became at certain parts.
I Was Quickly Converted
Had I randomly come across this book in a bookstore or library, I might not have chosen to read it. Mostly because I wouldn’t have known what to make of the prologue. Right from the start, the subject matter does not fall in line with any of the books I tend to read.
However, I think that is the beauty of Ness’s language. It is powerful in imagery and in conveying exactly what a character thinks and feels, be it a complete sense of loss, or a hopefulness that is driven by desperation. He knows how to allow readers to experience something they have never felt before. Not knowing what to expect of More Than This can only enhance the reading experience.
Who Recommended More Than This
I picked up this book because of all the praise that Asti @ Oh, the Books! has for Patrick Ness. After finishing this book, I can totally understand why he is her favourite author and I don’t think anyone can go wrong in picking up More Than This to read.
Wow, your review just made me want to pick up this book ten times more. I honestly don’t really understand what it’s exactly about even after reading so many reviews but I have a feeling this is the type of book where going in blind is much better for the experience like you said! I’d read The Knife of Never Letting Go before and don’t remember much other than I really really liked it so hopefully I’ll enjoy this one too!
I’m sure most reviewers purposely kept their reviews vague for this books because things simply have to be vague at first in order to fully appreciate everything. But you’ll definitely understand why when you do get round to reading it :)
I have a Patrick Ness book sitting on my unread shelf, A Monster Calls (unfortunately not the illustrated version), and am keen to read it after all the praise I hear about Ness and his style of writing. The praise makes me a little apprehensive though because sometimes it can leave you disappointed when you have high hopes for a writer.
I’m glad you enjoyed this novel, thanks for sharing your thoughts!
:-)
There’s an illustrated version? I think I looked at the title, read the first few sentences of the synopsis, and decided I wouldn’t read A Monster Calls. Oh and the fact that many users on Goodreads shelved it as horror didn’t help. Maybe I’ll give it a chance though since I do like his style of writing. And I’m sure you’ll be blown away at least at your first Patrick Ness book :)