Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend: A Novel by Matthew GreenMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I haven't been writing reviews due to the lack of time, but this book deserves one. I just hope that my words do this wonderful story and author justice.
I constantly emphasize my idea of a good book - the ending is not that important, the characters do not have to be likable, the plot does not have to entwined, the writing does have to be complicated... As long as the book moves my heart, stirs up my feelings, makes me re-examine my life or/and my views, then it's a good book.
I've read so many books this year with a young narrative voice: The Age of Miracles, Under the Banyan Tree, Room, The Fault in Our Stars. Out of all these lovable voices, I love Budo's the best. Budo is not really a "human" child, although he looks, acts, thinks and talks like one. Budo is the imaginary friend of a human boy, Max, who's nine. Budo looks just like a human because Max has a wonderful imagination.
"I’m also lucky because I’m mobile. Lots of imaginary friends are stuck to their human friends. Some have leashes around their necks. Some are three inches tall and get stuffed into coat pockets. And some are nothing more than a spot on the wall, like Chomp. But thanks to Max, I can get around on my own. I can even leave Max behind if I want."
Imaginary friends can only be as good as their human friend imagine them to be. Some looks like robots, some are stick figures, yet others are combination of a dinosaur and a monster. They capabilities vary as well, some can fly, others go through doors, yet some unfortunate ones are stuck on a chair, since that's all their human owner imagine them to be...sitting along. So, Budo is lucky to be so human, so knowledgeable, so capable. Max teaches him and tells him everything, and Budo follows him to school. I love pondering about what Budo says in the book...
"It's strange how teachers can go off to college for all those years to learn to become teachers, but some of them never learn the easy stuff, like making kids laugh. And Making sure they know you love them. "
"There are two different kind of teachers in the world: there are teachers who play school and teachers who teach school."
From Budo's narration, we know early on, that Max is different. Max is unlike all other kids.
Max lives on the inside and the other kids live on the outside. That's what makes him so different. Max doesn't have an outside. Max is all inside."
"Max is brave.... But you have to be the bravest person in the world to go out every day being yourself when no one likes who you are...."
Budo has been around for a long time. Imaginary friends disappear once their creator no longer needs them. Many of Budo's friends disappear after a year, a few months or even a few days. Most disappear during Kindergarten year of their creator. Budo wonders where imaginary friends go once they disappear from this world, and he worries that one day Max would no long need him and he would disappear, too. He constantly worries that one day no one, not even Max, will ever remember him again.
"The whole world will go on without you. Like you were never here. And then someday everyone who knows you will be dead, too, and then it will be like you never, ever existed. Doesn't it make you sad?"
One day, something terrible happens, and Budo is the only one who can save the person he loves most. What if his decision threatens his own existence? Who is more important, himself, or Max? I never reveal the plot or ending in my reviews, and I won't do it on this review, either. All I can say is, the ending makes me cry...over and over. I will recommend this book to anyone who knows love, friendship and imagination. It's one of my top 2012 books.
This book is a tribute to all "teachers who teach" and "people who are all inside" out there.
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