Customer Reviews

Surrender

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

On his deathbed, gasping for breath and clinging to life, Gabriel remembers his past. He recalls his childhood, when he was called Anwell. At the age of seven, entrusted with the care of his older, developmentally disabled brother while his mother rested and his father escaped, Anwell accidentally killed the older boy, an event that caused his family simultaneous trauma, embarrassment and relief.

Two years later, Anwell, isolated from his peers by his overly protective parents, encounters a very different boy, named Finnigan. The two make a pact: from now on, Finnigan will do all the bad things Anwell wants to do but can't, while Anwell does only good things. The friendless boy, desperate for company, agrees to be a reflection of his newfound blood brother, a sort of angel who can earn his repentance by attaining perfection. To mark his new status, the boy renames himself after the only angel he knows: Gabriel.

As Gabriel grows older, a series of arsons terrorize his small town. Gabriel knows who's committing the crimes and finds himself torn between the constable and his own father, who wants to form a kind of vigilante team to thwart the perpetrator. Gabriel also acquires a dog named Surrender, who soon leaves to roam the hills and forests with Finnigan, who is as restless and rangy as the dog itself.

When Gabriel develops a fixation on a female classmate, the events of his childhood and the effects of his pact with Finnigan come to a head. As the truth of Gabriel's condition is slowly revealed, readers will begin to question how much of the story --- even the horrifically violent climax --- is real, and how much of it is contained only within the mind of a disturbed young man.

Sophisticated plotting, mature vocabulary and violent themes make SURRENDER a novel suitable for older teens with the maturity to handle the book's subtle nuances and sinister themes. Sonya Hartnett doesn't write down to her audience; instead, she crafts an understated plot that grows ever more disturbing as the truth is revealed. However, readers who are ready to tackle challenging, thought-provoking fiction will relish the novel's depth and darkness.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

Gabriel is dying. As life slips away, he looks back over his brief twenty years that have been clouded by frustration and humiliation. A small town and distant parents ensure that he is never allowed to forget the horrific mistake he made as a child. He has only two friends - his dog Surrender, and the unruly wild boy Finnigan, with whom he made a boyhood pact. When a series of arson attacks grips the town, Gabriel realises how unpredictable and dangerous Finnigan is. Events begin to spiral out of control, and it becomes clear that only the most extreme measures will rid Gabriel of Finnigan for good ... The most gratifying thing about "Surrender" is that, against all odds, it works. It would have been easy for this novel to succumb to the machinations of its thriller plot (a wonderful yarn borrowing from both the Faust and "wheatbelt gothic" traditions), or to the complexities of the episodic, double-voiced structure necessarily required if it's to do the things the author wants it to do. Add to that Hartnett's penchant for a prose that regularly borders on poetry and, in lesser hands, it could have been disastrous. As it turns out, "Surrender" is probably the best novel you'll read all year. What saves it is not only Hartnett's skill and experience, evident on every page, but the fact that the entire thing is shot through with such intense compassion. Damaged children are her stock in trade, and she never fails to make you feel for them, understand them, love them - even when they're involved in things we might otherwise deem unspeakable. Like her last, prize-winning effort for adults, "Of A Boy", this is one of those extremely rare novels possessed of all the essential qualities of great fiction: brilliant language, engaging characters, the urgency of an airport page-turner, and something important to say. It's one of those books that makes you sit back and wonder what the hell it is that other writers think they're doing with their time - and yours.

This book was recommended to me by one of my students, and I'm extremely impressed. This is a story about a young man's struggles to overcome an abusive life, and it is told in a narrative style that keeps you guessing until the very end. The split between Gabriel and Finnegan begins to grow wider with each passing day, and in the end, it becomes clear that Finnegan will no longer be content watching Gabriel's life from the sidelines. It is a gripping novel full of suspense and dread. A wonderful read!

I've only heard a few stories about the land down under; some about aborigines, survival of the outback or the beaches, but in Surrender, author Sonya Hartnett (a native herself) brings us a modern, awkward tale of childhood woe and the drama surrounding it.

In the small town of Mulyan, two boys create an unusual friendship and like all friendships, trouble is bound to appear. Arson, pity and murder corrupt and captivate the intense moments in Surrender. A question to ask while reading is this: What is really going on? This book is truly an eye opener created to make the reader perceive things in an odd way. There's no wonder why it received a Printz Honor.

"I am dying; it's a beautiful word." states one of our two narrators Gabriel, as he lays in a white room, beginning the story. He is only twenty years old and his short, miserable life is coming to an end. As he confesses to us about his past we learn all about his brother's tragic death, the only girl he ever cared for, and his family's dreadful lifestyle. We also hear from Gabriel's only friend and the mystery of the story, Finnigan. All we find out about this shaggy, manipulative, non-conformist is that he has no family and runs wild through the forest. Like a hurricane, he always seems to leave destruction behind him.

As I alternated chapters I enjoyed hearing these two different perspectives. The characters' recollections are vivid; their voices can be clearly heard through Hartnett's descriptive style of writing. As I read I felt as if I was being pulled through a maze. At every turn I became more mystified by the memories and events. It seems to be that Gabriel's own reality is obscured, even if he himself doesn't realize it.

The title, Surrender, can derive from many things. Should Gabriel surrender to death? Maybe Gabriel and Finnigan should surrender their unnatural friendship. The simplest explanation would be the fact that Gabriel and Finnigans' pet dog is named Surrender. Even though the dog makes its first appearance midway through the novel, he has a major influence on this story's intriguing conclusion.

Unless you are able to see through this psychological thriller, be prepared for a shocking twist. You should read this story about two complete opposite (yet one in the same) boys and how their friendship became a town's unbeknownst terror.

Hartnett's,'Surrender' continues to delve into a world of disturbed, late-teen emotion. Not, by any means, is this her target audience. She has a brilliant aptitude for expressing the swirl of high intensity introspection accompanying hormonal ephiphanies, and the sense of cruel rejection and obssessive attraction is nowhere better bettered in the confines of fiction, anywhere. As can be found in her earlier books, canine intermediaries are crucial to the telling, for bonding, as harbingers, as base instict. 'Surrender' is the name of the dog shared by twin narrators, Gabriel and Finnigan. Hartnett's punchy prose, poetic without clutter, delivers the breathless pursuit to the pillows of Gabriel's deathbed. Is it all inside his head perhaps? Fabulous writing...the account of the conflagration by arsonist, Finnigan, at the book's centre pp102-03, says as much. The power of her descriptions of landscape and the mood invoked by weather recall the sombre, sometimes threatening atmosphere of Cormac McCarthy, particularily his earier novellas.

Rarely has $1.69 been so well spent. I came across this book at a local thrift store. Something in the cover drew me to it, and after reading some of the reviews on the dust jacket, I decided it held potential. My book was embossed with a label that seemed to be the Australian equivalent of a Newberry Medal, and with good reason.

The storyline is covered well in other reviews. I think the phrase 'psychological thriller' is reaching too far, and not what I would have used, although there are psychological overtones to the story.

The writer has an expressive, eloquent style that impressed me, moved me, made me wish I could write half as well, and overall was deeply satisfying. She made mastering the two separate, distinct voices used in the telling look easy. Yes, there might have been some slow parts, and some areas could have been edited differently, but that could also be said about the last several books I've read.

The reviews suggest the target group for this book is teenagers. If you're a mature adult, don't let that turn you away. This is a much different read than the average adolescent story. The story's undercurrent of mental health is timely and important, but, in reality probably of little interest for all but the most mature of teenagers. After finishing it, I couldn't think of any teenagers I knew that would find this a good read, instead I passed the book along to a fifty-something friend that I know will enjoy it.

I couldn't help but wonder if the Columbine group began their descent into madness in a fashion similar to Gabriel's.

Apparently the author has published a book at the age of 13. I will be making a point to find her other works.

Surrender was a pretty great book for anyone who's looking for some great plot twists. While there were parts that were Deathly Hallows-esque, lots of sitting around waiting for stuff to happen, there were some parts that were absolutely shocking. The narration itself is gorgeously done, and I adore Hartnett's writing style. It's a little unclear at first what's going on, until you realize that it's in several different points of view. The emphasis on arson was a bit much, I thought. There was a time when I was just sitting there going "Okay, he's into fires, we get it." The end revalation is a complete shock. I knew something was up, but the eventual explanation--never could have seen it coming! It'll leave your heart pounding.

Rating: 4/5

Surrender is one of the best books I have read in a very, VERY long time. Though the pace is slow, that gave me an extremely suspenceful feeling nearer the end. As I read the book I thought it must be some take on fantasy, but I was dead wrong once I reached the end. It is real world and it is absolutely shocking. This book is dark yet incredibly beautiful. Hartnetts work could be described as shattering, heartbreaking, and breathtaking. Something about this book hit home for me, and it's definitely now my new favorite book. For the end I was at the edge of my seat and, when I began to realize something was changing (though I wasn't sure what), I gasped so loud I scared my family in the other room. I kept standing up near the end pages, ready to strangle the book and try to squeeze out all it's secrets. When I final reached the end, reality slapped me in the face and knocked me to my knees (that's just a figure of speech).

Yes, it is slow paced, but I feel some how that is part of the beauty of it; I feel it highlights Gabriel's slow, painful yet freeing death. The book itself is "like the long slow sigh of a cello". The characters are three dementional, the relationships between them confusing and interesting. Hartnett's writing voice reminds me of a dark whisper, drawing you towards the end even if you aren't too interested at first.

Simple put: read it. You wont regret it.

CONTENT ADVISERY FOR PARENTS: A very small amount of cursing, and no sexuality. No use or mention of drugs or alcohol (other than Finnigan drinking a beer) are to be found. Some of the violence may be disturbing for children under 13, as well as the description of Gabriel as his health declines. I think 13-years-old (or 12-years-old, depending on the maturity of the individual) is a good age limit. 13 to 103. It's a great read no matter what your age is.

Surrender is a beautifully written book but it also has a great narrative momentum in addition to it's literary merits. I have no idea why the book is marketed for teenagers as I think people of any age would be impressed by it. It is the best novel I have read this year and the best novel I have read, written by an Australian for many years. I look forward to reading Sonya Hartnett's future books.

This book didn't live up to its hype and the 5 star ratings it received. I bought it trusting the amazon ratings. The concept was interesting, the writing at times was ok then slowed to a crawl in some of the plots.

I wish publishers were more honest with authors and with some rewrites this story should be a 4 star. But it needs more work. I wish Sonya well in future writings and hope she comes up with a winner. Please don't be highly offended by my comments but book buyers need the truth I felt that I totally wasted my money and the ratings on amazon should have been more acurate!!!!!