Matthew Dicks

Martin Railsback is a burglar. But he is not your ordinary burglar. Martin breaks into homes and takes only what he needs and won't be missed. He chooses his clients, as he calls those whom he burgles, very carefully. They must have money, but not too much as Martin believes the very wealthy keep track of everything they own. They can't have kids, maids, and they must be married couples. Martin has a lot of rules. But this has enabled him to keep the same clients for years, without them ever show more suspecting that their home has been broken into several times. Martin will take toiletries, food, and the occasional piece of jewelry or other expensive item that won't be missed.
Martin is very obsessive-compulsive and plans everything carefully. Until the one day when he accidentally knocks a client's electric toothbrush into the toilet. Now, he could just take it out and put it back. But Martin can't bear to think of her then using that toothbrush. So now he has to go off script and replace it. This sets in motion a series of events that lead Martin to start helping his clients and changes his carefully constructed world.

Every so often I will come across a gem of a book. Something Missing is one of those gems. I have read some great literary fiction this year and I'm not saying this is better than those. But it was such a great, charming, engaging, and quirky book. I love, love, loved Martin. He is such a great character and this was such an unusual story that had an unexpected poignancy to it. Of course, now I also think that I have a burglar, that would explain missing pens, socks, and other small items I was sure I had that I can't find.
Some might find the details of Martin's carefully planned out procedures a little slow reading but it does pick up. I find the details important in defining Martin's character. It is also helpful if you are planning a burglary! I loved all the inside info into his clients' lives, there is a lot people can tell about us just from looking through our homes, more than you would think.
I read this in two sittings and was sorry when it was over but it left me feeling very satisfied. This is one I will reread often. I highly recommend this very entertaining and sweet novel. I also plan on reading the author's next work, Unexpectedly, Milo.

my rating 4.5/5 show less

4.5 stars.
This isn't a story that would have caught my eye with another narrator, but since it's told by an imaginary friend, I figured it was up my alley. I already knew I liked Matthew Dicks; I really enjoyed [b:Something Missing|6280473|Something Missing|Matthew Dicks|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320524133s/6280473.jpg|6464070] when I read it a few years ago. This book was nothing like it but still wonderful. Well-imagined and thoughtful, Dicks took a fanciful idea and gave it both show more sweetness and depth. I loved these characters, especially Mrs. Gosk.
Not sure I'm completely convinced by the explanation of how Max managed to get himself all the way home without "getting stuck", but I still liked the chase and the rousing ending to the book.
Don't miss it. show less

Crying & heart squeezes combined with a unique and successful format = ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Also, 100th book of the year!!! That's a new and huge and unplanned accomplishment for me. :) See the full review and more at MyBookJoy.com!

Recommended: yes!
For a unique format, for an intimate way to learn one man's heart and fears

Thoughts:
This is going to be a pretty mixed review for a five star rating, and I really debated what to give it for a while. Ultimately I went for five stars, because the depth show more the author was able to give through such a simplistic format was impressive. He thrived in a limitation, and created something unique and well done. Despite some of my nitpicky feelings on other elements within the story, I'm overall celebrating this as a fantastic accomplishment and worthy addition to my shelf.

The lists make this look deceptively simple, but the story itself involves a conflicted and twisting heart the whole way through. Dan reveals bits and pieces of himself through his lists, from the mundane to the secretive to the humiliating. The intimacy with which we learn to see him comes from the format, as his lists are explained as partly a therapist-ordered journaling method.

That said, I didn't actually like Dan that much. We meet him at a difficult time in his life, but the decisions he makes are repeatedly colossally stupid and it's hard to empathize at times. Similarly, his portrayal of his wife is somewhat mixed, at times making her seem a saint and others a lazy jealous slob. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot, and working pretty hard to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy and accept the story.

Ultimately, I ended up crying, which is pretty much an automatic five stars. Anything that can make me feel enough to force liquids out of my body is laudable. The lists were so intriguing, and made me think about what story my own lists would tell (grocery, to-do, to-read, and otherwise). show less

I absolutely loved this book, and would recommend listening to it on audio if at all possible--the narration was great! The story is told by Budo, the imaginary friend of eight-year-old Max. Budo has a surprising preoccupation with his own mortality, as he's lived a lot longer than most imaginary friends he's met and has watched some of his closest friends disappear once their children no longer need them. Max's Asperger's Syndrome has led him to continue to rely on Budo for years, but Max's show more parents and teachers are constantly pushing Max to engage more with the "real" world, and this makes Budo very nervous. He absolutely loves Max and wants the best for him, but is terrified by the prospect of "poofing" out of existence and being forgotten. When Max is placed in extreme jeopardy and seems to need Budo more than ever, Budo faces some VERY tough choices about what to do. The book is incredibly imaginative and Budo's world is peopled with a wide range of memorable friends, both imaginary and real. And it's a tearjerker...I think I cried throughout the entire final hour of the audiobook! show less