Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ 's Reviews > Bruiser

2/7/18 - ON SALE for $3.99:



https://amzn.to/2BLxOMH

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

3.5 stars

First of all, this book might just have the best first chapter I've ever read in my life.

Secondly . . . this book is weird. I'm talking The Talented Mr. Ripley weird.

And like THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, it's better that you go into reading BRUISER knowing as little as possible.

That being said, one of the main characters is the victim of child abuse, so if that's one of your triggers, you have been warned. The abuse isn't pointless, it's a catalyst, so while, yes, it was painful--such subjects should always be painful--it was tolerable.

Moving on.

I've read several other Shusterman books, and I've never more than just gotten through them. I find his writing to be too . . . disheartening, maybe? They've all had an overwhelming sense of melancholy that dragged me down into the doldrums.

And I avoid books like that, b/c for me, the doldrums don't end just b/c the book does--don't misunderstand, I don't only like light and fluffy books. But there's a difference between telling a story with painful elements, and telling a story in which the entire tone is pain and suffering.

Shusterman's other books have been the latter. Too depressing.

BRUISER . . . not as much.

While Brewster is a wretchedly unfortunate individual, Tennyson is snarkily hilarious enough to counter it, and Cody's child-like exuberance also tips the balance.

So while the story plays out, spiraling further and further toward the inevitable conclusion--life cannot continue in the previous manner; there has to be change--the characters are fantastic enough to stave off the gloom, and wonder-of-wonders, the books ends with hope.

I love books that end with hope. Recommended. Ish.

First of all, this book might just have the best first chapter I've ever read in my life.

Secondly . . . this book is weird. I'm talking The Talented Mr. Ripley weird.

And like THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, it's better that you go into reading BRUISER knowing as little as possible.

That being said, one of the main characters is the victim of child abuse, so if that's one of your triggers, you have been warned. The abuse isn't pointless, it's a catalyst, so while, yes, it was painful--such subjects should always be painful--it was tolerable.

Moving on.

I've read several other Shusterman books, and I've never more than just gotten through them. I find his writing to be too . . . disheartening, maybe? They've all had an overwhelming sense of melancholy that dragged me down into the doldrums.

And I avoid books like that, b/c for me, the doldrums don't end just b/c the book does--don't misunderstand, I don't only like light and fluffy books. But there's a difference between telling a story with painful elements, and telling a story in which the entire tone is pain and suffering.

Shusterman's other books have been the latter. Too depressing.

BRUISER . . . not as much.

While Brewster is a wretchedly unfortunate individual, Tennyson is snarkily hilarious enough to counter it, and Cody's child-like exuberance also tips the balance.

So while the story plays out, spiraling further and further toward the inevitable conclusion--life cannot continue in the previous manner; there has to be change--the characters are fantastic enough to stave off the gloom, and wonder-of-wonders, the books ends with hope.

I love books that end with hope. Recommended. Ish.