Shusterman, Neal ; Bruiser ; Informal Buddy Read ; Start Date 28 Jan, 2015

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

                    

"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.

☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★


What is a buddy read?

An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book


EXPECT SPOILERS!

[Anima]

I'm in for this one, love his other books :)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Same here Anima. After reading the Unwind Dystology I picked up Everlost and so then he has become an 'auto read' author for me.
A bonus for me is that I need a "full cast" audio book for my audiobook challenge, and this one seems to fit the bill (audie nominee for multi voice) ;)

[Anima]

That sounds really interesting. Did you get it from audible?

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Yes. There are 4 narrators credited... it will be interesting to see how it works. The last full cast I listened to was American Gods which was really well done

[Anima]

Hm, I may think of this version, then :) Thanks for the info :)

[Kristie]

I got this from Audible too. I have a lot of buddy reads scheduled at the same time as this one though, so if I don't get to it right away I'll jump in on the discussion later.

[Kristie]

Did anyone start this one?

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I'm starting in a few days! Sorry I kep thinking this was in feb

[Kristie]

No worries! I wasn't able to start sooner, so I'm glad others are late. :) IO'm going to try to squeeze it in before my next buddy read starts in a few days.

[Snowtulip]

I just downloaded it from the library, I'll start it when I get out of work :)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I just have about 8 hours left of my current audio, and then I'll be starting. I'll alter the start date on the thread slightly :)

[Kristie]

I started this one today and listened to the first hour. I was a bit bored, but I wonder if it's because I read the book blurb. Not much happened that I wasn't expecting. I'm hoping I end up liking the characters. I wasn't too sure in the beginning.

[Snowtulip]

I didn't read the blurb, so I'm hoping to be surprised ;)

I've read through Ch. 5 (view spoiler)[I'm not liking Tennyson at the moment, he sure does think highly of himself, hoping this changes throughout the story. I'm curious on the backstory for Brewster though. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Ok, good tip for me then... I won't remind myself by reading the blurb :)

[Kristie]

I agree, Snowtulip. (through ch. 12) (view spoiler)[I'm not a fan of Tennyson either. I think he'll grow throughout the book, or at least I hope he will. Already, he got a little better after his sister told him that he's a bully and a snob. I'm curious about Brewter's backstory too. (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Yes, I read the blurb and a couple reviews, which was a mistake. I think this may be a book that it is better to go in blind.

[Kristie]

So I'm liking the book more as I go along. I'm interested to see where the book goes and to learn more about Brewster. I'm about 42% (in chap 30) (view spoiler)[ I feel bad for Brewster. I have a feeling that his uncle hits Cody to hurt him. He is a creepy man. I'm glad that Bronte and Tennyson have befriended him, but I think he's going to take on too much pain to try to help them. (hide spoiler)]

[Snowtulip]

I'm liking it too, now I'm in my nail biting mode, just finished Ch. 36 (view spoiler)[I need there to be a good end to this story! I was so upset at his uncle, I knew he was slimy, but thought he wouldn't do this! (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Ugh! I won't be able to check your spoiler until tomorrow! lol

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Ok, so I just finished the first hour of audio, through to the end of chapter 12.
I took your tip and didn't read the blurb before starting and I'm really intrigued!!
This is reading quite differently to Shusterman's other books, but I *know* there is some kind of twist, I just don't remember what it was.
Interesting that Tennyson and Bruiser have struck up some kind of friendship. I love the family scenes with Tennyson, Bronte and his parents. Hillarious! Imagine PB and Onion sandwiches :o

I'm not reading any of your spoilers until I'm further through

[Snowtulip]

I haven't read any of is other books, so I will definitely need to try more :)

I will eat PB with almost anything because I love it so much, but I must draw the line with onions!

[Kristie]

lol I loved the interactions with the family. I'm almost done! Planning to finish tonight. PB & onion....eww.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

lol

I just started Cody's section (I think about chapter 30?)
(view spoiler)[ and I'm guessing that the "half truth" is that their Uncle either hits Cody, or himself, in order to force Bruiser to take away the pain onto his own body. And that is why Cody could honestly say that he doesn't hit B.
Something is certainly funny in that family (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Finished. I'm not sure how to rate it...

[Snowtulip]

Finished (view spoiler)[I was upset with both Tennyson and Bronte near the end for taking so much from Brew! I loved Cody getting a handle on his fear when he was on the telephone pole, I really loved him :) (hide spoiler)]

Overall I really liked the book, I liked the writing style, especially near the end with Brews chapters.

I think I'll give Unwind a try!

[Kristie]

Snowtulip (view spoiler)[ I was so mad at Cody when he was running into the street and going up the pole! I kept thinking that he is risking his brother's life and being so callous about it. I was so mad at him! Then, I thought that that probably comes from not knowing pain. If you don't feel pain, you don't fear it.

I was also worried that Tennyson was going to turn into an addict like Brew's uncle, which he was heading towards. I'm so glad he turned it around at the end! (hide spoiler)]

Definitely give Unwind a read, if you liked this one. I liked Unwind better. I felt like parts of this book were really exciting and parts a bit boring. I'm still not sure how I feel overall. (view spoiler)[ I was annoyed with people not figuring out the emotions part, especially Bronte. I felt that it was a little repetitive and was thinking, "figure it out already!" (hide spoiler)]

[Snowtulip]

I agree about Bronte, I was screaming in my head at her!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Chapter 31

Oh I'm so sad (view spoiler)[ that Bruiser is taking all that pain for Tennyson at the games. And does Bronte know? She must.
I also have to comment that I groaned big time about the insta-love with Bronte and Bruiser. They've only known eachother for 3 weeks!! (hide spoiler)]

[Snowtulip]

Karen wrote: "Chapter 31

Oh I'm so sad "

Karen, (view spoiler)[my heart kept breaking for Brew, he's such a sweetheart and giving so much, too much to see him go through all of that! (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Karen wrote: "Chapter 31

Oh I'm so sad [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I felt so bad for him too and I was so frustrated at Tennyson for not picking up on it. I thought that Brew was trying to have some control over his "gift" by doing that and trying to be a good friend, which he has no experience with. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Brew really is such a selfless person isn't he?! I think you're right Kristie, (view spoiler)[ he is learning how to have friends and that is how he knows how to "help" (hide spoiler)]

I just finished up to chapter 43.
(view spoiler)[ I know this is awful, but I'm glad the uncle died. I was a bit worried there for a minute! Although I honestly can't see how Brew can live to be an old man considering his condition. I just know this is going to have a sad ending :( (hide spoiler)]

[Anima]

Sorry to be late to the party, I had some exams this week, but now I'm finally free to read what I want, and plan to listen to this book from tomorrow on :)

[VNerdbooks]

Snowtulip wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]

Overall I really liked the book, I liked the writing style, especially near the end with Brews chapters.

I think I'll give Unwind a try!"


You have to read Unwind, one of my favourite YA books EVER!!!!

[Kristie]

Karen wrote: "Brew really is such a selfless person isn't he?! I think you're right Kristie, [spoilers removed]

I just finished up to chapter 43.
[spoilers removed]"

I thought the same thing at that point. I can't see how (view spoiler)[ he could live long. I kept thinking...imagine if he got old and had to go to live in a nursing home and had to take away the pain from all his elderly friends?! How horrifying. Poor Brew... (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Anima wrote: "Sorry to be late to the party, I had some exams this week, but now I'm finally free to read what I want, and plan to listen to this book from tomorrow on :)"

Welcome, Anima!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Welcome Anima! It is a pretty quick read :) I'm just holding off on finishing until tomorrow as I want it to count for another team challenge that starts Feb 1 ;)

Oh Kristie, I hadn't even considered (view spoiler)[ him being in a nursing home!!! (hide spoiler)]

At about chapter 50
(view spoiler)[ and I can see how living with them is bad for Brew and I'm kind of frustrated that Tennyson and Bronte didn't think about how he may affect their family (or notice). I also think that Cody is growing up believing he is invincible as he never has to feel bad feelings or pain. Surely that can't be good? (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Karen wrote: "Oh Kristie, I hadn't even considered [spoiler removed]"

These are the strange places my mind goes...lol

Also, I thought the same thing about Cody. Doesn't seem like a good thing at all.

[Snowtulip]

I hadn't considered that either, oh my heart!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I finished.
I'm left a little speechless actually, I'm not sure how I feel. (view spoiler)[ I'm glad that things get back "to normal" in the house and that Tennyson and Bronte resolve to hang on to their own feelings. But I still worry for Brew and I was so sad with his act to save Bronte (hide spoiler)]

All up I thought this was a lovely unique story that, like all of Shusterman's work, got me thinking, and has left me pondering life