Freak the Mighty Memory and the Past Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

Except later it was Freak who taught me that remembering is a great invention of the mind, and if you try hard enough you can remember anything, whether it happened or not. (1.5)

Have you ever invented a memory so convincing that even you began to think it was real? Well, Freak seems to see this as a good thing. It's kind of like having a good imagination. Is Max convinced?

Quote #2

But like Freak says later in the book, you can remember anything, whether it happened or not. All I'm really sure of is he never hit me with that crutch. (3.23)

Wait, didn't we just hear this? Yeah, that means it's probably important. We're guessing memory will play a crucial role in the plot. And once we get to the end, how are we supposed to interpret these lines? Is Max making up the whole thing?

Quote #3

One thing we don't do, though, we don't talk about my father, good old Killer Kane. Which is fine by me. (12.10)

Max is trying to forget something pretty important, but he won't tell us what. What effect does it have on us as readers to not know the big issue from Max's past?