Review: 'Visible Friend'
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 3, 2011
'Visible Friend'K.Z. SnowWhen Christopher Borgasian, from K.Z. Snow's book 'Visible Friend' was a child, he visualized a boy name Denny. He needed a best friend; he needed at least one person in his life who loved him unconditionally. Always a sensitive, loving child, as Chris got older, he lost faith in people and in himself. He no longer believed he deserved to have a best friend and began using drugs to drown out everyone and everything. Denny was still there, but stuck in the back of his mind. Denny was only allowed out when Chris subconsciously called him. Fortunately, Chris was ready to love and be loved again and Denny was still there.I admired Chris so much for his sensitivity and bravery. Against all odds, he found the strength to be himself and faced the anguish and disappointments of a life without anesthetization. For someone already wounded, this was a monumental achievement. I also admire him for being able to finally recognize and embrace unconditional love when it comes to him. I can't think of anyone who would be more deserving of it. I admit it. I read this story with a lump in my throat and a breath away from bursting into tears. 'Visible Friend' moved me. It provided me with inspiration on so many levels that I can hardly begin to explain them all.Using first person for Denny's narration was quite effective. Seeing things from his point of view enhanced the feeling of anticipation, the need for patience, and waiting until the time was right. He told us things that Chris couldn't, things Chris didn't know or understand. Denny didn't even understand sometimes. Without Denny's input, I would have been lost. He was a wonderful manifestation, a character to be admired. Showing his imperfections, how he struggled with who or what his purpose for being was, in my opinion, succeeded in making him even more perfect.KZ is one of the few writers that I can think of who could take such diametrically opposed themes as drug addiction and creative visualization and marry them so magnificently. It was risky, but KZ is an artist who apparently enjoys taking calculated risks. That's what makes her stories so unique and 'Visible Friend' is just another example of that talent. Personally, I am delighted that she chose to delve into such an ethereal theme.'Visible Friend' may not appeal to everyone because of its intensity and depth, but for those who like to be challenged to think outside the box it's a must read. To sum up the theme, I will leave you with a quote from 'The End' by the Beatles - "And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make."