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Book Review: Bud, Not Buddy

Title: Bud, Not Buddy
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Genre: Historical Fiction/Drama
Rating: 3 out of 5
Reviewer: Julia



When I read the first few pages of this book, I had to hold back a moan. The text in the book was much larger than I was used to. It also appeared to be too easy to read, and I was able to breeze through the first few chapters quite quickly. The plan was to read it within a week or so and then to ditch it so that I could move on to another book. I kept this attitude for the first few parts.

And then--wooop, zoop, sloop!-- it changed.

I realized that the text wasn't "simple", but that it was merely the voice of the main character/narrator, Bud Caldwell. After all, he is only nine years old. Once I realized this, I looked at the book in different way. I began to appreciate Curtis' use of voice. It was interesting to see how Bud only partially realized the importance about the events occurring around him, and how he didn't realize how lucky he was. (The book takes place during the Great Depression.)

While the beginning had me wanting to discontinue reading, the end made me not want to put the book down for even a second. It seemed like it made up for any boring part before that, and I absolutely loved how everything connected in the end. (No loose strings--just how I like it!) All of the "feels" (this is a slang term that is used to describe the emotional hurt and involuntary squealing that books cause us) seemed to hit me at once (I was not prepared). I suddenly saw the book as a beautiful thing, and the long wait was worth it.

However, due to the long awaited excitement, I gave this a lower rating. This is also due to the writing of the book (I wasn't as fond of it). However, if I did have the chance to reread this book, I would choose to do so. Perhaps then I could fully appreciate the book.

Want a more exciting book to read? Then take a look at "Book Review: This is Where the World Ends".
"Janie and Micah have been secret best friends for a long time. However, in the beginning of the book, Micah wakes up in the hospital, not remembering anything after the day Janie moved across town. What happened to him? What happened to her? That's what he has to find out." Read more

Comments

  1. Sounds like an interesting book. I love when a book is written from the differing points of views of a few characters. "The Sound and the Fury" is like that, and I loved that book when I read it in high school!

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