M. Bandy

Yes, I loved the storyline and thought the narration was perfect--you really feel like Budo is sitting next to you talking to you!

It's going to draw obvious comparisons to Room because of the child-like narration and the "child in jeopardy" storyline, but I think Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend is a quirkier and sweeter book (though not obnoxiously so).

I absolutely loved this book, and would recommend listening to it on audio if at all possible--the narration was great! The story is told by Budo, the imaginary friend of eight-year-old Max. Budo has a surprising preoccupation with his own mortality, as he's lived a lot longer than most imaginary friends he's met and has watched some of his closest friends disappear once their children no longer need them. Max's Asperger's Syndrome has led him to continue to rely on Budo for years, but Max's parents and teachers are constantly pushing Max to engage more with the "real" world, and this makes Budo very nervous. He absolutely loves Max and wants the best for him, but is terrified by the prospect of "poofing" out of existence and being forgotten. When Max is placed in extreme jeopardy and seems to need Budo more than ever, Budo faces some VERY tough choices about what to do. The book is incredibly imaginative and Budo's world is peopled with a wide range of memorable friends, both imaginary and real. And it's a tearjerker...I think I cried throughout the entire final hour of the audiobook!

The first part of the book is a bit of a slog as an audiobook because there are so many names being listed that it's difficult to keep everyone straight. However, after that initial bit I had no problems--Richard Allen does a great job with the narration and makes a lot of the scenes really come to life with his skillful use of voices.

The chapter on the riots at Ole Miss was truly harrowing.

I thought this book sounded a little dry when I first saw it, but ended up loving it. Definitely worth giving a try if you have an interest in the era!

I'm always a little dubious about authors being able to get Holmes 'right', but Faye does a great job of capturing not just Holmes but the Holmes/Watson relationship dynamic--they really seem like their canonical selves, despite the extremely grisly case they're working on. She also does a good job of introducing a likable female character who assists with the sleuthing in realistic ways, rather than falling into the trap of introducing a character who's clearly meant to be the female equivalent of Sherlock himself!

It starts out a little slow but rapidly picks up as Holmes and Watson get more engrossed in the case.