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foreveryoungadult's review
Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: When You See It, You'll Poop Bricks
Drinking Buddy: Pass the Dandelion Wine
Testosterone Level: Meh to Eighty in 200 Pages
Talky Talk: LGBTQ
Bonus Factors: Freeganism, Crazy Friend
Bromance Status: Nerd of My Dreams
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: When You See It, You'll Poop Bricks
Drinking Buddy: Pass the Dandelion Wine
Testosterone Level: Meh to Eighty in 200 Pages
Talky Talk: LGBTQ
Bonus Factors: Freeganism, Crazy Friend
Bromance Status: Nerd of My Dreams
Read the full book report here.
sherman19's review
4.0
I'm going to miss you Russel, Min, Gundar, Otto and Kevin <3 . That's why I don't like to end sagas.
jardimsecreto's review
4.0
Please, please, write another one, Brent!
I can't wait to know what happens after this! I think I'm really in love with Russel.
[PTBR]
Acho que esse último livro é o único que se inicia claramente já resgatando as tramas apresentadas nos outros livros.
O nome, "The Elephant of Surprise", é uma metáfora para a expressão "o elemento surpresa" ("the element of surprise, no original em inglês), que é aquele detalhe que a vida sempre nos coloca para tornar nos eventos menos previsíveis, preenchendo ou não as nossas expectativas. Dessa forma, as coisas normalmente acontecem exatamente ao contrário do que a gente espera. E não é verdade? Quantos planejamentos saíram totalmente da rota? Quantas frustrações, ou surpresas, já não tivemos por conta desse elemento surpresa? E surpresa é a palavra-chave para esse último volume da série.
Digamos que todos os outros livros tem um elemento surpresa sim, aquele plottwist no final e tal, mas nesse último volume a surpresa é que move toda a trama. Quando a gente pensa que é uma coisa, é exatamente outra! E a forma como o Brent manteve (e revelou) certos detalhes durante o enredo foi muito bem executada!
Eu achei que foi um desfecho perfeito para a série toda - e o livro deve ser visto como o último da série, não como um "volume único", sabe? Porque aí sim faz todo o sentido. Todas as tramas são amarradas, mesmo e principalmente aquelas pontas soltas no primeiro volume, o Geography Club. O final deixa aquele gostinho de quero mais delicado e emocionante! Mas o enredo faz muito jus ao título que, como Russel mesmo explica, o elefante realmente aparece quando você menos espera - e quando ele "acidentalmente" pisa em você, realmente machuca.
Essa série é uma das que eu mais gosto. Brent é um dos meus autores queers mais amados e não cansaria de relê-la sempre que possível e mal posso esperar pra continuar sabendo da vida do Russel, no Futon Years, que promete ser muito mais emocionante.
[Resenha completa em: http://www.marcadocomletras.com/2015/01/review-elephant-of-surprise.html]
I can't wait to know what happens after this! I think I'm really in love with Russel.
[PTBR]
Acho que esse último livro é o único que se inicia claramente já resgatando as tramas apresentadas nos outros livros.
O nome, "The Elephant of Surprise", é uma metáfora para a expressão "o elemento surpresa" ("the element of surprise, no original em inglês), que é aquele detalhe que a vida sempre nos coloca para tornar nos eventos menos previsíveis, preenchendo ou não as nossas expectativas. Dessa forma, as coisas normalmente acontecem exatamente ao contrário do que a gente espera. E não é verdade? Quantos planejamentos saíram totalmente da rota? Quantas frustrações, ou surpresas, já não tivemos por conta desse elemento surpresa? E surpresa é a palavra-chave para esse último volume da série.
Digamos que todos os outros livros tem um elemento surpresa sim, aquele plottwist no final e tal, mas nesse último volume a surpresa é que move toda a trama. Quando a gente pensa que é uma coisa, é exatamente outra! E a forma como o Brent manteve (e revelou) certos detalhes durante o enredo foi muito bem executada!
Eu achei que foi um desfecho perfeito para a série toda - e o livro deve ser visto como o último da série, não como um "volume único", sabe? Porque aí sim faz todo o sentido. Todas as tramas são amarradas, mesmo e principalmente aquelas pontas soltas no primeiro volume, o Geography Club. O final deixa aquele gostinho de quero mais delicado e emocionante! Mas o enredo faz muito jus ao título que, como Russel mesmo explica, o elefante realmente aparece quando você menos espera - e quando ele "acidentalmente" pisa em você, realmente machuca.
Essa série é uma das que eu mais gosto. Brent é um dos meus autores queers mais amados e não cansaria de relê-la sempre que possível e mal posso esperar pra continuar sabendo da vida do Russel, no Futon Years, que promete ser muito mais emocionante.
[Resenha completa em: http://www.marcadocomletras.com/2015/01/review-elephant-of-surprise.html]
jim_b's review against another edition
3.0
A little sillier than the earlier offerings, but still enjoyable.
douglasplease's review against another edition
2.0
Unique story, just like all of Hartinger's other books, but I read it in one sitting without the usual excitement that comes from doing that. At some points, he talks down to his readers (by defining big words, but then dismissing their use several sentences later), but it was still relatively enjoyable. I enjoyed the other three novels in the series much more.
haldoor's review against another edition
4.0
I love the Russel Middlebrook books. This one was no different. Russel is a non-typical gay teen with some interesting friends, and runs into some even more interesting characters in this story. I'd happily read as much of Russel as Brent Hartinger wants to write. I only have one real complaint, which is why is his name spelt with only one L!?! I keep typing it wrong when I review, but other than that, these are amusing and well-written easy-read books.
traciannecan's review
4.0
I got this book from Netgalley, because it sounded interesting and, though it is the fourth book in a series, it promised to be able to be read as a standalone. I have never read any of the other books in the series, so I came to Russel with a pair of fresh eyes late in the game.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of YA books starring a kid under the GLBT umbrella. That was the first thing that made me happy about this book. Finally something for the minority. BUt I was also scared out of my mind on how it would be handled. I was relieved with the humanness of Russell. He was a normal teenage boy. There were no excessive stereotypes or places where the author tried too hard to seem inclusive.
Hartinger was able to strike a great balance between calling out the hypocrisies between gay and straight culture without bashing either. The assholes weren't assholes because they were gay/straight, no they were assholes because their character was an asshole. Most YA books, GLBT or not, have a hard time not falling into tropes, but this one easily side steps traps everywhere.
Russell and his friends all have the voices of real teenagers. They did stupid things and said stupid things, but they were also quite intelligent. I appreciate that Hartinger did not shy away from cursing. Many teenagers curse and it is absurd that so many YA books refuse to acknowledge the fact. This just seemed to make the characters more believable to me.
Another part that made them seem believable to me was they were aware of only what matters to them. Most people, not just teenagers, unconsciously think of themselves as the center of the universe. These characters do, and seem to know it.
Overall, I really enjoyed the realness of the book, even though that same realness made some of the characters a little annoying. I wish I could have seen more of some characters and less of others. I totally recommend this book to everyone.
Rating: 4/5
There doesn't seem to be a lot of YA books starring a kid under the GLBT umbrella. That was the first thing that made me happy about this book. Finally something for the minority. BUt I was also scared out of my mind on how it would be handled. I was relieved with the humanness of Russell. He was a normal teenage boy. There were no excessive stereotypes or places where the author tried too hard to seem inclusive.
Hartinger was able to strike a great balance between calling out the hypocrisies between gay and straight culture without bashing either. The assholes weren't assholes because they were gay/straight, no they were assholes because their character was an asshole. Most YA books, GLBT or not, have a hard time not falling into tropes, but this one easily side steps traps everywhere.
Russell and his friends all have the voices of real teenagers. They did stupid things and said stupid things, but they were also quite intelligent. I appreciate that Hartinger did not shy away from cursing. Many teenagers curse and it is absurd that so many YA books refuse to acknowledge the fact. This just seemed to make the characters more believable to me.
Another part that made them seem believable to me was they were aware of only what matters to them. Most people, not just teenagers, unconsciously think of themselves as the center of the universe. These characters do, and seem to know it.
Overall, I really enjoyed the realness of the book, even though that same realness made some of the characters a little annoying. I wish I could have seen more of some characters and less of others. I totally recommend this book to everyone.
Rating: 4/5