He comes across as astonishingly adult, his phrasing often that of a particularly articulate grown-up and his interactions with his mother, in particular, come across as two peers and not a mother-son relationship. As much as I liked Ryan, to my ear at least, he does not talk, act or think like an eleven-year-old.
The fact that the lead character is eleven years old, however, forms perhaps the only major issue I had with the book. I particularly like how the darker, more unpleasant suggestions of domestic violence and abuse were told from the perspective of an eleven-year-old, somebody who obviously sees the negative impact it is having on his family, but may not have a sense of the wider implications, leaving the reader in the position of perhaps having a greater understanding of the protagonist’s situation than the protagonist themself. The idyllic seaside setting was very evocative and the relationship between the two brothers was heart-warming and felt very genuine. There was a lot about ‘Of Men and Monsters’ that really spoke to me, and that I enjoyed a great deal. Coupled with the mysterious creature that has made a home in their bathroom, these events will come to a head, resulting in a summer the two brothers will never forget. The spectre of their father looms large, however, and ominous phone calls suggest he may have found them. Things start off promisingly for the boys as they make friends quickly, meet some girls, and soon settle into their new normal. Bram Stoker award-winning author Tom Deady’s latest novella offers the perfect summer read with a Coming-of-Age tale of first loves, comic books and murderous sea creatures.Īfter an incident at home becomes the final straw for his mother, Ryan, along with his older brother Matt, find themselves driven across the country to a beautiful beach-front property at Bayport, escaping their abusive father and hoping to start a new life.
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