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A review by suspensethrill
Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky
4.0
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Long ago, books stopped terrifying me in the way that people search out from the likes of gory, graphic horror films. Somewhere upon entering adulthood, the paranormal took a backseat to the chills provided by child abuse, sexual assault, and the murder of members of minority groups who never gain an ounce of justice, but this book terrified me in ways that I haven't experienced in over a decade, mainly due to combining paranormal AND realistic horror. I'll go into more detail at the end, complete with spoiler tags, but this book contained the one horror element that still manages to give me nightmares, no matter how many times I read a book that includes it. If you want to go into [b:Imaginary Friend|43522576|Imaginary Friend|Stephen Chbosky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550723936l/43522576._SY75_.jpg|60098809] completely blind, I recommend stopping here, and not reading anything else surrounding the story until you've had a chance to pick it up for yourself. If you're the type of reader, like me, who enjoys knowing a bit more about a cryptically vague book to see if you're compatible with it, keep going. Either way, please take my thoughts lightly as the cause behind the commotion in this novel will be very polarizing, and most folks will love it or hate it.
"Don't leave the street. They can't get you if you don't leave the street."
The most common question I've received surrounding this novel is about the page length. "Was it really necessary for the story to be over 700 pages long? Who does this guy think he is, Stephen King?" Honestly? Yes. I had my doubts going in, but I almost immediately found myself entranced by the author's writing, and what would be described as a slow burning introduction to our characters became an unputdownable saga. There's a reason why Chbosky is a bestselling author, and while he did wait almost 2 decades to publish his second novel, it shows his incredible range of storytelling capabilities and otherworldly talent. The average rating is considerably lower than most popular books on Goodreads at the time of this writing, but I do think the page length is something that is possibly affecting this. If you're the type of reader that doesn't enjoy a meaty doorstop, you probably won't appreciate what this book has to offer. The page count will be a dealbreaker for about half of the readers out there, and that's ok, big books aren't for everyone. If you're still with me, let's continue on.
"Oh please don't let it be the hissing lady. Please don't let me be asleep."
While I hate comparing authors' various works amongst each other, I think it's helpful to note why this book is being pitched to fans of Stephen King and his older horror novels. This book appears to be set in the 90's, and it very strongly has the "kids battle evil entity" vibe that is so prevalent in many of King's past bestsellers, which automatically appealed to me. The beginning has a similar feel where, we get many details into a multitude of characters' lives, and after the foundation is set, the creepy instances start. It begins slowly, and almost seems to tip-toe around the horror aspect until well into the book, but it is beautifully done so. As a reader, I became invested in Kate and Christopher as humans, and the bond they created through shared experiences with poverty, abuse, and trauma was so necessary in transforming [b:Imaginary Friend|43522576|Imaginary Friend|Stephen Chbosky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550723936l/43522576._SY75_.jpg|60098809] from a B-rated horror romp into a full scale terrifying masterpiece.
"Hisssssss. Hisssssss."
Alright, here's the meat of it. I'm going to put this next paragraph in a spoiler tag, and while there are no specific spoilers, I do discuss the theme of the reveal, and I don't want this to affect those readers wishing to go in blind.Bottom line? This is what I like to refer to as religious horror. Sure, it's very much fictionalized, and stretches the canon of good-vs-evil/heaven-vs-hell quite a bit, but it should be noted that I did not feel that this book was preachy; if anything, the author chose to use these themes in a way that is meant for nothing but sheer entertainment value. I mention it because this form of storytelling may be received as sacrilegious or offensive to some religious groups. This part was so well done, for me personally, because I saw the initial reveal coming (the who not the what), and I was still found myself astonished once it finally came.
There is so much more detail I could go into, but I'd rather let you experience [b:Imaginary Friend|43522576|Imaginary Friend|Stephen Chbosky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550723936l/43522576._SY75_.jpg|60098809] for yourself. This book would make a fantastic bookclub pick for groups who enjoy darker reads, as there is so much to be taken away from this. Beyond the horror aspect, there are so many themes surrounding sacrifice, hope, and love that will appeal to parents, caregivers, and members of small communities. While I found myself with questions after finishing, that was ok, because I enjoy when a book makes me think long past the turning of the final page. [b:Imaginary Friend|43522576|Imaginary Friend|Stephen Chbosky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550723936l/43522576._SY75_.jpg|60098809] will rank amongst the most unique and memorable books I've ever read, and you can be sure I'll never forget it. Also, reader? Make sure you keep the lights on while devouring this book. If you fall asleep, you never know what may creep into your nightmares.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
Long ago, books stopped terrifying me in the way that people search out from the likes of gory, graphic horror films. Somewhere upon entering adulthood, the paranormal took a backseat to the chills provided by child abuse, sexual assault, and the murder of members of minority groups who never gain an ounce of justice, but this book terrified me in ways that I haven't experienced in over a decade, mainly due to combining paranormal AND realistic horror. I'll go into more detail at the end, complete with spoiler tags, but this book contained the one horror element that still manages to give me nightmares, no matter how many times I read a book that includes it. If you want to go into [b:Imaginary Friend|43522576|Imaginary Friend|Stephen Chbosky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550723936l/43522576._SY75_.jpg|60098809] completely blind, I recommend stopping here, and not reading anything else surrounding the story until you've had a chance to pick it up for yourself. If you're the type of reader, like me, who enjoys knowing a bit more about a cryptically vague book to see if you're compatible with it, keep going. Either way, please take my thoughts lightly as the cause behind the commotion in this novel will be very polarizing, and most folks will love it or hate it.
"Don't leave the street. They can't get you if you don't leave the street."
The most common question I've received surrounding this novel is about the page length. "Was it really necessary for the story to be over 700 pages long? Who does this guy think he is, Stephen King?" Honestly? Yes. I had my doubts going in, but I almost immediately found myself entranced by the author's writing, and what would be described as a slow burning introduction to our characters became an unputdownable saga. There's a reason why Chbosky is a bestselling author, and while he did wait almost 2 decades to publish his second novel, it shows his incredible range of storytelling capabilities and otherworldly talent. The average rating is considerably lower than most popular books on Goodreads at the time of this writing, but I do think the page length is something that is possibly affecting this. If you're the type of reader that doesn't enjoy a meaty doorstop, you probably won't appreciate what this book has to offer. The page count will be a dealbreaker for about half of the readers out there, and that's ok, big books aren't for everyone. If you're still with me, let's continue on.
"Oh please don't let it be the hissing lady. Please don't let me be asleep."
While I hate comparing authors' various works amongst each other, I think it's helpful to note why this book is being pitched to fans of Stephen King and his older horror novels. This book appears to be set in the 90's, and it very strongly has the "kids battle evil entity" vibe that is so prevalent in many of King's past bestsellers, which automatically appealed to me. The beginning has a similar feel where, we get many details into a multitude of characters' lives, and after the foundation is set, the creepy instances start. It begins slowly, and almost seems to tip-toe around the horror aspect until well into the book, but it is beautifully done so. As a reader, I became invested in Kate and Christopher as humans, and the bond they created through shared experiences with poverty, abuse, and trauma was so necessary in transforming [b:Imaginary Friend|43522576|Imaginary Friend|Stephen Chbosky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550723936l/43522576._SY75_.jpg|60098809] from a B-rated horror romp into a full scale terrifying masterpiece.
"Hisssssss. Hisssssss."
Alright, here's the meat of it. I'm going to put this next paragraph in a spoiler tag, and while there are no specific spoilers, I do discuss the theme of the reveal, and I don't want this to affect those readers wishing to go in blind.
There is so much more detail I could go into, but I'd rather let you experience [b:Imaginary Friend|43522576|Imaginary Friend|Stephen Chbosky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550723936l/43522576._SY75_.jpg|60098809] for yourself. This book would make a fantastic bookclub pick for groups who enjoy darker reads, as there is so much to be taken away from this. Beyond the horror aspect, there are so many themes surrounding sacrifice, hope, and love that will appeal to parents, caregivers, and members of small communities. While I found myself with questions after finishing, that was ok, because I enjoy when a book makes me think long past the turning of the final page. [b:Imaginary Friend|43522576|Imaginary Friend|Stephen Chbosky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550723936l/43522576._SY75_.jpg|60098809] will rank amongst the most unique and memorable books I've ever read, and you can be sure I'll never forget it. Also, reader? Make sure you keep the lights on while devouring this book. If you fall asleep, you never know what may creep into your nightmares.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.