Boys feel just as insecure getting girls as girls do getting boys. I just love that. Although if this had been a woman author I would have written off her sensitive boy as unrealistic, but since the author is male, I give him more leeway with emotions. I'd to think rather than being chauvinistic, I'm taking a man's word for it since us women can only guess. Literature about finding love is normally the sappy girl's perspective and here you get insight into a boy so anxious to give love and find approval that he's hungry, but can't show it. The industry needs more male authors.

The main character, Cameron, is somewhat of a loser with no social life and yet he is a deeply feeling, attentive, and pensive boy, emotionally mature beyond his more outwardly charming brothers. I found myself relating him to my closed-off brother whom my family often writes off as immature and irresponsible, when he has his moments of glory where you do get a glimpse of him, particularly how devoted and sweet he his to his girlfriend. It is those quiet shy boys, "the nice guys who finish last," who are the ones worth waiting for.

As always, Zusak is poetry to read. Each chapter ends with Cameron's insights. The last is my favorite: "There are so many moments to remember and sometimes I think that maybe we're not really people at all. Maybe moments are what we are.... Sometimes I just survive. But sometimes I stand on the rooftop of my existence, arms stretched out, begging for more."

It's an extremely quick read--I read it over a few hours--but it's not an empty mindless read. Admist all the paranormal fantasy out there with unrealistic male love interests, it's nice to read young adult about a real guy (including his adolescent thoughts on sex). I adored Cameron and his vulnerability.

ETA: I met Zusak at a book signing. He was everything I thought he would be. I asked him how much Cameron was based off his own adolescent years and he said very much so. I could see that in him. Is it possible that I adore Zusak more than I did before meeting him?character coming-of-age contemporary ...more34 s Reynje272 956

The second and third books in ZusakÂ’s Underdog series were basically a left jab right hook straight in the feels.

Fighting Ruben Wolfe and When Dogs Cry (aka Getting The Girl) are stronger books than The Underdog. Both novels are still primarily character driven, but they read more cohesively and the writing feels more developed, closer to the style associated with ZusakÂ’s later work. While I enjoyed The Underdog, itÂ’s in the next two books that I feel Zusak really hits his stride, settling into the rhythm of his rugged yet lyrical prose.

But it’s what he writes about that really gets to me – not just Cameron’s aching hunger – but the entire Wolfe family and the way they fit together as one tough, endearing unit. It might seem unly for such small stories, where some characters only have scant dialogue, but I felt I knew these people. They have such presence in these pages – their faults and emotions and bonds laid bare, warts and all – raw and vital and alive in the story. Zusak conveys so much about the relationships in this family without having to spell it out. The brotherhood between Ruben and Cameron, which takes centre stage in Fighting Ruben Wolfe, is painfully real and complex. Even when they’re at their worst (yes, I’m looking at you especially Ruben), I couldn’t help but love these characters.

All three novels are fairly blunt about what life is in working class, urban Australia – don’t expect an abundance of political correctness here. But it’s authentic. Zusak portrays a cross-section of society with incisiveness, laying open the reality of the Wolfe’s world without romanticising or embellishing it. It’s evident that this is familiar ground for Zusak in the astute, yet matter of fact, way he writes about it.

I’m not going to lie – I cried while reading the last book. Again, it’s subtle, but so much goes on under the surface of the words. Particularly in the relationship between the brothers, and Cameron’s fight for his place, and who he is. There are so many small, quiet moments in this story, heavy with significance, yet never overplayed. With a short scene or a terse exchange between characters, Zusak manages to articulate the emotion that underpin the novels, and inject this story with so much heart and honesty.

These arenÂ’t perfect books. They probably wonÂ’t be everyoneÂ’s cup of tea.

But I bloody love them.

* * * * *
I'm not crying, it's just raining on my face. 14 s Larnacouer de SH772 167

Bazen sadece bulutlar varm?? gibi görünüyor.
Bu ak?am bulutlar tepemde as?l?, gökyüzünde somurtuyorlar. Sözcüleri yazmam? seyrediyorlar. Onlar? okuma zahmetine katland?klar?n? bile dü?ünmüyorum.
Kendimi, önümde yere k?r?k parçalar at?lm?? bir odada hayal ediyorum.
Onlara do?ru yürürken ne olduklar? hakk?nda bir fikrim yok. O yüzden korkuyla yakla??yorum. Adeta yapboz parçalar? gibi yere saç?lm??lar. Yaral? görünüyorlar.
Çömelerek aya??m?n dibindeki parçalar? topluyor ve onlar? bir araya getirmeye ba?l?yorum.
Birle?en parçalar yava? yava? ?ekil almaya ba?l?yor. Sonunda görüyorum.
Yerdeki parçalar.
Benim parçalar?m.

//

Aile ba?lar?, dostluk, gençlik ama en önemlisi karakter geli?imleri aç?s?ndan inan?lmaz ba?ar?l? bir seriydi bu. S?? ve yüzeysel bulan okurlar ne bekliyordu bilmiyorum ama sahneler gözümde bir gençlik dizisi mesela Skins izliyormu?um gibi noktas?na virgülüne varas?ya dek canland?. Ötesi olamaz zaten. Serinin aç?k ara en iyi kitab? buydu diyebilirim.
Özleyece?im.
Muhtemelen.
Çok.

Bu anlamda Markus Zusak'la yüzle?mek için bir sebebim daha oldu.

Allah'?m belki, günün birinde, Wolfe Karde?lerin devam kitab?
a m i n.en-bi-sevdiklerim one-sitting-read13 s Whitney72 3

You get what you get when a teenage boy is the narrator. Very candid sex thoughts every third sentence. Kinda makes me worried about the fact I have sons. Anyway. There are some definite similarities in the writing with Book Thief (ie poetic flowiness), but I don't think Zusak hit his 'come together moment' as a writer until Book Thief. There is no comparison between the two. Since there isn't, I'll try and be fair.

Its a coming of age story with an awkward boy lost in his own family--not to mention lost in his own hormones. It didn't feel real (I don't say that in a bad way). It was dreamy. a story told through emotion instead of the realities of situations. I enjoyed it the way you enjoy your dreams--with a kind of floaty wistfulness. But no way does a boy this thoughtful exist. If he did, I think he would get on my nerves after a bit.10 s Federico DN496 1,761

Book interrupted 3/3.

The story of the Wolfe brothers, Ruben and Cameron, two underdogs living in a poor and forgotten neighborhood, trying to overcome an almost marginal existence. They will fight to live, and they will live to fight. In school, in life, in love, and in the ring. Sometimes together, and sometimes against each other.

A trilogy that goes from lesser to greater, starting with an almost forgettable first, moving to an enjoyable second, and finishing with a very memorable last. This trilogy should be considered as a single book divided into three parts. "Underdog", "Fighting Ruben Wolfe", and "Getting the Girl". Three books that individually lack identity, but together gain personality.

-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[2004] [256p] [Young Adult] [Recommendable] [“Sometimes you get the girl. Sometimes the girl gets you.”] [“Okayness. The funny thing is that this word is not even a real word. It's not in the dictionary. But it's real in me.”] [“Moments is what we are.”]
-----------------------------------------------

????? 1. "Underdog."
????? 2. "Fighting Ruben Wolfe."
????? 3. "Getting the Girl."
????? 1-3. "Underdogs."

-----------------------------------------------

Libro interrumpido 3/3.

La historia de los hermanos Ruben y Cameron Wolfe, dos marginados viviendo en un barrio pobre y olvidado del mundo, tratando de sobrellevar una existencia cuasi marginal. Lucharán para vivir, y vivirán para luchar. En la escuela, en la vida, en el amor, y en el cuadrilátero. A veces juntos, y a veces uno contra otro.

Una trilogía que va de menor a mayor, empezando por una primera casi olvidable, pasando a una segunda disfrutable, y terminando con una última muy memorable. Esta trilogía debería considerarse como un único libro dividido en tres partes: “El Marginado”, “Peleando con Ruben Wolfe” y “Consiguiendo la Chica”. Tres libros que individualmente carecen de identidad, pero que juntos adquieren personalidad.

-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[2004] [256p] [Joven Adulto] [Recomendable] [“A veces consigues la chica. A veces la chica te consigue a vos.”] [“Lo gracioso es que esta palabra no es una palabra real. No está en el diccionario. Pero es real en mí.”] [“Momentos es lo que somos.”]
-----------------------------------------------almost-fav young-adult14 s SaraAuthor 3 books93

I always have to think awhile after closing a Zusak book. He gets me so hard in the gut it's hard to formulate a coherent "review" of the experience.

Getting the Girl is a continuation of the story of the Wolfe brothers begun in Fighting Ruben Wolfe. Zusak writes close to the bone, exposing the marrow of what love is---between a boy and a girl, and between brothers. It's also about Cameron defining himself, as he is ripped away from all the safe places he used to hide, including his identity as Ruben's inferior brother.

And once again, Zusak takes artistic risks with his story which could easily go horribly awry. This time, he includes Cameron's stumbling and raw words as he puts who he is on paper, foreshadowing this almost mute boy's emergence as a writer/poet. These sections work, thank God, because Zusak doesn't try to underwrite them. He lets Cameron be over-the-top and angsty and "poetical" so his words read the rough drafts of poetry before it's shaped by time and practice. They sound wincingly authentic, of the sort you'd want to hide if only they didn't demand such attention for their pure gutsy-ness and flashes of stabbingly accurate emotional insight.

The rest of the story is unflinching, too, as no one "gets" anyone. Instead, we wrestle with the dual meaning of "get": 1) to obtain or take and 2) to understand. When we love someone, which is it?

And most brilliantly, even though the book is a slim, short read, and we may think we already know we can't truly "have" another person, Zusak takes us on a long, slow walk through the conflicting desires that make it so difficult to let go of that need, so we can, Cameron, chose how to love with open eyes. 9 s ?????? ??????2,315 1,572

?????? ???????? ??????, ??????? ?? ????????: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/k...

?????? ????? ?????????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ? ?????? ???????, ???? ??? ???? ????????? ??? ????? ??????? ? ??????? ????????, ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ????????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????. ? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?? ???????????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ??????????, ????? ????? ??-????? ?? ????? ????? ?????, ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ???????, ????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????, ????? ? ?????????? ?????? ? ????. ? ????, ?? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ? ????????? ????????? ?? ???? ??, ?? ? ????? – ???? ? ??????? ?? ??????, ? ????? ?????, ???? ? ??????, ????? ???? ?? ??????? ????????????? – ??????? ?????, ????? ?? ????????? ??? ??????.

???????????" ????????? ????"?
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/k...8 s Jill253 13

This was the first Zusak book I read and I think it's under-rated. Zusak has a way with characters. I literally ached for Cameron and his desire to have a girlfriend. But what I loved most about the book was the depiction of Cameron's relationships with his family and the way in which Cameron is finally able to find himself. ya8 s Lyndsey O'Halloran432 66

Somehow, I read this book before the others in the series which should probably have made it confusing. However, even without having read the previous two books I feel as though this one stands quite well on its own.
The beginning of the book sees Cameron (Cam), Ruben and Octavia together with Cameron narrating. Cam has such a strong voice and one which is really enjoyable to read. Out of him and his brother, Cam is the one to be seen as the weaker of the two. He definitely doesnÂ’t have the success with the girls that Ruben does. It was easy to feel sorry for him as a character, even without having read the other two books, as he is so down on himself. From the very first page, I was routing for Cam and wanted him to get his happy ending.

What I loved about Cam though is that he knows who he is, even if that isnÂ’t accepted very much. He knows that he has to work hard and fight for what he wants, as he states in the opening pages. Cam is also open and honest about who he is and what he wants. While that is sometimes a better life or acceptance, it is also about girls and being a regular teenager. At times, Cam seems older than this though due to the beautiful way in which he narrates. HeÂ’s wise beyond his years, he has a way of saying what he wants and what he is feeling in such a wonderful and mature way and I think this helps to really set him aside from his brother.

As I hadnÂ’t read the previous books, I was yet to learn of the relationship between Cam and Ruben and how different they were. Ruben is the complete opposite of Cam. HeÂ’s a bit arrogant, a womaniser and not nearly as thoughtful and emotional as Cam. I hated to see him put Cam down on such a regular basis. Ruben really does think that heÂ’s better than others and especially better than his brother, which is largely due to his success with the girls. It was a shame to see that girls were the biggest thing in RubenÂ’s life and most of what he cared about.

The plot mainly follows Cam and his quest to get the girl, as the title would suggest. Seeing Cam fight for something he wanted, no matter the consequences was very heart-warming. It became clear that he had never really had anything he wanted so much before, nor ever been the first choice. However, the book also follows the whole Wolfe family and shows how their reactions/ decisions affect CamÂ’s life and the way he thinks of things himself. I really enjoyed getting to see him in a bigger, more social environment as he definitely wasnÂ’t the most outgoing of characters. Being around his family gives Cam the chance to show how different they make him feel and also how much better everyone else thinks they are in comparison.

Overall, even though the last in the series and with me reading in the wrong order, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and lives that Zusak has created are extremely real and the story wonderful to read.
6 s Adiee50 44

?????????? ????? ???????? ????? ?? ?????????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ??-????? ?? ???????????. ??????? ?? ? ??????? ? ??????? ???? ???????? ?? ????????. ????????? ?? ??????? ?? ?????????? ? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ????????? ?? ???? ??. ????????? ?? ??????? (:6 s Rena143 2

As I started reading this book I was thinking-hmmmm not hitting me this author usually does. A few pages later I was thinking that I love Cameron Wolfe. Here is a nice guy, a good guy, the guy that should always get the girl but never does. A boy that just wants to be loved-of course he wants sex too, but then what guy doesn't? Most books that I have read in the YA genre are usually girl narrated, and usually have a love interest that is basically an ass that happens to be sooooo beautiful. The end of all common sense for women of all ages. Rube is just that-a good looking jackass that treats females crap, and they love him for it. He's got fire and passion, and then you have Cameron who wears his big heart on his sleeve, and hides in the shadows so that only a few notice it. This book broke him down, and fortunately gave him the fortitude to withstand it and fight for what he wanted. He nevers fails to come through for those he loves. I love this author so much, especially his stories that come from the young guy point of view.5 s Maggie434 436 Read

The Wolfe family has moved into my heart.

********************

Reading the first of the books that Mandee got me -- also why I fell into the Wolfe Brothers rabbit hole.

I love this cover.
2013 aussie-2013 aussie-aussie-aussie-oi-oi-oi ...more5 s Do?an202 13

Ah be Cameron karde?... Ne kadar safs?n sen. :) Cameron büyümek istiyor ama onu kimse takm?yor. Nereye elini atsa elinde kal?yor desek yeridir. Finali biraz belirsiz olsa da güzel bir sondu. Üçlemeyi okurken Zusak'?n kendini geli?tirdi?ini de görüyoruz. Genel bir yorum yaparsak seri beni tatmin etti. Mart?n?n ç?kard??? en güzel kitaplardan diyebilirim.

5 / 44 s Burçak K?l?ç Sultano?lu 544 81

Pek benlik bir seri de?ildi... Tam bir 'kaybeden' olan Cameron'un geli?mesini okudum 3 kitapta. Ama fena de?il belki sizler seversiniz :) okunmu?-okunacak-kitapl???m4 s Cami831 72

The street.
Was empty.
She broke into me.
The city was swollen. The sky was numb.
His voice clung strangely to his mouth.
The moment was cut open. It fell in pieces all around me, and I had no idea what would happen next...
My heart threw itself to my throat.
I clock onto the truth.
But for now, happiness throws stones.
Her hair, echoing down her back in the dark.

I
love
Markus
Zusak.

Can I say that I loved the writing enough for 4.5 stars, but the story only 3.5 and so 4?

This is written for adolescent boys.

And yet...these words are worth devouring to anyone.

The beginning is a bit off-putting. The main character, Cameron Wolfe, is a bit too honest about what he does in his spare, alone time, but once it's out it doesn't come back again and it's quite a clean book, really.
In reading, we are witness to Cameron coming into himself, falling into love and words and writing. We are witness to his struggles to break out of his brothers' oppressive shadows.

I love that he calls his mother: Mrs. Wolfe.

4 s Dragonfly 22 7

This writer has a unique touching way of writing that influence the readers feelings no one else , amazing book :) 3 s Marianne3,680 256

When Dogs Cry is the third in the Wolfe Brothers series by Australian author, Markus Zusak. The audio version is narrated by Stig Wemyss. Another year has passed and the Wolfe family is in a better place: Cliff has plenty of work and Rube and Cam are working Saturdays with him; Mrs Wolfe is still working two jobs; Sarah is working hard and taking candid Polaroids in her spare time; Steve is working hard and winning weekend football; Cameron has taken to standing outside StephanieÂ’s place in Glebe, hoping for a glimpse of the girl who doesnÂ’t care about him.

When Rube, in his usual callous fashion, breaks up with the beautiful Octavia, Cameron is annoyed with Rube and sorry for Octavia. Until, that is, Octavia reappears with a question for him. Some of the prose is beautiful (“Soon the evening worked its way into the sky and the city hunched itself down”), but there are also instances where Zusak tries too hard and the result is woeful: “… the brief happiness left and a sadness tore me open very slowly and deliberately. City lights shone across the air, reaching their arms out to me, but I knew they’d never quite reach” (ugh!)

This time the format is twenty chapters of Cameron’s narration each ending with thoughts that Cameron (the fledgling author) has started to write down. This gives the series a semi-autobiographical feel. The characters, plot and dialogue are believable but the cute dog illustrations that graced the first two stories were absent from this one, even though the dog played a large part in Cameron’s “words”. With perhaps some insight into the author’s life, this is a good taste of early Zusak.3 s Andréia360 6

Review in portuguese by blog MON PETIT POISON

Mais um livro para série coisas que só acontecem no Brasil.
O livro faz parte de uma série chamada ‘Os Irmãos Wolfe’, onde os dois primeiros livros foram publicados pela editora Bertrand, mas eu não sabia disso e li ‘A Garota Que Eu Quero’ sem ter lido os anteriores e não tive nenhum problema com isso. Mas fica a dica para quem tem mania de perfeição e gosta de seguir tudo à risca.

Eu curto muito o autor pelo ‘A Menina Que Roubava Livros’ [faz um coraçãozinho com a mão porque esse livro é muito amor], então lá fui eu atrás desse novo livro dele e já aviso; para quem curte coisas lindinhas, mimosas, blábláblá, pode tirar o cavalinho da chuva, Markus escreve a verdade nua e crua, ele mostra o real, personagens que nos fazem rir e chorar e querer matar e/ou morrer. Se você não curte personagens assim e gosta de contos de fadas, talvez ele não seja um autor para você.

O livro fala de Cameron e como o mesmo vive à sombra dos irmãos, ele se sente um inútil, tem sérias tendências estranhas e muitas vezes eu achei que ele fosse cometer suicídio. Ele tem baixa autoestima, mas tem uma grande lealdade com a família. E nesses momentos ele parece se esquecer que é um zero a esquerda.

As emoções são muito intensas, desde a raiva com que ele vê o irmão tratar as meninas, como ele se sente para baixo por ninguém gostar dele e ele fala bastante de sexo, não vi isso de forma negativa, ele vai falando da vida dele em todos os planos, inclusive o sexual. Ele guarda muito todas as emoções, por isso ao longo do livro que quase parece um diário, temos também algumas poesias que de certa forma está ligada com a história, mas de uma maneira figurativa.

A leitura é muito rápida e intensa, o livro é fino, mas tem muita coisa ali para nos fazer pensar. Apesar de Cameron ser o personagem principal, ele fala um pouco de toda a família e como eles se comportam – o pai, a mãe, os 2 irmãos mais velhos e a irmã. Esses são o clã dos Wolfe e quando lemos sobre os parentes, mesmo que seja na visão do Cam, começamos a entender algumas coisas que Cameron pensa.

Sugiro a leitura para dar uma sacudida na vida, esse autor sabe escrever e mostrar um lado que poucos autores conseguem. Todos os seus livros me fazem pensar depois que termino a leitura. Fico lá tentando entender e colocar tudo que li no papel/organizar na minha mente e agir melhor. Curto muito quando consigo trazer coisas dos livros para a vida real.

http://www.monpetitpoison.com/2013/08...3 s Mia413 39

i can now say with pride that i have read everything markus zusak has written and put out in the world. i can also say, in a more disappointed tone, that this series was pretty terrible. it just has debut written all over it. the underdog trilogy, if i'm being honest, is a poundland bridge of clay, with much poorer writing and even less action.

yes, i did find an unexpected mild enjoyment for the second novel in this series. the other thing that i personally enjoyed was the setting of these books. all of these books take place about a bus or train ride away from where i live, and it was oddly homely and comforting in that sense. i could believe that all these events were really taking place in a working class area about forty minutes away from me. but that's really all the nice stuff i've got for the underdog trilogy.

the main character, cameron, was unbelievably pitiable through every single book. his character never really went through much development through the series, and the only thing that really changed was that instead of daydreaming about girls and models in magazines, he somehow had a real girlfriend at the end of when dogs cry. pretty amazing, really, considering that he says nothing to her and just stands outside another girl's house all the time (which is, by the way, creepy). he's pathetically sad and the only thing i really cared about was his relationship with rube, which was, i suppose, another good thing this series had to offer.

i particularly hated the way women were written throughout the entire series. i really didn't need to read about cameron's fifteen year old testosterone fuelled fantasies, nor did i need to read about him slut shaming either. octavia was so underdeveloped (and most of the characters too for that matter) and the fact that she saw anything in cameron is a mystery to me. also instalove. yikes.

with the exception of the second book, this series basically had no plot? when dogs cry basically consisted of cameron and octavia wandering around sydney doing nothing. and i can barely remember the events of the first book. you could argue character development, but let me tell you, rube was the only one who really went through anything worth pointing out.

there's more i could say, but i think that's enough. on a more positive note, i've loved everything markus zusak's put out since this. i am the messenger, the book thief and bridge of clay are all brilliant novels. put the underdog series aside and pick up one of those books instead.australian owls-2019 read-in-2019 ...more3 s Mariel667 1,120

Family members dumping the "loser" underdogs seems to be a theme in Australian writer Markus Zusak's works (see I Am the Messenger). I felt hurt on behalf of Cam. The fact that it is not true is not important. In the vein of ya trends I cannot stand, the need to prove worthiness on a success scale by the end of the pages is kinda bullshit. It's proving on a test score what you had learned for the whole year (as if most people don't cram the night before). His brother's success with females is shallow, and doesn't need to last past a few minutes (or whatever his stamina is). That's a backwards universe idea of worthiness in my book (toilet water flows backwards in Australia. No wonder they were insane!). They should have helped him become the person he wanted to be instead of comparing him to his more social brother. It depressed me how they treated him and I couldn't find the ending a happily ever after one ( getting the girl). They should have already been there. :( I did love his sister (his sole cool family member) and Octavia (the girl), for bothering to notice what is really good about Cam. I wouldn't care if he ever published his writings, and continued to day dream 'till the end of his days. He had a big heart and took the time to give a shit. If he wants to take until he's forty to settle on something, or never has a lasting relationship, he'll always be good enough for little old me. That beats disloyalty any time.

It is somewhat disturbing to me that my brother urged me to read Zusak in the first place (The Book Thief) because he reminds me of the older brother in this. I doubt he ever read this so I shouldn't read anything into it.3 s Terry902 38

My colleague really doesn't this book. She describes it by saying, "It's about this pathetic guy who stalks a girl, and then nothing happens." Knowing the reputation of I Am the Messenger and The Book Thief, I wondered if her evaluation could be right. Markus Zusak has written some fine, fine books. Surely she's missing something? I decided to see for myself.

I'm glad I did. I think it is a good book, one well worth reading, but my colleague is also right: there's just not much in the way of conventional plot going on here. Readers looking for laughs or action would do better to seek out the s of Swim the Fly or The Ruins of Gorlan. But for those seeking out a serious exploration of the way brothers can at once love and destroy one another, this is a fine, thoughtful book. Every so often, Zusak writes a line of extraordinary beauty and clarity that stops you in your tracks.
guy-books3 s Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive)2,497 54

Read all my on http://urlphantomhive.books.com

After reading The Book Thief I was immediately a fan of Markus Zusak and without thinking got other books from him. Unfortunately, Getting the Girl was nothing The Book Thief.

I'm partly to blame, since I got the third book in a series, but still even if I couldn't understand all that was going on I still expected something more. I couldn't feel any of the charm and awesomeness I had expected so I was actually really disappointed by this book.children-ya read-in-dutch3 s Veronica35 2

this book wasn't at all what i expected. i guess i don't know what i expected but it turned out to be a book about a young boy pining for a he thought he couldn't get, but he does, only to lose her. i believe the book is intended for a much younger audience, perhaps teens in middle school but it easy to read while i sunbathed at the beach. hopefully the other book that i really intended to read by this author called the book thief is much better and for an older audience. 3 s Laura Hollander4 2

Getting The Girl, by Markus Zusak, tells a story of two brothers. The older of the two, Rube, has girls falling head over heels for him. On the other hand, Cameron is quiet. He and Rube are friends, even if they are complete opposites. Cameron doesn’t pay much attention to any of Rube’s girls until Octavia comes along. To him, Octavia is different, not only is she around for longer, and not only does she talk to him, she’s just different. Soon, Cameron finds himself wanting Octavia, which, is why when it’s over between Her and Rube, Cameron decides this is his opportunity to search for the love he craves. When Rube finds out about this, he is appalled. He calls Cameron “scraps” on the few occasions that he talks to him. Rube’s new girlfriend, Julia, has a jealous ex who calls the house looking for Rube. When they arrange a fight, Cameron lurks around watching out for Rube.
This really surprised me. I think that as brothers, or as siblings or family members, you owe something to the rest of your family. Next year, I will be at school with my older brother, and if I got into trouble and people were beating me up, I’d hope that he’d be there for me. Now, I’m in school with my sister, and I know that if she was in trouble, I’d try to help her. However, if I she had been ignoring me for the past few weeks, giving me the cold shoulder and calling me “scraps,” and the fight was far away, at night, I’m not so sure the circumstances are the same. It’s so brave of Cameron to go help Rube after Rube has shunned him. His sister into art, and drew a picture of him with boxing gloves on, because he fights for what he wants. His sister, Sarah, threatens him, telling him that if he didn’t fight for what he believed she’d erase the glove and replace them with nothing. Cameron knows Rube is his brother, and he knows that no matter what they’ve gone through there is a point where you should give up a little bit of your self to protect someone you love. Where is that line though, and how is that line different from the line that makes us think sometimes it’s okay to go after what you want even if you hurt someone you love because they’ll forgive you?
I donÂ’t think itÂ’s fair to make one sibling carry the other siblingsÂ’ pain because of the fact that they have the same parents. I think protecting people you love is a choice, and there is no real obligation. People feel obligated, I think, to help people they love because they love them and because they want to, they feel obligated to the love not the doing what other people think is needed. I think that in someway you owe the people you love trust, your word, and getting their backs, but I think in other ways you donÂ’t owe anyone anything. No one is forced by law to do anything for anyone they love; they just force themselves to do it because they love them. When you stop loving someone, you are free of the weight that they give you in the role you play in their lives, and, I think thatÂ’s the only way to be unobligated.
Cameron never stopped loving Rube, which is why when he knows he can help Rube is such a time of trouble, he does. He still plays an important role in RubeÂ’s life and he still loves him. With the love comes the weight and the responsibility.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review2 s Bilge B289 19

S?rf Markus Zusak'in hat?r?na çevirideki s?k?nt?lar? mümkün mertebe görmezden geldim. Çevirisi ilk iki kitaptan kat be kat daha iyiydi ama yine da kötüydü.novel series shorties2 s Marija332 39

Even though this is one of ZusakÂ’s early works, thereÂ’s something about his writing that really gets me. Certainly Getting the Girl is not as refined as I Am the Messenger or The Book Thief. And if youÂ’ve read those other two books, you can plainly see that Zusak has recycled some aspects from this earlier work, incorporating them with more explicit detail in those later novels. Yes, the writing style of this particular novel is rough and scruffy, yet it embodies Cameron Wolfe, the narrator, so well. Because the styleÂ’s so natural, itÂ’s so much fun and such a pleasure to read. And I must say that I actually it better than I am the Messenger.

Cameron tells his story with a conversational tone. HeÂ’ll start telling a tale and become immersed and entertained by it, letting it flow naturally, even if he may stray from that initial thought that originally brought it up. Yet, un a traditional stream of consciousness format, youÂ’ll never get lost in the prose. After his little tale is complete, Cam will back track, continuing on narrating his main train of thought.

The oral quality of Cam’s storytelling is also enhanced by the inclusion of his “words,” which add contrast to his story—i.e. those little writing pieces he creates in response to certain momentous events in his life. Cam’s “words” have a free verse poetic quality that manages to gradually reveal Cam’s inner self…that figurative butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. It’s Octavia who helps lead Cam onto this path. In a way, Octavia becomes an Estella to Cam’s Pip.

But what I really love about this book—the main reason why I rank it higher than I am the Messenger—is how Cam describes the city. Through Cam’s eyes and his voice Sydney comes alive. The city constantly changes and shifts taking the form of Cam’s feelings at a particular moment in time. Through Cam’s eyes, the Sydney we see at the beginning is not quite the Sydney we see at the end. It’s a truly beautiful element of the story. Definitely a book I’d highly recommend.
contemporary favorites ya-mg2 s Easton Groskreutz20

Personal Response: I personally think this book started off creepy. Towards the end of the book it got much more in depth and understanding. I think it got easier to read towards the middle of the book. I´m not much for love stories but this book grabbed my attention. I honestly d this book from start to end but there could have been a little more action taking place too.
Summary: Cameron Wolfe life is a pretty quiet teenager. He has two older brothers and a sister. Steve is a star soccer player. Rube is a charming guy that hits on new girls every week. Sarah is a quiet intelligent woman. Cameron wishes he could come close to one of them. He usually isn't even noticed by any girl that dates Ruben until Octavia came up. She always seemed part of the Wolfe family. Once Cameron heard his brother broke up with Octavia Cameron took the advantage that both Rube and Octavia gave him. Cameron and Octavia were in love for the longest time until Rube found out and that's when the first real conflict broke out between Cameron and Rube. Octavia didn't Cameron getting hurt so she left Cameron. Sarah helped Cameron see who he really was and showed him he's his own person and not Rube´s shadow or Steve’s shadow.
Recommendations: I recommend this book to anybody who is over the age of 13. I recommend this book to that age group because there are some inappropriate thoughts in Getting the Girl. Readers shouldnÂ’t stop reading because of the inappropriate thoughts and actions taking place, because it does clear up and it gets better. A movie that may relate to the romance in this book is Where the Red Fern Grows Part Two. I give this book a three star rating.
Characterization: Cameron Wolfe is the main character in Getting the Girl.Cameron has messy hair and is obsessed with girls and becoming who his brothers are. Cameron is quiet and isn’t his brothers. Cameron wants somebody to love him for who he is and he wants to treat her right. Rube is Cameron’s brother and Rube gets a new girlfriend every week. Rube is selfish, charming and he is a fighter too. Once Rube finds out that Cameron is going out with one of his exgirlfriends; he gets jealous and fights Cameron.2 s LaurenAuthor 1 book78

My husband read this before I did and he thought it needed "more elf" -- a John Green / Vlogbrothers reference indicating that, y'know, if there's a "girl" in the title, there should be an appropriate amount of girl in the story itself. But I'd read the prequel / companion book, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, about two years ago, and knew what to expect. Zusak clearly loves the Wolfe family, perhaps almost as much as he loves interesting verbs, and the focus here is on Cameron Wolfe's rivalry with his brother Ruben, and his attempt to find his own way in the world, whether that be with a girlfriend, or alone with his writing.

I'm always wary of YA characters trying their hand at creative writing -- trying to make the character a "good" writer usually leads to treacherous sentimentality, or eloquence I can't quite believe in. But Cameron's scrawlings, placed at the end of each chapter, were appropriately naive and searching.

But anyway: verbs! Zusak is the master of them. I'm excited for his next book, Bridge of Clay, supposedly coming out this fall.young-adult2 s Sheri1,259

I had I am the Messanger recommended to me a while ago and d it. I also enjoyed The Book Thief and so I picked this book up because it was by the same author. When I started reading this yesterday, I realized I had done it again; that is picked up a book that I had already read. And, once again I was disappointed in the second reading.

I know this is a young adult novel, but it did not come across as a touching read about a sentimental young man. Instead, it came across (to me) as a slightly mentally handicapped person looking for love. I realize that Cam is not actually mentally retarded, but I thought he was both times I read this. I think I understand what Zusak is going for, with a touching story about a boy trying to be a man, a brother, and deal with his obessions with sexual feelings while still being a decent human being. But he comes off as a sappy guy who is just not really with it.

Cam is not believable, he is not sympathetic, and the book was boring. Overall the only good thing about it is that it is short enough to read in about 2 hours.coming-of-age kid-young-adult2 s Yoana55

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