December 04, 2012

Book Review: Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Green


This novel starts out small and builds layers of complexity. We meet Max’s imaginary friend Budo and learn about Max’s life. Going to school, dealing with parents, teachers and other children and growing-up . One of my favourite parts of the book is the characterization of several teachers - the good and the ordinary. I love Mrs Gosk, who is a teacher who really teaches….

“They talk to kids in their regular voices and say things they would say in their own living rooms. Their bulletin boards are always a little raggedy and their desks are always a little messy and their libraries are always a little out of order, but kids love them because they talk about real things in real voices and they always tell the truth”.

Another gem is the interaction between a varied bunch of other imaginary friends. Each is imagined with characteristics specifically created to help their human friend so communication, brains and movement are all up for grabs in their creation. So, some can speak and go through walls and some can't move at all. Budo is unique in being very nearly fully formed in a human image. This is a story of love, loss and bravery as an extraordinary thing happens to Max and Budo tries to save him. I was swept away by this author's ability to create a whole reality of the imaginary friend and his masterful ability to evoke emotion.

Wendy

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