Customer Reviews

Rumble Fish

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I read this and the other S.E. Hinton staple books ("The Outsiders," "Tex," and "That Was Then, This is Now") repeatably as a teenager. Even then they were dated in literal context (i.e. gangs are between caucasian upper and lower class in this book), but they still captured the angsty spirit of being a teen and the changes that result from growing up. It also captured the brutility of living life in a gang. As usual, the author has parentless boys raising themselves, creating their own sense of 'family' plot-point. In this instance, there is a mother not seen through the protagonists eyes, but that of his brother who actually sought her out. Their father is an alcoholic, gambling non-entity.

Rusty is the perfect example of a self-fulfilling prophecy. He, as well as not only his gang but rival gangs, look upon Motercycle Boy with awe. Motercycle Boy lives in another world that gives him a beyond 'cool' exterior. In a normal family life, he'd likely have grown into a professor of philosophy, but within the paradigm he exists, he is a suppressed ticking time bomb, but a remarkably passive one. He has fully accepted his lot in life, as well as his likely demise, and observes it from a distance that lacks sound and color.



:WARNING, SPOILERS!:

:WARNING, SPOILERS!:

:WARNING, SPOILERS!:



Rusty is insistent that he will be just like his brother when he grows up, though others around him scoff at the idea. He repeatedly point out that they look just alike and that once he finishing growing up, he will not only look identical but assume the 'coolness' of Motercycle Boy. He is correct, though not precisely the way he expected. After a bitter gang fight that causes the retreat of the only real stable point in his life, Steve, and then the police shooting death of his brother, Rusty suddenly experiences the lack of sound and color that was his brother's legacy of mild madness. The epilogue has a grown Steve running into Rusty as though he were seeing the ghost of Motercycle Boy. By this point, though, Rusty, as had his brother, had so thoroughly distanced himself from the world at large, that he was hard pressed to even remember his old friend.

I intend to give this to my son soon, for its lessons of violence and crime, as well as the poignancy of 'be careful what you wish for.'

Rumble Fish is an excellent book about a boy growing up in a tough neighborhood in a rough family. The boy idolizes his older brother and emulates him in any way that he can; he wants to be just like his brother. The problem is that he's not like his brother--he's an individual, but he doesn't realize it.

This book took me on a rollercoaster ride, where I would be laughing aloud one minute, and have tears on my cheeks the next minute. The end of RUMBLE FISH had such a tremendous effect on me-- it blew me away. The story stirred many emotions inside me and I know that it is forever encased in my heart and I will remember it always.

I've read several books by S.E. Hinton and she is, by far, the best author I have ever read. On my third read of her book, THE OUTSIDERS, I still had tears twinkling in the corners of my eyes.

RUMBLE FISH should be a must-read for young adults, especially those that are searching for themselves right now, or those that have become followers, and are not their own person. This book teaches a valuable lesson; you have to search a little to find it, but it's there

Rumble Fish was a vey exciting book. This book my be written for young people, but the older people can really read it and put the words in your head and really think about what they mean. The book is written so that young minds can enjoy the book, but also written for older teenagers to put them to use. In Rumble Fish, Rusty, the main character, tries to be just like his older brother. Rudty's brother name is "Motorcycle Boy." He is known to be the toughest boy in the town. Rusty-James has a side kick named Steve. Steve and Rusty are one. He thinks the only way to resolve a problem is to fight about it. Rusty gets expelled from school and breaks up with his girlfriend all in the same day. Then one night Rusty goes out with his brother and he does'nt know where they are going. They get to the pet shop and? One night when Rusty-James and Steve need some help somone is not there? Rumble Fish is worth your time to read. You really can relate this to your life if you have a problem with fighting because you can take some notes out of this book, and maybe turn your life around. In some people's eyes the only way to reso,ve something is to fight it out. Grow up because there are other and better ways to solve problems other than fighting. Maybe when these people lean the better ways this world will be a better place.

Rumble Fish is an elusive, dark novel that gets deeper with meaning each time you read it. This book is NOT something to be read while watching TV. If you do, then I can garantee that you won't like it, let alone understand it. Being extremely vague of exactly where Rusty-James'story takes place, S.E Hinton has created a world where extreme violence is being thrown to the limits, and drugs are taking control of the streets. The Motorcycle Boy is definitely one the most complex characters in young adult literature today; he plays a huge part of the story, yet the reader can only imagine what he is really like. Reading from a phsycological point of view, Rumble Fish delves deeply into the heart of a dangerous fighter; the extreme physical and emotional pain of crying for the first time, what it's like to not be loved; a concept that was never touched on in any other of Hinton's novels. Overall, an INCREDIBLE read that will leave you breathless. Read it again when your twenty-five.

I'm a junior in H.S. and I hate to read with a passion. But when my teacher gave me this book to read for a report I was alittle anoyed he gave what looked to be a kids book because it was so small. But when I started reading it I couldn't stop. So now I always thank him and I've gotten other people to read it and they love it, too. My parents might even read it because I liked it so much.

Rumble fish tells the tale of Rusty-james, a 14 year old tough kid who enjoys keeping up his bad rep and wants more than anything in the world to be like his brother, The Mortercycle Boy. The Motercycle Boy is the coolest guy in town, the leader of the gangs, and a mystery to all. Smart, eye catching, and tough; the Motercyle Boy is everything Rusty-James has ever dreamt of being. The only problem is, Rusty-james isn't quite as bright as his brother. He is more bronze than brains and rather reckless. Also he is incapable of understanding The Motercycle Boy and u can't help wondering... is being The Motercycle Boy really as great as Rusty-James thinks it is?
S.E. Hinton is a master of her trade. The charecters in this novel are extremely well developed and unique. Unforgetable, moveing, and true this is definatly one of my favorite books. A good building block to heavier novels such as Catcher in the Rye and Drugstore Cowboy.

Rumble fish is a dark look at life in the late sixties/early seventies . The main character is a tough guy named Rusty-James, who uses his strength and fighting abilities instead of his mind . The story is told as a flashback with Rusty-James meeting his old geeky friend Steve when he is in his early twenties . Throughout the story we see Rusty-James idolize his older brother who looks like a "prince," and whose view of the world differentiates from everybody else in the washed up neighbourhood . Rusty-James talks about one day looking like his older brother and his respect and reputation is gained partially from being related to the myth known as the Motorcycle Boy , his brother . The books charm is possibly because of how vague it is , the Motorcycle Boy is never named , neither is the time period , the location is'nt named and women are considered secondary characters , two dimensional and unimportant . Rusty-James has his crew of pals ; Smokey (the intellegent tough guy who has a silent tension with Rusty throughout the novel) , BJ , (the fat tough kid) , Midget , (the tall lanky kid who informs Rusty-James about his fight with Biff Wilcox) and last but definatly not least Steve Hays, Rusty's best friend , a nerdy blonde haired cautious guy , who looked twelve and acted forty . Rusty-James dad is an alcoholic who at one point in his life attended law school . The father never tells Rusty how to live his life and it seems as if Rusty-James and the Motorcycle Boy are free to do what they want . Rusty-James must worry if his dad will drink up the welare check before he can get his hands on some of the money . Rusty-James also has a girlfriend , Patty , a two dimensional girl who sways any way the wind blows , we find out that shes a hellcat and not a natural blonde , but thats about it . Rusty-James misses the days of the white gangs and rumbles , instead he lives in a washed up town infested with what killed the gangs -dope. Rusty-James looses the most important thing he had in his life and the novel basically ends there with a very depressing last paragraph . The novel is an example of how a simply written novel about a 14 year old wine haired punk who fights , drinks , smokes and gets expelled from his school can be a deep novel drentched in symbolism and interesting characters can be one of the best books I've ever read . And to think its only 135 pages ! The book is great and it prevokes so many emmotions in me , I can relate to everything in the book , the setting ,the characters , its people I've known and places I have been . This novel is amazing and I recomend it to anyone who wants to hear a good yarn .

"I'D FIGURE IF I DIDN'T SEE HIM I'D START FORGETTING AGAIN , BUT ITS BEEN TAKING ME LONGER THEN I THOUGHT IT WOULD ."

After I read S.E. Hinton's novel "The Outsiders", I decided to read this one. When I read it for the first time, I didn't quite understand it. When I read it again, I understood it a lot more. I figured out why it is called "Rumble Fish." It is not because The Motorcycle Boy is amused by the siamese fighting fish. It is called Rumble Fish because in the book, it mentions on how The Motorcycle Boy and Rusty-James are in a glass bubble and on how everyone outside the bubble just live on with their lives. The Motorcycle Boy and Rusty-James are like "rumble fish" that are trapped inside the glass bubble and they are not wanted anywhere. The reason why I say that this book is good and not great is because I expected to learn more about the characters personalities, especially Motorcycle Boy's. He is such an unusual character, and I wish I could've learned more about him. I do not recommend everyone to read this book because some parts in it are questionable. Also it ends too abruptly. The ending will make you decide whether you hate it or you don't. I recommend S.E. Hinton's first novel "The Outsiders" to everyone, but I DO NOT recommend "THAT WAS THEN...THIS IS NOW." Out of Hinton's first three novels, Rumble Fish is my second favorite, THe Outsiders is my first, and That was then... this is now my third favorite. The morale to the story Rumble Fish is "Be careful who you idolize because you might end up just like them."

If you LOVED "the Outsiders", you will LIKE "Rumble Fish". Notice I said LIKE. Considering that "the Outsiders" is one of my favorite books ever (can you believe S.E. Hinton is a female and was only 16 when she wrote it?), I definitely expected to like this book more than I did. But it's still a good book. Pick it up at the library sometime if you want a quick and easy read, just don't go rush out and buy it or anything. And since you already know the details of the book, I won't bore you with any more. Slightly recommended!

Rumble Fish, by S. E. Hinton, is the story of Rusty-James, a teenager growing up in a tough neighborhood. The world he lives in is violent but his brother, Motorcycle Boy, has always been there to protect him. Rusty-James faces many obstacles in his life and must decide if he wants to live a life of crime and gangs, or choose a better way. Rusty-James starts off thinking he is strong because he is the toughest and the coolest guy. He proves himself by winning fights. He uses his older brother, the neighborhood thug, as his example of how he wants to live. Their father is a drunk and is very removed from his sons' lives. As Rusty-James goes out more and more with his brother, trouble is moving in.

I think the book was great. The writing was magnificent and I felt I was really inside Rusty-James' head. The book had a thorough description of Rusty-James' feelings throughout the book. The book The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton shares a great resemblance to Rumble Fish. Having been written by the same author, the books share excellent writing. The stories are also gang related and, very enjoyable to teenage kids. Some people may find it excessively violent, but there is a worthwhile story underneath.