Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend
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The Ending (Do Not read if you haven't finished the book yet!)
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Martin
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Feb 22, 2013 04:01AM
I just finished this book last night and it was a really moving book. I just have one question about the ending. Budo opens his eyes again and sees Dee. SO did he go to Heaven?
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I believe that Dee recovered, and Budo took on new life as her imaginary friend. At least, that is what I choose to believe had happened. And yes, it was a great book. It made me laugh and it made me want to cry.
I think it was heaven. He talked about not knowing what happened after they faded away. Someone had told him about heaven, I do not remember the exact details, but I believe when he faded away he imagined heaven and that is where he would go. Though I like and understand the Dee's imaginary friend, because as the book was unfolding I was thinking that Oswald would also become Max's friend along with Budo.
I don't think that the reader can ever know for certain what happened, and maybe that was the author's point--to allow each person to put his own spin on the ending. Unless I'm mistaken, the book never shows us that Dee dies. She was in a bad way the last time Budo saw her, but he had to leave her in the middle of a medical crisis. She could have died or been revived. If she survived, I felt that she would be needing an imaginary friend to cope with her injuries and the trauma. Just as valid as that ending, she could have died and Budo could have been reunited with her that way in heaven. I think the reader must pick and choose the ending that makes sense to him. I choose that they both lived on, but either way, the ending was excellent and hopeful, just the way I like books to end.
you're right Donna. putting a label on it might run the ending. the book I think was told in a way that was never used before. not knowing what happened at the end fits perfectly :-)
I think it was a nice way for the readers to put their own spin on the ending. I think some readers will see it as going to heaven and others will see it as Budo becoming Dee's imaginary friend since she did see him and hear him.
As the author, I took great joy in reading this conversation. As frustrating as it may sound, I am not fully decided on the end of the book, either.Thanks so much for choosing my story. It's an honor when readers take the time to read and discuss my books.
First of all I'd like to thank you for commenting. I have to admit at first I wanted to "have" an ending. But now and thanks to this discussion I like the fact that everyone can choose an ending for themselves :)You've really written a wonderful book and I think the fact, that people discuss it proves just that ;)
Wow, how nice to know the author reads these discussions. I always thought I knew the ending to this book but now after reading, I'm not so sure. I too, thought that Budo became Dee's imaginary friend, perhaps because she has become physically handicapped from the accident. That is what I assumed anyway. I had no idea he had "gone to heaven" Hmmmm. Must re-read it.
Hmm, I had not thought of the spin that Dee could have survived and then saw Budo as her imaginary friend. I kind of like that better than the heaven concept. I liked that the imaginary friends did not need a heaven concept, but were just ok with non-existence as their ending.
I really enjoyed this book...I thought this ending was spectacular!! I want to believe also that they were in heaven together! I could not put this book down..I look forward to our book discussion we have at our local library next month to get everyone else's thoughts or opinions!!
As a first grade teacher with inclusion I was touched by the relationship that max had with his teacher. It took me a few minutes to let the ending sink in. I am like the author and am indicdided on what I want to believe. What an incredible book!!!'
Lori wrote: "I think it was heaven. He talked about not knowing what happened after they faded away. Someone had told him about heaven, I do not remember the exact details, but I believe when he faded away he i..."I agree. Sometimes the author tends to leave questions unanswered, and I think it gives a nice sense that although the book has finished, it's not the end of the story.
I love the idea of it simply being that Dee did survive (the book seemed to suggest otherwise) and that Budo became her imaginary friend. She needed him and, really, he needed her. I imagined the ending as a scene from Heaven but, having read this discussion, I now prefer the alternative. Since the author is clearly leaving it up to interpretation, I am settling upon the idea that Dee did survive. I absolutely loved this book but the ending made my heart ache a bit. I feel better now. :)
As the author, even I have wavered on the ending. Heaven or not? I remain undecided. But I've begun writing a sequel, so I may have to settle on one or the other soon. So glad you liked the book.
Matthew wrote: "As the author, even I have wavered on the ending. Heaven or not? I remain undecided. But I've begun writing a sequel, so I may have to settle on one or the other soon. So glad you liked the book."
You are writing a sequel to this book? OMG I am so excited. Do you have a tentative date it will be released. I am doing the happy dance now. LOL
At the end of the book, I imagined that Budo went to Heaven when he faded away. I like that it was up to our interpretation. I am excited to see where you take this story.
No date yet. My next novel comes out in the fall of 2015. So it's more than a year away, I'm afraid. But I'm hard at work and will get it done as quickly as possible!
Matthew wrote: "No date yet. My next novel comes out in the fall of 2015. So it's more than a year away, I'm afraid. But I'm hard at work and will get it done as quickly as possible!"I'm so glad you've decided to continue the story! I really enjoyed reading it, and I liked that the ending was not concrete and that you let the readers decide. Thanks for a great read!
I can't wait for the sequel. Hope it comes out soon!
Actually I felt like Dee will be Budo's imaginary friend. Somehow Budo will make it to the real world and now he will have Dee as Max had him.
But Budo looks almost like a guy and even other imaginary friends can see that, what if Budo wasn´t really an Imaginary friend but a ghost, an angel or something similar?
Matthew wrote: "No date yet. My next novel comes out in the fall of 2015. So it's more than a year away, I'm afraid. But I'm hard at work and will get it done as quickly as possible!"First at all, thanks for such a wonderful book!!!!
I read this book twice, first one in Spanish, four years ago and the other in English, this month, and I can say with no doubt this is my favorite book of all times.
I've enjoyed even more this second re-reading than the previous one (which I loved it) ... but I've felt sadder also, I wanted Budo to live forever as a methaphor of never lose the inner chilhood even being an adult.
I can't wait for the sequel!
Sequel still coming! I have three books coming out in 2018, but after the decks are clear, I hope to finish the sequel! So happy that you liked the book. Thanks!
A mi me encantó este libro!!
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