Imaginary Friend

This feels like 2 or three books instead of one. The intro feels almost completely separate from the middle and end, but it does flow well and make sense. The result is a much more epic story than you realize from the first 2/3 of the book.

I wasn't bored at any point, which is impressive given how long this is.

There are a few tic's present that get repeated so often you're exhausted of them by the end, but still they didn't spoil the book for me.

Stephen Chbosky is a beautiful writer and Imaginary Friend includes thought-provoking ideas on the Hell we make and the power of forgiveness. But holy cow, dude. Wrap it up! No reader should have to suffer through 700+ pages of terror.

At it's heart this is an epic tale of good versus evil.

"Make me hit a deer"

Something lies dormant in Mills Grove until Christopher and his mother arrive. Years ago, a terrified child went missing from his own home. Nobody believed him that the monsters were real. Now Christopher has gone missing too, but he is returned.. changed...seeing more...knowing more... wise beyond his years and paying the price for his new abilities.

"We'll all die on Christmas day!"

As Christopher becomes more aware of what's happening, something insidious is also aware of Christopher and it's infecting the town with evil. I loved the spooky atmosphere in this book, the way the characters were fleshed out and brought to life. I even at certain points had sympathy for the bullies.

I read an advance copy.
All of my reviews are posted at wellwortharead.blogspot.com/

DNF - not really grabbing my attention and I need that for a 700+ page book. Bit clichéd and characters have no spark.