Week One Continued Chapters 1-21
Edie mentions in the week one thread that when she started reading this with a biased attitude toward Budo but quickly changed her mind because of the "honesty" of his voice.
So I'd like to expand on that and have you all ring in on this.
Did you have a bias against the novel if not what were your expectations?
And please as always run with this question, expand on it and if you want take it in a totally different direction.
What most surprised you about Budo?
What would you most like to change about him?
And thank you for your participation in this month's read!!!
You all make this a possibility!
I wasn't sure what to think of this selection, Deb, but I can't say I had a bias against it. It was clearly not a romance - you know I'm not a fan, but I know you love that genre! So I was certainly willing to give it a go.
ReplyDeleteWhat surprises me about Budo, and I kind of mentioned it before, is how sensible and normal he is. Coming from the mind of a child who is clearly somewhere on the autism spectrum, I would have expected an imaginary friend to be more like Max. And I think that's what I really like about Budo, he sees all the things that I would like to be shouting at the other people in the book. I love the way the other imaginary friends are described, and I think the fact that Budo is so 'normal' is maybe a reflection on how not-so-different and/or mature Max really is.
Thanks Elaine maybe biased wasn't the right word to use but when Edie mentioned it in her post it kind of rang true.
DeleteWhen I first saw this novel I was intrigued by it first of all because of the one protagonist being autistic and having already covered a novel in our group dealing with that.
but this was a much different kind of novel and I fell in love with Budo, Max and Max's parents right away.
thanks for your candor in your comments and no it's not a romance but it's definitely a love story :)
deb
I haven't read this book, but your questions and the comments have me curious:)
ReplyDeleteKim this book is right up your alley, you really should try it.
DeleteThis is a forum that I've brought from B&N remember when you were with us for my own FirstLook with Bereft.
deb
I'm waiting to hear from my July author
thanks for the comment
deb\
ps as you can see I've been playing around with your tips :)
Deletethanks
Movies you might be interested in: "Drop Dead Fred" (a childhood imaginary friend comes back to visit the child when she is grown up) Cast as a comedy, but is really an interesting study in pyschology.
ReplyDelete"Bogus" - a little boy who has lost his mother and his imaginary giant french magician helps him cope through the transition of moving and learning to live again in a totally new environment. Another great study.
"Harvey" - Probably the greatest imaginary friend movie of all time, with Jimmy Stewart. Need I say More? If you want to understand imaginary friends and their magicial powers, watch this one. Or watch it again!!!
Do you know of one?
I loved Harvey and I've been wanting to see Drop Dead Fred ever since it came out.
DeleteThanks Karen those are the only ones I know
any one else?
Hmmmm it wasn't a particular favorite (like Harvey! I'd forgotten all about that lovable rabbit!) but how about The Shining? Didn't that little boy have someone/something he was in touch with, along with seeing dead people?
ReplyDeleteAnd what about Puff the Magic Dragon? Still brings a sniffle...
I forgot all about Puff the Magic Dragon! That was such a wonderful movie! I laughed at Drop Dead Fred until about half way through it and then had trouble watching the rest of it because I kept seeing the sub-script. I watched it alone later to see if I was seeing it right... yup... a very heart breaking story... if you can get past the antics that everyone else thinks are so funny.
DeleteHarvey...well I have a long-standing love affair with Jimmy Stewart and will believe ANYTHING he tells me, even about 6 foot plus rabbits. (The back story on the filming of the movie is a hoot). But the story itself is very poignant.
I know our 2 year old grandson keeps seeing "Zombies in the bushes along the fence in the evenings...but he also picked up on the "wisps" from Brave and thinks those follow him around protecting him from the Zombies... I haven't noticed him talking to any of them yet, accept to yell at the Zombies to go away...
Well must go for now, ta ta for now.
Karen
oh I never saw Puff the movie but the song what a perfect choice to mention.
Deletethanks Elaine
Karen LOL, here's how to survive a Zombie Attach for your grandson-http://almacabase.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Survive-A-Zombie-Attack
I'll be the first to admit that this book was not what I expected. If I'm reading a book for this book club there are many times where I won't read the summary or any reviews, I'll just take Debbie's word that we'll enjoy it ( I've never been disappointed and have found many new favorite authors! :) ). So this was one of those times where I knew just a little bit about the book before picking it up. I knew Max was autistic and had an imaginary friend who narrated the story and that was about it. I think I expected a book that revolved only around Max and Budo with not many other characters in it. I wondered how could a story told by an imaginary friend involve anyone else besides the person (and maybe his family) who imagined him to life. Boy, was I wrong. I have been pleasantly surprised with how many twists and turns this book has taken so far. Many times in just this first section I have stated out loud, I didn't see that coming. The shooting at the gas station and Max being taken away by a teacher were two of the things that shocked me the most. I also had to chuckle when Max pooped on his bully's head! This is a book where I feel like I'm reading as fast as I can to see what happens next, but at the same time trying to slow myself down because I just don't want the book to end. I love these characters (especially Budo) and don't want to see them go.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the things that surprised me the most about Budo was how much he could feel. We've seen a range of emotions from him, something that in my mind makes him unique and is one of the reasons I love reading this book from his point of view. Throughout most of the first section we see how worried he is about what will happen to him if Max ever stops believing in him. When his friend, Graham, begins to disappear, he asks her questions trying to find out if it hurts or if she's scared. While he is still wondering what will happen to him if he disappears, we also see how saddened Budo is about the fact that he might lose his friend. When Graham almost completely disappears before Budo's eyes, he cries for the first time and I admit, I cried along with him.
I don't think there is anything I would change about Budo, except that I hope there is a way for him not to disappear like all the other imaginary friends. He is just too special to let go of.
April
April, first thanks for your belief in me :) and that goes for all my friends here who let me pull them through these books by the nose sometimes.
DeleteI have to admit that it was first the premise then when I visited Matthew's website that led me to read this novel at first. When I read his humor and his outlook on things I knew I had to see how he penned it in the form of a novel. And as you know it made my best of list for 2012 (http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/search?q=best+20).
It's amazing how much you can learn about an author well really anyone by visiting their sites and reading their words.
I'm glad you're enjoying the read
I hope you're doing well too, feeling okay?
The beginning of this pregnancy was a little rough, but now I'm feeling great. We just had an ultrasound done and found out that we're expecting a little girl who we're naming Olivia Grace. We're all very excited especially our 2 1/2 year old daughter who can't wait to have a baby sister. She's helping me organize all the baby clothes and everything in her eyes is "so cute!" and "so little!". Even I can't believe how small all the clothes are and my daughter once wore them! I've been pretty busy trying to keep up with her, so time has really flown by so far. September seems just around the corner! Yippee! :)
DeleteApril
Ah April what a great time to share with your little girl. :) I'm so glad you're feeling okay
DeleteWow September is right around the corner
deb
April,
ReplyDeleteI loved, loved, loved the bathroom scene, too. I laughed till I cried. And the funny thing is that neither Budo or Max know what they did that was so full of justice to that bully. Poor Max, he was just trying to escape and his bodily functions just helped him out a little. AND it was a bonus poop, to boot. ROFLOL
Karen
What a great just desserts scene. Wasn't Matthew a genius for coming up with the term "bonus poop" I bet he heard that from one of his students
Deletedeb
I bet that bully will think twice the next time he tries to enter a bathroom stall while someone's occupying it! I wouldn't think there's enough soap in the world that you'd ever feel clean again after someone poops on your head! :)
DeleteAnd I love the term "bonus poop". You can't get any funnier than that. It makes me smile every time.
April
Okay....I'm going to play devil's advocate here, and just publicly state that, for some reason, I just didn't find this part particularly funny. It had the feeling of justice/revenge, and I get it, but I could have done without it. Not saying there's anything wrong with enjoying this scene, but it wasn't my personal favorite. And it definitely worried me for Max's future. I guess I'm just a stick in the mud....
DeleteYou're not a stick in the mud you know that we don't all laugh at the same things. And in actuality I don't think Matthew wrote it as ha ha funny humor but more as strictly the only solution Max had. And really what other choice did Max have I mean the guy literally scared the you know what out of him.
DeleteMe yeah I thought it was funny :)
Yeah, you're right as usual ;-) he really wasn't left with a lot of options. If only all bullies would get their 'just dessert'!
DeleteOh and I just heard from my EDGAR winning author for July he's in :) Yay us!!! So stay tuned for my July advertisement post coming soon.
ReplyDeleteThat's great! Count me in!
DeleteApril
Cool :-)
DeleteOh boy!
ReplyDelete