Bruiser by Neal Shusterman Published by Harper Teen on October 1, 2011
Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins
Genres: Young Adult
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads
"There’s a reason why Brewster can’t have friends – why he can’t care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can’t be explained. I know, because they're happening to me." When Brontë starts dating Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins – the guy voted “Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty” her twin brother, Tennyson, isn’t surprised. But then strange things begin to occur. Tennyson and Brontë’s scrapes heal unnaturally fast, and cuts disappear before their eyes. What at first seems like their good fortune turns out to be more than they bargained for…much more.
Rose’s Review
I think Bruiser is one of those books that I could read again and again and always find something new. There are a lot of “big ideas” to ponder in this book. At the same time, it was entertaining to listen to as well (I “read” the audio version.) This book was told from 4 different points of view. I think the varying points of view definitely enhanced the book. One only point of view could not have told the same story. The characters immediately drew me in and I cannot honestly say that I liked one of the four main characters more than the other. Even the secondary character’s such as The Bruiser’s uncle and Bronte and Tennyson’s parents were interesting and sympathetic in some ways. I almost gave this book 3 stars because of the ending. I really found it difficult to like the ending because I was left wanting to hear from a certain point of view so badly, but the book ended and I, as the reader, was left with so many questions. I suppose this is why so many reviews of this book have seemed to love and hate this book simultaneously. Overall, I think this is a well written book that should probably be read several times before an accurate review can be written. Overall this book is deep and thought provoking.
“You think you want to know the secrets of the universe. You think you want to see the way things all fit together. You believe in your heart of hearts that enlightenment will save the world and set you free. Maybe it will. But the path to enlightenment is rarely a pleasant one.”
“I’ll never understand how a man can live his life With his finger on the self-destruct button, Holding it there day after day, Blinded by an obsession to press it But lacking the conviction to do even that.”
“It’s strange how we always want other people to feel what we feel. It must be a basic human drive. Misery loves company, right? Or when you see a movie that you love, don’t you want to drag all your friends to see it as well? Because it’s only good the second time if it’s the first time for somebody else—as if their experience somehow resonates inside of you.”
[…] Brusier by Neal Shusterman […]