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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
What would it mean if you could take on other people's pain and injuries--physical or not? The results are haunting. Really liked this one.
This gets a solid 3.5 stars.
What if someone could talk away all your pain? Not just the physical pain, ALL of it. The really ugly emotional and psychological pain that we humans experience on a daily basis. The sadness, disappointment, embarrassment, betrayal, rejection, even the anger. But in order to take it away from you, they had to endure it themselves. And what if they didn't just do that for you, they did it for everyone they cared about? Can you imagine how addictive it would become to be around a person like that, to experience that bit of sweet contentment even just for a little while? It would be so easy to just let that person take it ALL away from you wouldn't it? Imagine the carefree life you could live if you didn't have to feel the pain of living. Now imagine that YOU were the person who took on all the pain of those you cared about. How could anyone endure that? It gives a whole new meaning to "a world of hurt".
Such an excellent premise to a book! And I enjoyed it. But on the negative side, the writing and pace is much more suited to a younger audience than an old fart like me. I crave the introspection and while the verse of Bruiser's perspective gave me life, and Cody felt so real, the other characters were not developed enough for me, especially Bronte. The 1st and 3rd acts were excellent but the 2nd act was definitely suited to a younger YA audience.
Overall, a very good read and super-fast which I needed at this moment!
What if someone could talk away all your pain? Not just the physical pain, ALL of it. The really ugly emotional and psychological pain that we humans experience on a daily basis. The sadness, disappointment, embarrassment, betrayal, rejection, even the anger. But in order to take it away from you, they had to endure it themselves. And what if they didn't just do that for you, they did it for everyone they cared about? Can you imagine how addictive it would become to be around a person like that, to experience that bit of sweet contentment even just for a little while? It would be so easy to just let that person take it ALL away from you wouldn't it? Imagine the carefree life you could live if you didn't have to feel the pain of living. Now imagine that YOU were the person who took on all the pain of those you cared about. How could anyone endure that? It gives a whole new meaning to "a world of hurt".
Such an excellent premise to a book! And I enjoyed it. But on the negative side, the writing and pace is much more suited to a younger audience than an old fart like me. I crave the introspection and while the verse of Bruiser's perspective gave me life, and Cody felt so real, the other characters were not developed enough for me, especially Bronte. The 1st and 3rd acts were excellent but the 2nd act was definitely suited to a younger YA audience.
Overall, a very good read and super-fast which I needed at this moment!
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Brewster nicknamed the Bruiser because of his bulky appearance, his mysterious life, and of course his name pretty much begs to be nicknamed the Bruiser is the star of this book. Tennyson named after the Tennyson is pissed. His sister is dating this hulking mass of loser. I mean he lives on an acre of dirt in a shack. He was voted Most Likely to get the Death Penalty. He won't touch his sister! He will make sure he knows to stay away from her. He is known for being this athletic and intelligent guy as well as a bit of a bully. But he knows he's doing the right thing. His sister just sees him as a stray. She has a thing for strays. And at first Bronte named after the Bronte Sisters (Their parents are literature professors) does see Brewster that way but then it forms into something else. She genuinely likes and cares about him so she's not going to let her brother tell him or her what to do. This is her decision, her life. But there is something about the Brewster that they both don't know. Something that will change them for the better but before that they will discover the worst sides of themselves. Well Tennyson mostly.
So what's the big secret you may be asking? Brewster cares a little too much. He stays away from people for a reason. They need to hate him because it's easier to hate them back. But if he does care about you, even a little then he will take on your pain. So his name does make sense but not for the reason you may initially think. His whole body is a bruise. You get a cut and he cares about you and he'll take it away from you. He doesn't do it on purpose. He can't control his power. He takes all this pain and he's just a big teddy bear because he doesn't hit anyone. It's against his nature. He has to be careful who he cares about because they might take advantage and if anyone were to know who knows what could happen to him. He needs to take care of his rambunctious half-brother Cody. He doesn't need to be taken away. What would happen if he left him with his Uncle, this stereotypical Southern older man who drinks all the time. Way too much drinking... And then he met Bronte and he likes her weird character. He's just scared what might happen if he has another person he cares about too much.
Shusterman, Shusterman, Shusterman. Look at you. You are completely different than what I'm used to. You're more of a dueling sides, humorous, and past times type of person. Well I'm sure Downsiders isn't like that but I haven't read it so yeah... Bruiser has me all super aware of him. I mean they kept on thinking of themselves. All Brewster thought was of others well also a little bit of himself because he didn't want someone close to him to seriously injure or kill themselves because that means he would be in a world of pain. He was also just trying to protect his heart. I got really mad at Tennyson even though I liked his smug remarks to a bully bothering Brewster and his whole attitude really. He stopped being a bully pretty fast which I find unrealistic but he did do some things towards the end... Then there was Bronte who has a very weird and quirky personality which I loved. I just didn't see the relationship most of the time. She just wanted to fix everything and she also had some of her own transgressions.
All the while their parents are going through a problem... which is putting it lightly. Lots of issues in the family. This was a very enjoyable book. It'll get you feeling like you want to go help this guy out. He's pretty perfect but the other people didn't really convince me of being either good people or I don't know... There were just some things that irked me about them. I like that Shusterman is doing this YA book that will get more readers to him. I mean he does the Skinjacker Series but I like that he's doing more books that a lot of people will love. And I've read most of books so it's nice to read anything by him really.
Brewster nicknamed the Bruiser because of his bulky appearance, his mysterious life, and of course his name pretty much begs to be nicknamed the Bruiser is the star of this book. Tennyson named after the Tennyson is pissed. His sister is dating this hulking mass of loser. I mean he lives on an acre of dirt in a shack. He was voted Most Likely to get the Death Penalty. He won't touch his sister! He will make sure he knows to stay away from her. He is known for being this athletic and intelligent guy as well as a bit of a bully. But he knows he's doing the right thing. His sister just sees him as a stray. She has a thing for strays. And at first Bronte named after the Bronte Sisters (Their parents are literature professors) does see Brewster that way but then it forms into something else. She genuinely likes and cares about him so she's not going to let her brother tell him or her what to do. This is her decision, her life. But there is something about the Brewster that they both don't know. Something that will change them for the better but before that they will discover the worst sides of themselves. Well Tennyson mostly.
So what's the big secret you may be asking? Brewster cares a little too much. He stays away from people for a reason. They need to hate him because it's easier to hate them back. But if he does care about you, even a little then he will take on your pain. So his name does make sense but not for the reason you may initially think. His whole body is a bruise. You get a cut and he cares about you and he'll take it away from you. He doesn't do it on purpose. He can't control his power. He takes all this pain and he's just a big teddy bear because he doesn't hit anyone. It's against his nature. He has to be careful who he cares about because they might take advantage and if anyone were to know who knows what could happen to him. He needs to take care of his rambunctious half-brother Cody. He doesn't need to be taken away. What would happen if he left him with his Uncle, this stereotypical Southern older man who drinks all the time. Way too much drinking... And then he met Bronte and he likes her weird character. He's just scared what might happen if he has another person he cares about too much.
Shusterman, Shusterman, Shusterman. Look at you. You are completely different than what I'm used to. You're more of a dueling sides, humorous, and past times type of person. Well I'm sure Downsiders isn't like that but I haven't read it so yeah... Bruiser has me all super aware of him. I mean they kept on thinking of themselves. All Brewster thought was of others well also a little bit of himself because he didn't want someone close to him to seriously injure or kill themselves because that means he would be in a world of pain. He was also just trying to protect his heart. I got really mad at Tennyson even though I liked his smug remarks to a bully bothering Brewster and his whole attitude really. He stopped being a bully pretty fast which I find unrealistic but he did do some things towards the end... Then there was Bronte who has a very weird and quirky personality which I loved. I just didn't see the relationship most of the time. She just wanted to fix everything and she also had some of her own transgressions.
All the while their parents are going through a problem... which is putting it lightly. Lots of issues in the family. This was a very enjoyable book. It'll get you feeling like you want to go help this guy out. He's pretty perfect but the other people didn't really convince me of being either good people or I don't know... There were just some things that irked me about them. I like that Shusterman is doing this YA book that will get more readers to him. I mean he does the Skinjacker Series but I like that he's doing more books that a lot of people will love. And I've read most of books so it's nice to read anything by him really.
Shustermann is one of my new favorite authors. This book was wonderful and Shustermann's work made new twists and turns on what it means to be different and to have an unusual power. Despite the story have features that have been done before (and thus having the possibility of stereotypical repetition), Shustermann finds new and interesting characters in a unique style.
I accidentally started this in the middle of the night, and stayed up until dawn finishing. I've loved every Shusterman book I've read, not least for the subtle ways he mixes up form and POV and brings something new to the table each time. Four separate POVs and their very, very different voices (one written in verse!) could really bog down a story, but the prose is efficient and voices clear and the multiple POVs end up bringing you both closer to and further from the characters in a really compelling way. Also, I love that while the interaction between the characters is based on a HS relationship, that is not at all the crux or the endgame of the story. Well done.
Bruiser was voted “Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty” by the kids at school. So when Tennyson’s twin sister Bronte starts dating Bruiser, he is very concerned. Bruiser is a real loner, involved in almost nothing at school, just heading home directly after classes end. When Tennyson follows him home, he discovers that Bruiser lives with his abusive uncle and his half-brother. Tennyson never backs away from confrontations with others, so he is surprised to find himself shaking Bruiser’s hand in friendship and even helping to dispose of a dead bull carcass. As the relationship between Bruiser and Bronte deepens, Tennyson becomes closer to Bruiser too. That’s when strange things begin to happen that show them just why Bruiser is a loner and why his uncle is desperate to keep him home. Written from the perspectives of Tennyson, Bronte, Bruiser, and Bruiser’s brother, this book transports the reader to a powerful place where love and friendship carry a unique pain.
I have been a fan of Shusterman ever since reading The Eyes of Kid Midas back in the 1990s. I love that he writes of magic in the real world, yet never shies away from what the magic brings to life. No one wakes up from a dream in these books or loses their powers. Instead they have to learn to live with what they have. Shusterman’s novels are also allegories for real life without magic. Here readers will find a physical manifestation of the pain and power of love and friendship. Bruiser and his flesh are tangible examples of the torment of life.
Shusterman’s writing here is well done. His characters are multi-dimensional and interesting. The twins are more than simply two sides of a coin, showing great depth of character. When Bruiser takes his first turn as narrator, Shusterman’s writing soars. Bruiser’s sections are in verse, unlike the others. His pain and torment is right there, shouting to the reader about the frustration and loneliness of his life. It is gorgeous and extraordinary.
I have been a fan of Shusterman ever since reading The Eyes of Kid Midas back in the 1990s. I love that he writes of magic in the real world, yet never shies away from what the magic brings to life. No one wakes up from a dream in these books or loses their powers. Instead they have to learn to live with what they have. Shusterman’s novels are also allegories for real life without magic. Here readers will find a physical manifestation of the pain and power of love and friendship. Bruiser and his flesh are tangible examples of the torment of life.
Shusterman’s writing here is well done. His characters are multi-dimensional and interesting. The twins are more than simply two sides of a coin, showing great depth of character. When Bruiser takes his first turn as narrator, Shusterman’s writing soars. Bruiser’s sections are in verse, unlike the others. His pain and torment is right there, shouting to the reader about the frustration and loneliness of his life. It is gorgeous and extraordinary.
I loved this book. Desperately and completely.
It's told from the point of view of four characters: Tennyson (brother) and Bronte (sister) are twins, Brewster is an outcast at school that Bronte begins to date, and Cody is Brewster's little brother. I loved their voices. Tennyson can be funny. He had these one liners that had me laughing out loud. Though he is rather selfish and a bully. Cody's eight-years-old and his observations of the world were pretty humorous. My favorite was Brewster, also known as the Bruiser. His chapters were beautiful! I was moved to almost tears twice while reading his poetry. The first time was at the very end of his very first chapter. SO BEAUTIFUL. Though I loved all four characters, he is the one that I loved the most. I adore him! I can completely understand how Bronte fell in love. And look at those beautiful green eyes! (from the cover)
I am one who doesn't like to know too much about a book before I read it. I totally judge books by their cover and skip the blurb inside. So I won't give too much away about Bruiser. I read some reviews that gave everything away and it made it so that surprises in the book weren't surprises. Which I find sad.
Shusterman is a master storyteller. I love his books.
It's told from the point of view of four characters: Tennyson (brother) and Bronte (sister) are twins, Brewster is an outcast at school that Bronte begins to date, and Cody is Brewster's little brother. I loved their voices. Tennyson can be funny. He had these one liners that had me laughing out loud. Though he is rather selfish and a bully. Cody's eight-years-old and his observations of the world were pretty humorous. My favorite was Brewster, also known as the Bruiser. His chapters were beautiful! I was moved to almost tears twice while reading his poetry. The first time was at the very end of his very first chapter. SO BEAUTIFUL. Though I loved all four characters, he is the one that I loved the most. I adore him! I can completely understand how Bronte fell in love. And look at those beautiful green eyes! (from the cover)
I am one who doesn't like to know too much about a book before I read it. I totally judge books by their cover and skip the blurb inside. So I won't give too much away about Bruiser. I read some reviews that gave everything away and it made it so that surprises in the book weren't surprises. Which I find sad.
Shusterman is a master storyteller. I love his books.
This book was ok. I thought it got way to predictable near the end and Brewster's monologues were over written. Overall, it was compelling enough to keep going; but, not compelling enough that I would recommend it to a friend.