“You have to be the bravest person in the world to go out every day, being yourself when no one likes who you are.” ― Matthew Dicks, Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend
Mr. Matthew Dicks (alias Matthew Green as mentioned in the acknowledgements), forced me to try my hardest to imagine an imaginary friend while sitting on my couch, and stocking up on all the qualities I'd like in one, just to end up with nothing but 15 minutes of regrets of being an adult. Oh childhood! How I wish I could relive thee.
By far one of the best reads I had this year, Memoirs of an Imaginary friend caught me at the title. Now I admit that Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends was my favourite show on CartoonNetwork but this novel completely takes the trophy for some of the finest displays of imagination, creativity and unique conception I've ever laid my eyes on. Told from the view point of Budo, the protagonist imaginary friend, our story focuses on Max, a little boy who is not as normal as most boys his age are.
The way Mr. Green shaped Budo to voice out Max's every thought, his likes and dislikes and preferences of all sorts and know his way around his entire persona was jaw dropping. Budo knows Max like a mother knows her child. He is the cane on which Max leans. He is the guide for every action that Max performs, including choosing Max's favourite ice cream flavour or deciding which colour socks to wear on a particular day. Max's disabilities are unfolded through Budo and his complicated condition strangles his interactions with others and their treatment of him as well as understanding of himself. This element is most crucial in making the story as engaging as it is. Through Budo's thoughts we're also given a taste of his own personality. He's one of the most human-looking imaginary friends ever (as opposed to being yellow or cut out of paper or have a funny shape or missing body parts as most friends in the book which we come across) as well as the oldest (6 years!) and he's more like an elder brother to Max, worrying for his constant safety.
Budo's interpretation of the human world is an astounding experience. He's like an invisible alien among the masses of people and even the most simplest of the gestures and the most ordinary of the arrangements never fail to escape him. This quality makes him a strong asset in the entertainment department and it actually helps the reader to notice the subtleness and wonder of his objects of interest. He's an intelligent and somewhat witty and sarcastic friend who's quick to gnaw at his brains when trouble calls. It's always a delight when Budo comes across a new imaginary friend on his travels. There is no end to Green's inventiveness.
Despite the wide variety of characters we get to meet in this story, the sole focus is on Max and Budo's relationship and it will always be the highlight of the novel. How everyday counts in their need to be together and how sinful it is for them to be apart. How their newfound bravery helps them escape the turmoil they end up in. On no account will I say that the book is directed towards children. If anything, I'd say the target audience were adults themselves.
With a little tears, many heart-warming moments, a distaste for the adult population and a desire for childhood and an imaginary friend of your own, this book will leave you with that fuzzy feeling you get when you know everything has turned out right at the end in this fairytale. A must read.
“You have to be the bravest person in the world to go out every day, being yourself when no one likes who you are.”
― Matthew Dicks, Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend
Mr. Matthew Dicks (alias Matthew Green as mentioned in the acknowledgements), forced me to try my hardest to imagine an imaginary friend while sitting on my couch, and stocking up on all the qualities I'd like in one, just to end up with nothing but 15 minutes of regrets of being an adult. Oh childhood! How I wish I could relive thee.
By far one of the best reads I had this year, Memoirs of an Imaginary friend caught me at the title. Now I admit that Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends was my favourite show on CartoonNetwork but this novel completely takes the trophy for some of the finest displays of imagination, creativity and unique conception I've ever laid my eyes on. Told from the view point of Budo, the protagonist imaginary friend, our story focuses on Max, a little boy who is not as normal as most boys his age are.
The way Mr. Green shaped Budo to voice out Max's every thought, his likes and dislikes and preferences of all sorts and know his way around his entire persona was jaw dropping. Budo knows Max like a mother knows her child. He is the cane on which Max leans. He is the guide for every action that Max performs, including choosing Max's favourite ice cream flavour or deciding which colour socks to wear on a particular day. Max's disabilities are unfolded through Budo and his complicated condition strangles his interactions with others and their treatment of him as well as understanding of himself. This element is most crucial in making the story as engaging as it is. Through Budo's thoughts we're also given a taste of his own personality. He's one of the most human-looking imaginary friends ever (as opposed to being yellow or cut out of paper or have a funny shape or missing body parts as most friends in the book which we come across) as well as the oldest (6 years!) and he's more like an elder brother to Max, worrying for his constant safety.
Budo's interpretation of the human world is an astounding experience. He's like an invisible alien among the masses of people and even the most simplest of the gestures and the most ordinary of the arrangements never fail to escape him. This quality makes him a strong asset in the entertainment department and it actually helps the reader to notice the subtleness and wonder of his objects of interest. He's an intelligent and somewhat witty and sarcastic friend who's quick to gnaw at his brains when trouble calls. It's always a delight when Budo comes across a new imaginary friend on his travels. There is no end to Green's inventiveness.
Despite the wide variety of characters we get to meet in this story, the sole focus is on Max and Budo's relationship and it will always be the highlight of the novel. How everyday counts in their need to be together and how sinful it is for them to be apart. How their newfound bravery helps them escape the turmoil they end up in. On no account will I say that the book is directed towards children. If anything, I'd say the target audience were adults themselves.
With a little tears, many heart-warming moments, a distaste for the adult population and a desire for childhood and an imaginary friend of your own, this book will leave you with that fuzzy feeling you get when you know everything has turned out right at the end in this fairytale.
A must read.