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Bruiser
by
"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 ...more
When Brontë starts dating Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins – the guy voted “Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty” her twin brother, Tennyson, isn’t ...more
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Paperback, 328 pages
Published
October 1st 2011
by HarperTeen
(first published June 29th 2010)
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Start your review of Bruiser
Again – not a book review, but a review of my writing process for BRUISER. The idea of telling a story about an empath who can take on people’s pain had been with me for a while – but it wasn’t until I started toying with the idea of a character who could take on psychological and emotional pain that I got really interested in telling this story. We THINK we want our hurts taken away from us, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that surrendering our emotional pain cripples us. W
...more
2/7/18 - ON SALE for $3.99:
http://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. T ...more
http://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. T ...more
GAHHH. GAHH. THIS BOOK IS GORGEOUSSS. I WANT TO EAT IT. I LOVE IT TO SHREDS. Seriously, I don't think Neal Shusterman's genius will ever fail to amaze me. He is too awesome for words. It's not fair. Well, okay––Unwind is still my favorite. Everlost and Everwild are pretty hard to beat, too. But Bruiser is also very very amazing.
I don't really want to say what it's about, since part of its magic is in finding out Bruiser's secret on your own. But I can tell ya, this book––like all of Shusterman's ...more
I don't really want to say what it's about, since part of its magic is in finding out Bruiser's secret on your own. But I can tell ya, this book––like all of Shusterman's ...more
Brewster (or Bruiser), a 15-year old troubled, withdrawn kid, is in a possession of a special gift/curse - he absorbs physical pain from people he cares about. He can't control this ability, he just takes away the hurts of his friends and family, whenever he is close to them, and experiences it, regardless of if he wants it or not. Bruiser has always tried to not get attached to people, to spare himself unnecessary suffering. His social circle is limited to his abusive uncle and younger brother
...more
Dec 19, 2018
anud-be
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
everyone and their moma's
Recommended to anud-be by:
Goodreads
Shelves:
ya,
poetry,
contemporary,
magical-realism,
sci-fi,
paranormal,
fantasy,
best-of-2018,
favorites,
realistic-fiction
read for the second time on the 22th of December 2019
This is one of the most heartfelt, heartbreaking, amazingly written and annoyingly perfect books of all time
This is one of my favorite books of all times for sure ♥
---------------------------
read for the first time on the 19th of December 2018
A favourite ♥
I love this book so much, though it was painful to read it was beautifully done and surprisingly I loved every second , I can safely say it's an all-time favourite .
“So is darkness better ...more
This is one of the most heartfelt, heartbreaking, amazingly written and annoyingly perfect books of all time
This is one of my favorite books of all times for sure ♥
---------------------------
read for the first time on the 19th of December 2018
A favourite ♥
I love this book so much, though it was painful to read it was beautifully done and surprisingly I loved every second , I can safely say it's an all-time favourite .
“So is darkness better ...more
I won't pretend I thought Shusterman, the Tim Burton of YA literature, was worth my time before this book. I won't even say that I was so intrigued by the synopsis or the title or the cover art that I paid for it with my own hard earned dollars. All I will say is that my mom told me I would like it and practically put her copy of Bruiser in my hands, and the next day at work I was so incredibly bored I decided to read a few pages.
I got little work done that night.
Bruiser is one of those punch-yo ...more
I got little work done that night.
Bruiser is one of those punch-yo ...more
That kid is not kidding! I really am confused about what I feel for this novel. I should have loved it. But I didn’t. Do I loathe it? No, not really. Ughhhhhhh!!!!
Why I picked up this book : Bruiser is written by Neal Shusterman. Neal Shusterman wrote Unwind. No further motivation was needed. It is as simple as that!
Bruiser also has a very interesting concept. It’s basically a story about Bruiser, the misunderstood, socially inept, troubled hero. He uncle is abusive, and (SURPRISE!!!) he fee ...more
4.5 Stars! A deeply touching emotional story!
In a nutshell, this story centers around how much of yourself your willing to give to protect, shelter, and save those you love. Brewster "Bruiser", the main male protagonist, has a unique ability, or rather abilities, which I won't touch on so I don't ruin the story for potential readers. Keep in mind, nothing, nothing at all is at it seems. The paranormal element worked, it was different, a little strange at first, but once you understand what' ...more
2.5 stars
I enjoyed the audiobook, but I found the story too depressing. It has an interesting concept and I felt for Brewster, but listening to what he was going through was exhausting, to be honest. Especially since we learn about him early on and the whole thing just dragged for me.
By the time the story finished I ended up disliking all the other characters. I found Tennyson and Bronte very annoying and I think they behaved very selfishly throughout most of the book. Their parents weren't any ...more
I enjoyed the audiobook, but I found the story too depressing. It has an interesting concept and I felt for Brewster, but listening to what he was going through was exhausting, to be honest. Especially since we learn about him early on and the whole thing just dragged for me.
By the time the story finished I ended up disliking all the other characters. I found Tennyson and Bronte very annoying and I think they behaved very selfishly throughout most of the book. Their parents weren't any ...more
There’s a small fraction of authors that have left a lasting impression on me with their literary talent that catapults my imagination into unchartered territories. Shusterman is undeniably one of those authors in the top echelon of highly regarded and slightly feared… where I’m concerned at least.
I read his novel Unwind years ago, about the time it first came out, and I can still remember to this day how my imaginary safe place was rocked to its core by a simple and short chapter in that book ...more
I read his novel Unwind years ago, about the time it first came out, and I can still remember to this day how my imaginary safe place was rocked to its core by a simple and short chapter in that book ...more
this book is just a giant bundle of pain and I love it.
"Sometimes I feel things very deeply, y'know?"
"How deeply?" I asked.
"Bottomless, kinda."
This is the last book I'm reading this year, and I cannot even begin to explain how I feel. This book is art. It's beautiful and meaningful, and I don't even want to shelve it as YA, because it's not a novel meant solely for teenagers or young people. It's the kind of book that hits something really deep inside you, and after I read the last page (this was a lovely edition by the way, with lots of extra c ...more
Wow. Just WOW. This was one of those books were I thought I might like it because I'd previously enjoyed (erm, well I read Unwind and it tore out my soul, but I suppose "enjoyed" is a word I can still use) books written by this author, so I thought, "YES I'LL TRY BRUISER." It also came recommended by a friend. SO WHAT WAS TO LOSE? Least to say I liked it a heeeeeck of a lot more than I thought I would.
It's a contemporary with a bit of magic thrown in. Brewster (Bruiser) is a great hulk of a guy ...more
It's a contemporary with a bit of magic thrown in. Brewster (Bruiser) is a great hulk of a guy ...more
4.5 Stars Rated Up
Bruiser is one of those books that just completely blindsides you. I didn’t do a lot of research before I started reading it. Hell, I didn’t do a lot of research before I even decided to buy it. I found it at a thrift store quite a while ago and recognized it as a book that a few booktubers had mentioned previously. It sat on my shelf for a while before I came across it again as a “Daily Deal” audiobook through Audible.
Bruiser tells the story of a misunderstood teenaged boy nam ...more
Rating 4.5
This would have been a complete 5 star for me, but there were a couple of places that bothered me and I can believe it ended the way it did. Having said that let me just say WOW!!! I read Unwind a while ago and I never thought that anything could ever top that book, but Shusterman has proved me wrong, even with a few bothersome things. I can't and won't say too much about the plot as I think that every reader needs to explore this and read it in the way the author has so skillfully wri ...more
This would have been a complete 5 star for me, but there were a couple of places that bothered me and I can believe it ended the way it did. Having said that let me just say WOW!!! I read Unwind a while ago and I never thought that anything could ever top that book, but Shusterman has proved me wrong, even with a few bothersome things. I can't and won't say too much about the plot as I think that every reader needs to explore this and read it in the way the author has so skillfully wri ...more
Oh. So who thought this was going to be a normal fiction book? *raises hand* I actually like it when books are different from my general expectation. Especially YA books, since they're normally so easy to predict.
So, I like what he did there with Brew and Howl, but seriously, how many teens are going to get that the reference to the poem and his actual thought process are related? I don't want to be giving kids a lack of credit, but it seems like these characters are very literary where the majo ...more
So, I like what he did there with Brew and Howl, but seriously, how many teens are going to get that the reference to the poem and his actual thought process are related? I don't want to be giving kids a lack of credit, but it seems like these characters are very literary where the majo ...more
Nov 22, 2010
Milly
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
isamlq, sashana, tatiana, penny, tiffany, nic, jennifer wardrip, arlene,
Shelves:
favorite-ya,
supernatural
Neal Shusterman came highly recommended by a fellow goodreads-er and now I know why. He is just brillant!!! Bruiser was authentic and inventive in its plot! I was riveted and in awe of Neal Shusterman's writing style. Bruiser keeps you guessing as mysteries are revealed throughout the story, making it quite difficult to put this book down. The lines are witty, funny, and insightful! I went through a full spectrum of emotions: from laughing out loud to crying quietly! The characters are smart and
...more
This is an excellent novel for teens about accepting emotional and physical pain. Neal Shusterman, author of the fantastic Arc of the Scythe series, tells the story of Brewster a teen who takes the pain from the people he cares about. Interesting idea delivered in an interesting engaging novel for young adults and older people too.
Bruiser is narrated in turn by Tennyson, Bronte, Cody, and Brewster. Each voice is distinct and believable, particularly Brewster's which is written in poetry form. Not only is this unexpected, but it makes his entries so much more haunting.
The book is really about sacrifice and love: Would you sacrifice your own happiness if it meant that those you love would feel no pain? Is Brewster's power to take away the pain from those he loves a gift or a curse? How can a person be happy knowing that s ...more
The book is really about sacrifice and love: Would you sacrifice your own happiness if it meant that those you love would feel no pain? Is Brewster's power to take away the pain from those he loves a gift or a curse? How can a person be happy knowing that s ...more
Told from four points of view, BRUISER was quite the twist on reality, even though it was told so well that it didn't even seem like it should be impossible. After Bronte starts dating the Bruiser, she and her twin brother Tennyson find out there really IS a reason Brewster's had stand-offish and weird down perfectly – odd things happen when he cares about people.
Like UNWIND being more than just a futuristic world, BRUISER was more than a story featuring a boy with an infeasible ability. Defini ...more
Like UNWIND being more than just a futuristic world, BRUISER was more than a story featuring a boy with an infeasible ability. Defini ...more
Feb 25, 2017
❤Marie Gentilcore
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audiobook
This was more than 3 stars but not quite 4 stars but I think the story was original enough that I'm going to round up. It is a story about Brewster who is a loner who the high school kids call Bruiser. He lives with his uncle and little brother. It is also the story of twins Bronte and Tennyson. Bronte befriends Brewster. Brewster has a secret that I can't reveal without spoiling the story so I will just say that Brewster's friendship with Bronte brings out his secret which was good and bad.
...more
This book bummed me out. Not because it was a downer, necessarily, but because I could see all this room for excellence in it that never was fully realized. I think Shusterman is good at developing a likable and mildly amusing voice for his characters, but man if they don't all sound the same. And the poetry sections? Horrifying.
Bruiser is the story of twins Tennyson and Bronte, and the changes that Bronte's new boyfriend (Brewster, commonly known as the Bruiser) makes in their lives. I'm about ...more
Bruiser is the story of twins Tennyson and Bronte, and the changes that Bronte's new boyfriend (Brewster, commonly known as the Bruiser) makes in their lives. I'm about ...more
Jun 15, 2015
Connor
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult-fantasy
While not my favorite Shusterman novel, it was really well done. I loved the messages it had, and I found myself really caring for the characters a lot. I don't want to give anything away since it's so short and quick, so I won't say anything other than I like how the novel made me think about what I would do in the characters' situations.
...more
This was definitely one of those "this is impossible to put down" books. The perspective switches along with the constant suspense make the reader constantly reflect on their own emotional and physical hardships. The question of "What would YOU do?" is constantly running through your mind as a reader..especially at the end!
...more
A big hulk of a guy… that’s Brewster. The others characters are just as… unique. There are Tennyson and Bronte, so named given their parents’ professions as literature professors. I found all of them, as I said, unique… and their story engaging. Neal Shusterman can do no wrong in my eyes, so, yes, you could say that I am a fan. Unwind got me hooked and I am so glad to have found this.
OK, Enough of the gushing. The plot itself was quite different from the things I had been reading. I was in dire ...more
OK, Enough of the gushing. The plot itself was quite different from the things I had been reading. I was in dire ...more
The Sternberger twins live fairly charmed lives. Tennyson is popular, athletic, and confident-bordering-on-cocky. Brontë is popular enough, quietly self-assured, and sensitive to others. The Bruiser, on the other hand, is a hulking loner in too-small clothes who was unofficially voted Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty. He and his little brother, Cody, live with Uncle Hoyt and keep well away from everyone else. Brontë befriends Brewster and draws a very misunderstood and reluctant Bruiser into
...more
This book was exceptional in terms of characterization and its ability to make me mull over a moral dilemma. Think about it - if a person existed who was able to remove all of your pain, your anxiety, and every ailment you would ever suffer from, how great would that be? But there's a catch: this magical person must suffer from all the hurt you would have received. Would you go on and live with your pain, or would you give it up and live a carefree existence, knowing every little thing that harm
...more
The story evokes multiple feelings, and I love it! Even though it is teenagers story, it is very well written and the plot is precisely constructed. It is even better with great narrations from some of my favorite elites: Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd, Luke Daniels and Laura Hamilton.
Oh my goodness, this was great.
"What do you do with a textbook case when no one's written the textbook?"
—Bruiser, P. 194
Neal Shusterman's writing is otherworldly. Prepare to be blown away by his powers of storytelling when reading any of his books; he is a master at pushing just the right buttons to elicit emotional responses one might never dream could be tripped so powerfully by a novel. Then again, there are few authors like Neal Shusterman out there today. Truly, there are few like him in the history of American literat ...more
—Bruiser, P. 194
Neal Shusterman's writing is otherworldly. Prepare to be blown away by his powers of storytelling when reading any of his books; he is a master at pushing just the right buttons to elicit emotional responses one might never dream could be tripped so powerfully by a novel. Then again, there are few authors like Neal Shusterman out there today. Truly, there are few like him in the history of American literat ...more
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| Bruiser | 1 | 6 | Apr 06, 2017 09:27AM |
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Award-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movi
...more
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