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Bullet Tillerman runs. He runs to escape the criticism of his harsh, unforgiving father. He runs to numb the pain of his mother's inability to express her love. He is the star of the school track team, but he isn't a team man and doesn't want to be. Bullet runs for himself.
Bullet is unlikely choice to be asked to coach a new, African-American team member. But in coaching Tamer Shipp, Bullet learns some things about himself -- who he is, and who he can perhaps become.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why we are how we are,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Runner (The Tillerman Series #4) (Mass Market Paperback)
This novel (a prequel to Homecoming) may be one of the very best revelations of why it is that so many gifted young people simply cannot see beyond their (mostly imagined) limitations and end up so badly. Although the central character, Bullet, is not very sympathetic at the beginning of the novel, painfully he changes and engages the reader. Yet, in spite of his gained insights and his talents and opportunities, they are not enough to save him.A stunner of a book, especially for adolescents. I simply cannot imagine why this book has not been reviewed (and enthusiastically) before now; it is well written to a fault, economical in style, true and poignant. I have taught it to many young people, none of whom have failed to be moved by it. One of Voigt's absolute best. You will not regret buying and reading it, and my bet is that you will then try to turn other people on to it. Never trust anyone who says, "Trust me", but trust me on this.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, just need to be a little patient,
By anonymous (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Runner (The Tillerman Series #4) (Mass Market Paperback)
I read many Cynthia Voigt books years ago, but never came across The Runner. I happened on it during a book shortage while I was traveling recently. This book starts off a bit slow and heavy-handed. Initially I thought, I wonder if this is how all Cynthia Voigt's books are, but I was just too young to realize it before? But before too long I actually cared where she was planning to take the story, and by about halfway through I was hooked. Bullet is a fascinating character, as is his relationship with his mother. The social/political aspects of the story do come across as a bit much early on, but are easier to take as the story progresses. For me, this did not add much to the story, but I can see that it could be compelling, interesting, and valuable for young teens, especially those growing up in the early 21st century. I'm glad I found this book and I look forward to reading it again with my own kids in 8-10 years. It has also made me interested in going to back to read my old favorites by Ms. Voigt. I highly recommend it.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Samuel "Bullet" Tillerman is the Michael Vick of the Tillerman Family,
This review is from: The Runner (The Tillerman Series #4) (Mass Market Paperback)
I have read 6 of the 7 books in the Tillerman series. Books 1 and 2 (Homecoming and Dicey's Song) were GREAT!!! I could not put them down. I re-read them. So uplifting, spiritual, cooperative. The rest of the books fell flat and Runner (#4 of 7) flat-lined completely.I FORCED myself to read the book TWICE to see why it got so many 5 stars. It was even WORSE the 2nd time around. Bullet aka Samuel Tillerman is a angry psychopath who enjoys hurting animals. Sure, he grew up in a dysfunctional family but he wasn't raped, pimped out, or beaten as children in worse famiies have been and even it he were, THERE IS NO EXCUSE for his taking his violence and anger on animals or by fighting with people. He kills birds out of rage. P. 171, Bullet shoots crows for the hell of it because he is angry at his father who wants to leave him the farm. P 172 - he shoots at a rabbit he has no intention of eating - just killing in anger and sport and misses. It is bad enough he calls his long gone sister's dog "OD" for old dog and NOT in an affectionate way. This psycho actually dumped this poor 12 year lonely dog who only wanted a little attention off a dock into the water (Page 21) KNOWING the poor dog was TERRIFIED of water. His sister, Liza, rescued this dog among a bunch of puppies that had been tossed alive into the lake by uncaring owners. The dog was so frightened, it SANK to the bottom and could not move until this creep Bullet waded in and picked it up. Worse, much later, "Bullet" SHOOTS the dog "accidentally". Heaven forbid he bother with taking it to the veterinarian - nope - he sits next to it watching it SUFFER until it dies and then buries it. If he didn't have the money, he could have WORKED IT OFF cleaning the vet's dog pens or getting odd jobs around town like he had done many times. There was NO EXCUSE to let that poor dog suffer even if it meant shooting it again to put it out of its pain. WORSE YET, his grandmother told him to quit lying to himself about "accidentally" shooting the dog (Page 182) and that Tillermans always destroy the "weak" "People like us, Innocent, weak things come into our hands and we do such a bad job by them. We destroy them." "It wasn't like that, it was an accident" he says. Don't pretend, boy. Because if you are you are lying to yourself." She says. Granny must have thought her son Bullet was weak for getting killed in Vietnam because she REFUSED to have the Army ship his body home (Page 308). Hopefully, the Army buried Samuel Tillerman next to a fire hydrant so dogs could permanently do their business on his grave. KARMA wins out. Samuel "Bullet" Tillerman is shot and killed by a bullet in Vietnam. KARMA won a 2nd time because "Bullet" dies leaving no children - sparing the world from his psycho genes.
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