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random_spider 's review for:
Bud, Not Buddy
by Christopher Paul Curtis
This book's alright. It is good, not more nor less. A 7/10 book.
Before I start, I would like to clear first that this is a children's novel. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm confident it is. Usually, these types of books prioritize easy-to-discern lessons from a simple narrative, and though Bud, Not Buddy didn't broke the mold altogether it still contained enough nuance and complexity present on more mature works.
The story follows Bud (not Buddy 😉) Caldwell, a courteous 10 years old orphan boy that was nearly stripped from expressing his feelings due to a traumatic past. He finally took matters into his own hands and went on a journey to unite with his assumed father. He is a legit little protagonist. Yes, the plot's simple...and there's nothing wrong with it.
There are two major things I like about this novel. First, it was interesting that the readers have a child's perspective while traversing the world of adults (and yeah...it's during the USA's Great Depression, 1930s-1940s.) Having to experience occasional whimsy interpretation, while knowing fully the true weight of its real situation, was both inducing and thought-provoking.
The other good thing was this book's take on humor. I only need to say this: Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself . If you've read this book you'll know what I mean. These two things made it possible for an enjoyable children's book with lighter tones despite its depressive context.
When I said it was good, I meant it wasn't perfect. Because of the nature of being an adventure story, many characters did not really stick for too long (they were treated either like an encounter or a medium of world-building/exposition), causing any buildup of that character to be abandoned as fast as they were introduced. This did not harm Bud's character (it actually helped him learn that there were good people around, not just terrible ones.) However, other characters were left superficial. In the end of the day, this is simply a natural weakness of these types of storytelling. Another complain I have was that during the few last chapters, Bud and the side characters were just hanging out. The inter-state adventure was already over, and Bud had nothing much to do anymore besides mingling around and answer questions. It kinda fits his whole mission, but it tilts the overall pacing of the story a bit.
Despite the flaws, this is still lovable. Even if this won't be everyone's no. 1 book, it proved itself to be a heartwarming tale.
Before I start, I would like to clear first that this is a children's novel. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm confident it is. Usually, these types of books prioritize easy-to-discern lessons from a simple narrative, and though Bud, Not Buddy didn't broke the mold altogether it still contained enough nuance and complexity present on more mature works.
The story follows Bud (not Buddy 😉) Caldwell, a courteous 10 years old orphan boy that was nearly stripped from expressing his feelings due to a traumatic past. He finally took matters into his own hands and went on a journey to unite with his assumed father. He is a legit little protagonist. Yes, the plot's simple...and there's nothing wrong with it.
There are two major things I like about this novel. First, it was interesting that the readers have a child's perspective while traversing the world of adults (and yeah...it's during the USA's Great Depression, 1930s-1940s.) Having to experience occasional whimsy interpretation, while knowing fully the true weight of its real situation, was both inducing and thought-provoking.
The other good thing was this book's take on humor. I only need to say this: Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself . If you've read this book you'll know what I mean. These two things made it possible for an enjoyable children's book with lighter tones despite its depressive context.
When I said it was good, I meant it wasn't perfect. Because of the nature of being an adventure story, many characters did not really stick for too long (they were treated either like an encounter or a medium of world-building/exposition), causing any buildup of that character to be abandoned as fast as they were introduced. This did not harm Bud's character (it actually helped him learn that there were good people around, not just terrible ones.) However, other characters were left superficial. In the end of the day, this is simply a natural weakness of these types of storytelling. Another complain I have was that during the few last chapters, Bud and the side characters were just hanging out. The inter-state adventure was already over, and Bud had nothing much to do anymore besides mingling around and answer questions. It kinda fits his whole mission, but it tilts the overall pacing of the story a bit.
Despite the flaws, this is still lovable. Even if this won't be everyone's no. 1 book, it proved itself to be a heartwarming tale.