Customer Reviews

Bruiser

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Much like Shusterman's Unwind, Bruiser is a well written story peopled with engagaging characters that will make you think, and will stay with you long after you finish the last page. The author's incredible gift with dialogue, his expert pacing and his ability to blend in totally impossible concepts and make them believable is truly extraordinary. I admire people who exude an air of being comfortable in their own skin, and it's this that I think of when I read this book. The author is just so comfortable in his own storytelling, that there are no dialogue blips, no blatantly obvious plot devices, and no clunky transitions. This tale moves along seamlessly and the reader is left with a story that is stunningly authentic.

The narrative is presented from the differing points of view of brother and sister Tennyson and Bronte, Brew, and his younger brother Cody. If I have one issue with the book, it's that these characters come across as older than their years. They are not even 16, but come across as much older teens. The prose is very well written, and the transitions between points of view are done expertly. It's Brew's point of view, written in free verse, that truly contains the power of this story. I am not a fan of free verse. I steer clear of it whenever possible, but here it so effectively gives Brew his own unique voice that I was riveted. His verse is full of pain, anger and joy. His ruminations on the nature of pain and his abilities to absorb the pain (both emotional and physical) of others are very poignant.

Each character goes through his own journey in this novel, and you don't always like them. They do make you feel, and that seems to be the whole point of this story. What good are the ups if you can't feel the downs? This is a very good book that could very well be the author's best yet. There are no language issues, no sexual situations, but some violence and lots of intense emotion. This is a book to savor for both teens and adults.

Neal Shusterman really has a knack for writing Young Adult books that resonate with a much wider audience. I started reading "Bruiser" thinking I knew what the plot was going to be - I was WRONG. I hadn't read any of the promo materials and so had no idea and am glad that it happened that way. I was able to enjoy the twists and turns of the story because of that.

I really enjoyed that the book was written in four voices and that one of the voices was done totally in poetry. Shusterman just keeps surprising me with the high calibre of his writing. Unwind was one of my favorite all-time books. But guess what? This one is right up there, too.

Shusterman's books make you think. They make you question the world and how it operates. But they do it in an exceptionally readable manner.

CAUTION:
I would recommend this for older teens or adults. Some language, sexual situations, violence.

Bruiser is a very unique story, with a just as unique main character, but for some reason the execution fell short for me.

First, I'll start off with the positives. Brewster (aka Bruiser) is a such a warm-hearted, giving guy. His unwavering love for the people in his life cause him so much pain, yet he endures. I really began to think of Brewster as a big ol' teddy bear. I was commited to the story soley because of him. Author Neal Schusterman really created a great, wholesome feeling character. I would compare him to Edward Scissorhands. You know something is different, and frightening about someone one, yet you can sense good from them. The story of Brewster is so unique, and I wanted to know more. How did this come to be? How in the heck does it happen? Why? I love that the subject engaged me enough to have tons of questions swarming in my head.

The drawbacks, well, with all the questions swarming, at the end the questions remained. Very little was given of the why, and how. Infact, I would go as far to say that I think we were never meant to know the why or how? Problem is I must know! Secondly, as much as I loved Brewster, I could only tolerate Tennyson, and Bronte at times. Because Brewster was such a great character, the others faded and failed to ignite any feelings for me. A huge part of the book was about what was going on in Tennyson and Brontes house and I didn't care, really. I wanted to peek in the window of Brewster's house with his younger brother, and drunken uncle.

I'm really split on Bruiser. I think if I was asked for recommendations Brusier would not come up, but if someone asked me specifically about it, I would say give it a try soley because of Brewster.

Every once and a while you run across an author that strikes a cord in you; strums the strings to your heart... makes your pulse quicken. For me that person is Neal Shusterman. A few months ago I read his novel "Unwind" and was blown away. Shusterman has a way with story telling that goes beyond the lines of unique, to me they are... enlightening. Most novels teach a lesson, (this I have learned in my 20 something odd years of reading,) but very few books teach you how to live. "Bruiser" (in Shusterman's own words) was supposed to be a book about a boy with the ability to take away his loved ones pain, but instead it was a tale about understanding, forgiveness, addiction, denial, loss, and sacrifice. "Bruiser" was an artistic lesson in how to cope with the unimaginable.

Brewster is a loner, but not just any loner, he is Bronte's loner. Voted "Most Likely To Go To Jail" is just one of his shining traits, and Tennyson (Bronte's brother) is none to happy about his sis's sudden love connection. Hoping to rectify the situation, Tennyson does what he does best... throws his weight around and threatens Brew, but what Tennyson doesn't know is that it's already to late to turn back. See... Brew has this "gift," he has the ability to take on the pain of those he loves, and SURPRISE he loves Bronte. The kicker? The more he hangs around Bronte, the more he cares, and before he knows it, he's knee deep in bruises and hell bent on keeping his secret. Will Brew's gift finally destroy him? Will Tennyson ever realize that you can't grow if you don't live and what about Bronte? Will she ever open her eyes and see the fate that is two feet in front of her face?

There is no question that Shusterman is a terrific story teller, his plots, his characters... they are (more often than not) flawless, so instead of focusing on his writing ABILITY, I want to focus on the way he chose to tell this particular story. The easy take would have been a singular narrative, or even duel narration, but apparently that was just too damn easy, instead Shusterman decided to tell this story through the eyes of 4 different characters (Brewster, Bronte, Tennyson, & Cody - Brew's little brother) That fact alone is commendable, but even THAT pales in comparison to the WAY in which he wrote the chapters. Tennyson's chapters were aggressive, self loathing and at times bitter. Bronte was written from the side of naivety and compassion. Cody was tapped with fear and Brewster's chapters veered VERY far to the left and were written as poetry. Talk about flexing the literary biceps. The suspense in the book carried easily from character to character and in the end I found myself once again (Thanks Neal) crying like a 3 year old that lost her dolly.

Overall? "Bruiser" is one of the most "emotionally" moving books I have read in quite some time, and well worth the moola I threw down for it. If you have had the opprotunity to read any of Neal's work in the past and enjoyed it, I assure you... this one will not dissapoint, for those of you that have yet to venture into any of Shusterman's alternative worlds, what are you waiting for?

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Joy is insignificant if you've never experienced pain.

While Unwind may have some of Shusterman's best writing, Bruiser is his best overall novel to date. Multiple voices are written masterfully, the suspense sets in quickly and does not relent, characters are interesting and worth following...in short, everything works and works very well. All told, Shusterman uses a super-human character to show the best, worst, and always flawed faces of humanity.

Bruiser is a loner, on the fringes of high school society. That is, until he meets Bronte. Bronte (whose parents are both professors of literature) finds him intriguing, believing that "still waters run deep." However, their relationship encounters several obstacles, one of which is her brother, Tennyson, an athlete and all-around tough guy who at first bullies Bruiser for dating his sister. However, their lives become interwoven, and we eventually meet Cody, Bruiser's little brother, and Uncle Hoyt, their alcoholic loser guardian. As Bruiser's secrets are revealed, Bronte and Tennyson reach out to save him...just as Bruiser does a bit of saving himself.

I love everything about this book. The story is fascinating. I was hooked from the first chapter. The story is told through 4 points of view: Tennyson, Bronte, Bruiser, and Cody. Each narrator has his/her own voice, so much so that even if the narrator wasn't written (which it is), you'd be able to tell who's talking. I love the use of poetry to communicate Bruiser's narration. He's dealing with such deep issues that it just seems so appropriate for him. I agree with a previous reviewer, though, who said the narrators seem older than their years. They are extremely sophisticated for their ages (even Cody at 8 seems older).

This book was literally amazing. I just finished it, and it's haunting in that I can't stop thinking about it. This book is a must-read for lovers of YA fiction. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

There are a number of thoughts I would like to share about this novel.

First, it was very good. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. The story was interesting, unusual, and quite addictive. I enjoyed the different points of view and the characters themselves were very likable.

However, there were a few things that I didn't like about this book.

It seemed soooo cheesy. For a book with such a unique subject, it seemed like things were almost too easily solved. It was too convenient, and I wish there had been some sort of twist to make things more complicated.

The ending: also cheesy. The book had great potential, but at the end it read more like a life lesson than the ending of a novel. I do realize that any great novel needs to have some sort of lesson built in, but this one just seemed way too blatant.

Based on these thoughts, I can't say that this book was one of my favorites. It was definitely a page turner, but the idea could have been carried out in a much more interesting and less preachy way. Overall, it was worth the read but I do advise to approach with caution.

This is one of those books that's nearly impossible to write a review of because every excellent aspect is ruined if I divulge any of the plot. Al I can reasonably say to you all is that Bruiser is an experience that must be felt and enjoyed as opposed to be told about. It's an experience that I wouldn't want to take away from any potential readers.

So what can I tell you?

I loved the characters in this story. Shusterman created an interesting cadre of participants young and old. From Cody the trusting and loving younger brother who relied so deeply on his older brother to the drunken and abusive Uncle Hoyt who took advantage of his charges in a myriad of horrible ways the variety of character focus creates the glue that binds the heart-breaking plot together.

The strongest of the cast was definitely the story's central focus -- Brewster. He was much like Ferdinand the Bull. A big blustery boy imagined to be intimidating by all his classmates yet in reality he was just a soft squishy teddy bear of a guy. Loving of Bronte and an amazing friend to her brother Tennyson his true nature was exhibited and seen only by those he held closest to his heart. Closest of them all was his younger brother Cody. As protector of the young boy he takes the brunt of his Uncle's ire in an attempt to make life easier on the boy.

The most intriguing and amazing thing about Brewster is the one spoilerific thing I can't share. You have to read through the book to truly see how wonderful he is. It both touching and heartbreaking to experience but so very worth the effort.

Self reflection played a large part in Tennyson's story. Starting out as the overbearing and protective big brother he was exactly the type of bully he'd blamed Brewster of being. Meddling in his sister Bronte's relationship with the school "thug" he didn't realize that he himself was that type of person he wanted her to shy away from. That was until he really got to know Brewster and the two became friends. However, despite that friendship Tennyson does continue some questionable behaviors, the kind that put Brewster in a delicate position.

Again, can't give the spoilers but it's the kind of situation that shows tremendous character growth on Tennyson's part as the story moves forward.

For being the person that instigates the light being shed on Brewster's life Bronte's role in this story is a bit more muted. She's strong to be sure -- fighting against Tennyson's initial judgments and meddling and then advocating for Brewster in a myriad of tenuous situations -- but she does so in ways that are less overt. She's giving of her love and attention and wants nothing more than to show the people around her Brewster's true nature. She has meddlesome moments of her own but all in all it's through her open-hearted nature that she facilitates the progression of many of Brewster's relationships and situations.

If I had to pick one aspect of this book that fell a bit short (and by a bit I mean by the smallest of margins) it would be how the end shook out. I was satisfied and ultimately liked the ending but it did feel a bit convenient. But again, there were so many strengths to the story, characters and overall plot that this feeling was thoroughly overpowered.

This is not your ordinary issues book. It has a twist to it that shines a light on abuse in a unique way. There are questions about morality but really it's about how much pain an individual is willing to take on to themselves in order to make the lives of those they love better. It's the kind of book that makes your heart break one moment but then soar the next.

Bruiser grabbed me the day it arrived in the mail. I opened the book in the afternoon to read one sentence and finished it before nightfall.

Bruiser is told from four points of view. First there's Tennyson, an athlete, who has a tendency to be a bully. He's angry because his twin sister Bronte is going to date the Bruiser. Tennyson and Bronte, second POV, are children of parents who are professors of literature, therefore their "literary" names. The parents are on the verge of separation.

The Bruiser is Brewster, a big quiet guy who was voted The Guy Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty. His POV is written in poetic style. Brew likes poetry, especially poems by Allen Ginsberg, a beat poet.

Tennyson invites his girlfriend on a date to a miniature golf course; his main motive is to follow Bronte and the Bruiser on their first date. Naturally, Bronte is angry about this. When Tennyson and the Bruiser eventually become friends, impossible things start happening. To say more would be a spoiler.

Many reviewers praised Neal Shusterman on many of his achievements; and I've got to admit: he is very good. His writing is wonderful and unique--never jaded or irksome. I liked this book enough to try more of his works. Although Bruiser is my first read by Shusterman, it's not hard to see what people like about his work: character development, appropriate story pace, suspenseful and gripping premise. It's all great. Bruiser is a gloomy and mysterious novel that kept me guessing throughout the book.

Brewster (or Bruiser) has a gift to take pain from those he cared about. Not only physical, but emotional pains too. He lived his whole life protecting himself, being an outsider and labeled as a traitor, so that people won't find out about his "pain healing/stealing" gift. Bronte and Tennyson, however, were invincible to win Brewster and he started caring about them--and their family.

Bronte's family is peculiarly well-read and formal; but it doesn't make it weird or boring, it's rather ironic and humorous. Every characters role was significantly important, albeit their flaws and self-centered choices. While I liked the fact that Brewster's uncle Hoyt was out of the picture, and finally, Brewster was going to have a new, fresh start ... Tennyson's (the good boy) selfishness angers me. Even though (most of the time oblivious) Bronte is a likeable character with great personality and respectable deeds, she is a tad controlling and she wants it all in her way. The family drama (which I dreaded) was vexing to read, let alone to imagine living with them.

Bruiser is dramatic and riveting with inimitable premise. Even if I cared about most of the characters, they were annoying. I like it, all right, but I didn't love it enough to rave about it. I felt conflicted for the most part, though it had a hopeful ending. It's a well-written book that grasped many attentions, but sadly, it felt short for me. However it is a good read.