More Than This by Patrick Ness | Audiobook Review

I received this book for free from Borrowed, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

From two-time Carnegie Medal winner Patrick Ness comes an enthralling and provocative new novel chronicling the life — or perhaps afterlife — of a teen trapped in a crumbling, abandoned world. 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. . . .

Why Did I Listen To More Than This by Patrick Ness?

It has been about five years since More Than This by Patrick Ness has published. What a different time it is now. Honestly, when it came to reading this book I was so torn between physical copy versus audiobook copy. I am a huge fan of the work of Ness. He has got this real way of getting me to feel all the feelings but also think about some really big things, right.

I like his books in physical form because it’s easier to just pause and think and then go back to realize what the heck it is I just read. HOWEVER. He also has probably my most favorite narrator of all time for this audiobook - Nick Podehl. It was a tough choice but given how all my books are in storage and I was in NEED of a solid audiobook, More Than This made the cut on Scribd AND I AM SO GLAD.

What’s The Story Here?

Okay, so More Than This has a really complex plot – right. I legit cannot tell you a lot about it because that would probably ruin some of the surprises and the twists. Here is what I can say though. The story is about a teenage boy named Seth. At the end of the first chapter, Seth dies. Only, of course that is not the end of the book. Seth wakes up and he is back in England instead of America where he lived. He’s covered in weird metallic bandages.

The neighborhood seems deserted. So, Seth has to forage for food and clothing. At night, when he is sleeping, memories of his past come flooding back — including a tragedy with his little brother Owen. And yes, parts of the book Seth is alone, but then more characters show up. There’s some twists. And I cannot say more even though this book has basically been out for five years.

How Did I Like More Than This?

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Like, okay, I found myself googling a little bit ahead because it wasn’t like I could run to our storage unit, unpack 35 boxes of books just to find answers. That would be… odd. So, I was sort of on edge. As a mother of a little boy, I found just all the scenes with Owen to be hard to take. Especially finding out what actually happens, or at least what I think happens. It was intense to read. I thought the characters were well written. There’s a lot to be unpacked and discussed here. I just really enjoyed this book, even though yeah, it was kind of upsetting.

How’s The Narration?

OBVIOUSLY. Obviously, the narration is excellent. After all, Nick Podehl is the narrator. I have literally no complaints, suggestions, anything. You should really just listen to this book via audio. However, More Than This by Patrick Ness is going to be an excellent read no matter how you experience it.

Other reviews of More Than This by Patrick Ness:

• The Book Smugglers – “A conceptual book with heart“
• Reading The End – “This book is wonderful“
• The Book Wars – “This book is brilliant“

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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