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The books are:
* ''Don't Call Me Ishmael'' (2006)
* ''Ishmael and the Return of the Dugongs'' (2007)
* ''Ishmael and the Hoops of Steel'' (2011)

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Cool Loser TRS cleanup, has been renamed to Unconvincingly Unpopular Character and is a YMMV audience reaction.


''Don't Call Me Ishmael!'' is a light-hearted trilogy of Young Adult novels written by Michael Gerard Bauer and centering around cheery [[CoolLoser loser]] [[EmbarrassingFirstName Ishmael Leseur]] and his friends, in an Australian all-boys school. Notable largely for an infectious enthusiasm, which suggests that Bauer enjoyed the novel as much as his characters, and for being highly quotable, to the extent that the series named [[ThanksForTheMammary a trope]] before receiving its own page on the wiki.

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''Don't Call Me Ishmael!'' is a light-hearted trilogy of Young Adult novels written by Michael Gerard Bauer and centering around cheery [[CoolLoser loser]] loser [[EmbarrassingFirstName Ishmael Leseur]] and his friends, in an Australian all-boys school. Notable largely for an infectious enthusiasm, which suggests that Bauer enjoyed the novel as much as his characters, and for being highly quotable, to the extent that the series named [[ThanksForTheMammary a trope]] before receiving its own page on the wiki.



%%* CoolLoser: Ishmael
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Overprotective Dad has been disambiguated


%%* OverprotectiveDad: Razz's uncle Henry to his daughter Cindy.
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* ChekhovsGun: Razz's cringeworthy LoveLetterLunacy poem to Sally (which he doesn't send after his friends spend several pages telling him that it's crap) from the second book ends up being used for punk rock song lyrics in the third book.

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* ChekhovsGun: Razz's cringeworthy LoveLetterLunacy poem for Ish to Sally send to Kelly (which he Ish doesn't send after his their friends spend several pages telling him Razz that it's crap) from the second book ends up being used for punk rock song lyrics in the third book.
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* AmbiguouslyBi: In ''Hoops of Steel'', [[spoiler:Jimmy (the BigManOnCampus) and Bill covertly attend a dance together, but earlier in the book, Jimmy drunkenly offended a lot of girls by approaching them and comparing his penis to a javelin. It's unclear if Jimmy likes boys and girls, [[ArmoredClosetGay staged that incident to make other people and/or himself think he was heterosexual]], or was drunkenly hitting on boys and people only thought he was talking to girls.]]

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* AmbiguouslyBi: In ''Hoops of Steel'', [[spoiler:Jimmy (the BigManOnCampus) and Bill covertly attend a dance together, but earlier in the book, Jimmy drunkenly offended a lot of girls by approaching them and comparing his penis to a javelin. It's unclear if Jimmy likes boys and girls, [[ArmoredClosetGay staged that incident to make other people and/or himself think he was heterosexual]], or was drunkenly hitting on nearby boys and people only thought he was talking to girls.]]

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* AmbiguouslyBi: In ''Hoops of Steel'', [[spoiler:Jimmy (the BigManOnCampus) and Bill covertly attend a dance together, but earlier in the book, Jimmy drunkenly offended a lot of girls by approaching them and comparing his penis to a javelin. It's unclear if Jimmy likes boys and girls, [[ArmoredClosetGay staged that incident to make other people and/or himself think he was heterosexual]], or was drunkenly hitting on boys and people only thought he was talking to girls.]]



%%* ChekhovsGun: Of all things, a character's habit of proffering an index finger whilst quibbling over itty bitty issues of semantics.

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%%* ChekhovsGun: * ChekhovsGun: Razz's cringeworthy LoveLetterLunacy poem to Sally (which he doesn't send after his friends spend several pages telling him that it's crap) from the second book ends up being used for punk rock song lyrics in the third book.
* ChekhovsSkill:
Of all things, a character's habit of proffering an index finger whilst quibbling over itty bitty issues of semantics.semantics turns out to be useful in hitting a volleyball that's nearly out of reach.



%%* DemotedToExtra: Scobie, after the first book.

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%%* * DemotedToExtra: Scobie, Deuteragonist Scobie is only a tetiary character after the first book.
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* DeadpanSnarker: Near everyone. A chapter in the first book is dedicated to allowing [[NewKid Scobie]] to mock the resident bully in the most deadpan tones imaginable.

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* DeadpanSnarker: Near everyone. A chapter in the first book is dedicated to allowing [[NewKid Scobie]] Scobie to mock the resident bully in the most deadpan tones imaginable.

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Need more context.


* BadassAdorable
* BookDumb: Razz
* BreakTheCutie: Kelly, in the third book.
* BriarPatching: Scobie was always totally afraid of bugs. Totally.
* BrickJoke: Apparently, Razz is rather well suited to writing Heavy Metal lyrics.

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* %%* BadassAdorable
* %%* BookDumb: Razz
* %%* BreakTheCutie: Kelly, in the third book.
* %%* BriarPatching: Scobie was always totally afraid of bugs. Totally.
* %%* BrickJoke: Apparently, Razz is rather well suited to writing Heavy Metal lyrics.



* ChekhovsGun: Of all things, a character's habit of proffering an index finger whilst quibbling over itty bitty issues of semantics.
* TheChewToy: Ishmael
* CoolLoser: Ishmael
* CoolTeacher: Miss Tarango, and others.

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* %%* ChekhovsGun: Of all things, a character's habit of proffering an index finger whilst quibbling over itty bitty issues of semantics.
* %%* TheChewToy: Ishmael
* %%* CoolLoser: Ishmael
* %%* CoolTeacher: Miss Tarango, and others.



* DemotedToExtra: Scobie, after the first book.

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* %%* DemotedToExtra: Scobie, after the first book.



* EmbarrassingNickname: Several, courtesy of school bully Barry Bagsley.

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* %%* EmbarrassingNickname: Several, courtesy of school bully Barry Bagsley.



* FreudianExcuse: Implied with Bagsley.

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* %%* FreudianExcuse: Implied with Bagsley.



* HotForTeacher
* HiddenDepths: A major theme of the second book. Barry Bagsley, Mr Barker and Orazio are all seen through new eyes.
* HippieTeacher: Mr Guthrie.
* HurricaneOfPuns: Crap, mega-crap, the crap to which other crap aspires, crème da la crap...

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* %%* HotForTeacher
* %%* HiddenDepths: A major theme of the second book. Barry Bagsley, Mr Barker and Orazio are all seen through new eyes.
* %%* HippieTeacher: Mr Guthrie.
* %%* HurricaneOfPuns: Crap, mega-crap, the crap to which other crap aspires, crème da la crap...



* LampshadeHanging: Often, and cheerfully.

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* %%* LampshadeHanging: Often, and cheerfully.



* LoveDodecahedron: Notably averted. Despite the sheer volume of romances teased in the book, there are very few conflicts of interest displayed.

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* %%* LoveDodecahedron: Notably averted. Despite the sheer volume of romances teased in the book, there are very few conflicts of interest displayed.



* MasterOfTheMixedMessage: At times, Kelly.
* TheMatchmaker: Razz.

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* %%* MasterOfTheMixedMessage: At times, Kelly.
* %%* TheMatchmaker: Razz.



* NewMeat: Subverted with the self-assured Scobie, much to the shock of the class.
* OverprotectiveDad: Razz's uncle Henry to his daughter Cindy.

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* %%* NewMeat: Subverted with the self-assured Scobie, much to the shock of the class.
* %%* OverprotectiveDad: Razz's uncle Henry to his daughter Cindy.



* PunctuatedForEmphasis:
-->'''Barry Bagsley:''' You haven't got a prayer. Have - not - got - a - prayer.

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* %%* PunctuatedForEmphasis:
-->'''Barry %%-->'''Barry Bagsley:''' You haven't got a prayer. Have - not - got - a - prayer.



* {{Scandalgate}}:
** In the second book, an event at a pool-party later discussed as Piss-in-the-watergate. [[spoiler:It was cordial.]]
** The first book also: Buggate.

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* {{Scandalgate}}:
**
{{Scandalgate}}: In the second book, an event at a pool-party later discussed as Piss-in-the-watergate. [[spoiler:It was cordial.]]
** %%** The first book also: Buggate.



* TeenGenius: Prue.

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* %%* TeenGenius: Prue.



* UnluckyEverydude

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* %%* UnluckyEverydude
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* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters
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TRS cleanup


* Bill Kingsley, dreamy geek, described as [[HiddenDepths "still waters,]] [[ActuallyPrettyFunny running shallow"]].

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* Bill Kingsley, dreamy geek, described as [[HiddenDepths "still waters,]] [[ActuallyPrettyFunny waters, running shallow"]].
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Crosswick Faint In shock

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* FaintInShock: Ishmael faints during his first debate because he is so nervous. Everybody else thinks it's hilarious, as Ishmael also [[ThanksForTheMammary accidentally gropes]] his LoveInterest Kelly as he faints.
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* LiteraryAllusionTitle: To the opening line of Literature/MobyDick by Creator/HermanMelville.
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How To Create A Works Page explicitly says "No bolding is used for work titles."


'''''Don't Call Me Ishmael!''''' is a light-hearted trilogy of Young Adult novels written by Michael Gerard Bauer and centering around cheery [[CoolLoser loser]] [[EmbarrassingFirstName Ishmael Leseur]] and his friends, in an Australian all-boys school. Notable largely for an infectious enthusiasm, which suggests that Bauer enjoyed the novel as much as his characters, and for being highly quotable, to the extent that the series named [[ThanksForTheMammary a trope]] before receiving its own page on the wiki.

to:

'''''Don't ''Don't Call Me Ishmael!''''' Ishmael!'' is a light-hearted trilogy of Young Adult novels written by Michael Gerard Bauer and centering around cheery [[CoolLoser loser]] [[EmbarrassingFirstName Ishmael Leseur]] and his friends, in an Australian all-boys school. Notable largely for an infectious enthusiasm, which suggests that Bauer enjoyed the novel as much as his characters, and for being highly quotable, to the extent that the series named [[ThanksForTheMammary a trope]] before receiving its own page on the wiki.
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* RefugeInAudacity: Occasionally lampshaded. Bauer typically sets up as many over-the-top climaxes as possible.



* RefugeInAudacity: Occasionally lampshaded. Bauer typically sets up as many over-the-top climaxes as possible.
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* DoggedNiceGuy: Hugely and unapologetically built around this trope.



* GayGuySeeksPopularJock: [[spoiler: Bill's relationship with Jimmy "The Main Event" Mainwaring takes place largely off-screen, but seems to be this, since Jimmy is – as his nickname implies – one of the popular jocks at St Daniel's.]]



* KavorkaMan: Bizarrely, Ignatius.
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* PlatonicDeclarationOfLove: Razza and Ishmael towards the end of the third book:
--> '''Razz:''' Love ya, man! You know, in a totally non-Hoop Boy sort of a way.
--> '''Ishmael:''' Love you too, Razz. Same way.
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* PunctuatedForEmphasis:
-->'''Barry Bagsley:''' You haven't got a prayer. Have - not - got - a - prayer.
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Moving to Namespace.

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[[quoteright:150:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dont_call_me_ishmael_5456.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:150:Poor Ringo.]]

->''"And you've never heard of Ishmael Leseur's Syndrome consider yourself lucky. It's been known to destroy the 'normal behaviour' gene and expose a person's innermost idiot to the world."''
-->-- '''[[DoggedNiceGuy Ishmael Leseur]]''' (the world's one and only sufferer)

'''''Don't Call Me Ishmael!''''' is a light-hearted trilogy of Young Adult novels written by Michael Gerard Bauer and centering around cheery [[CoolLoser loser]] [[EmbarrassingFirstName Ishmael Leseur]] and his friends, in an Australian all-boys school. Notable largely for an infectious enthusiasm, which suggests that Bauer enjoyed the novel as much as his characters, and for being highly quotable, to the extent that the series named [[ThanksForTheMammary a trope]] before receiving its own page on the wiki.

Characters with major roles in all works of the series include:
* Ishmael Leseur, generally mopey {{everyman}}.
* Orazio "Razz" Zorzotto, Ishmael's eventual best friend and self-professed [[TheMatchmaker master of all things romantic]].
* James Scobie, [[BadassAdorable unlikely champion]] for losers everywhere.
* Bill Kingsley, dreamy geek, described as [[HiddenDepths "still waters,]] [[ActuallyPrettyFunny running shallow"]].
* Ignatius Prindabel, socially-awkward nerd that eventually develops [[KavorkaMan astounding chick-pulling abilities]].
* Kelly Faulkner, the weatherman's sunny daughter, serving as Ishmael's {{love interest}}.
* Sally Nofke, Kelly's friend, a math geek that serves as Razz's.
* Prue Leseur, Ishmael's sister, a [[TeenGenius bright lass]] that, funnily enough, serves as Scobie's love interest.
* Miss Tarango, Ishmael's eternally cheerful homeroom [[CoolTeacher teacher]].
* Mr. Guthrie: [[HippieTeacher environmentally-conscious teacher]], serving as Miss Tarango's love interest.

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!!''Don't Call Me Ishmael!'' provides examples of the following tropes:

* BadassAdorable
* BookDumb: Razz
* BreakTheCutie: Kelly, in the third book.
* BriarPatching: Scobie was always totally afraid of bugs. Totally.
* BrickJoke: Apparently, Razz is rather well suited to writing Heavy Metal lyrics.
* CharacterDevelopment: Ishmael's name barely earns a mention in the third book due to growing self-confidence.
* ChekhovsGun: Of all things, a character's habit of proffering an index finger whilst quibbling over itty bitty issues of semantics.
* TheChewToy: Ishmael
* CoolLoser: Ishmael
* CoolTeacher: Miss Tarango, and others.
* DeadpanSnarker: Near everyone. A chapter in the first book is dedicated to allowing [[NewKid Scobie]] to mock the resident bully in the most deadpan tones imaginable.
* DemotedToExtra: Scobie, after the first book.
* DoggedNiceGuy: Hugely and unapologetically built around this trope.
* EmbarrassingFirstName: Beyond Ishmael, we also have a chap Slobo and another named Emerson.
* EmbarrassingNickname: Several, courtesy of school bully Barry Bagsley.
* FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator: Ishmael serves this role for Scobie for much of the first book.
* FreudianExcuse: Implied with Bagsley.
* HotForTeacher
* HiddenDepths: A major theme of the second book. Barry Bagsley, Mr Barker and Orazio are all seen through new eyes.
* HippieTeacher: Mr Guthrie.
* HurricaneOfPuns: Crap, mega-crap, the crap to which other crap aspires, crème da la crap...
* KissingUnderTheInfluence: In the third book, [[spoiler:Ishmael kisses Sally]] when he accidentally gets drunk on vodka.
* KavorkaMan: Bizarrely, Ignatius.
* LampshadeHanging: Often, and cheerfully.
* LastSecondWordSwap: Razza is talking about Ignatius when he realizes Mr. Guthrie is in the room.
-->'''Razza:''' He wouldn't recognise a poem if it jumped up and bit him on the dic--tionary.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters

* LoveDodecahedron: Notably averted. Despite the sheer volume of romances teased in the book, there are very few conflicts of interest displayed.
* {{Malaproper}}: Running joke fueled by Razz: "elephant of surprise", "male chauffeuring pigs". The first example is [[JustifiedTrope somewhat justified]]. All things being equal, an elephant ''would'' be more surprising than an element.
* MasterOfTheMixedMessage: At times, Kelly.
* TheMatchmaker: Razz.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Ishmael feels this way in book three, after [[spoiler:drunkenly kissing Sally.]]
* NewMeat: Subverted with the self-assured Scobie, much to the shock of the class.
* OverprotectiveDad: Razz's uncle Henry to his daughter Cindy.
* PromIsForStraightKids: In the third book, [[spoiler:Bill Kingsley]] initially doesn't want to bring a date to prom, because he doesn't want to make trouble for the school. However, Razz sets up a [[RunningGag Win-Win-Win-Win-situation]] by suggesting that [[spoiler: Bill and his date Jimmy]] officially go with two girls from Sally's school who were in the same situation and couldn't attend their own prom.
* PutOnABus: An odd case. After the second book, Barry Bagsley does not appear. He still attends the school, presumably, but is simply "not bothering us anymore".
* {{Scandalgate}}:
** In the second book, an event at a pool-party later discussed as Piss-in-the-watergate. [[spoiler:It was cordial.]]
** The first book also: Buggate.
* RefugeInAudacity: Occasionally lampshaded. Bauer typically sets up as many over-the-top climaxes as possible.
* SomeOfMyBestFriendsAreX: PlayedForLaughs. Razza even has friends who are fans of Manchester United. Manchester ''United'', if you can imagine that.
* TeenGenius: Prue.
* ThanksForTheMammary: The first entry into the series. Having fainted due to nerves, Ishmael is mortified to discover to whom he had lunged.
* UnluckyEverydude

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