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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
This book had me indifferent to begin with, but managed to win me over by the end.
Some would call this a YA book -- I wouldn't. If anything, it was probably shelved under YA in American publishing just because our protagonist is 19 and YA is the fastest growing category of books in the industry. But this isn't YA in my opinion.
The writing style is really left of centre, quite similar to what you get in 'The Book Thief' although slightly less developed as a 'voice'. I still really enjoyed it.
Zusak also wrote 'The Book Thief', there's no swearing or mention of sex in 'The Book Thief', in some ways it didn't feel like the same author. Which can in many ways be a good thing.
While it may seem a little slow and pedestrian at times, I think what really kept me going was wanting to know who was sending Ed these cards which was obviously going to be revealed at the very end.
It was a clever twist! I liked it, it kept me on my toes and made me appreciate the entirety of the book as a whole in terms of its nuances from its very first sentence. This is very much so Zusak flexing his writing muscles and having quite a bit of fun.
I guess I wasn't completely sold on it -- As deceptive and playful as it was as a whole, it seemed a little underdeveloped in terms of voice and as someone who lives in the city that this book is set in, I guess it didn't FEEL like the city I lived in which bothered me. Only the characters from one character for a handful of characters weren't white and that was it.
Perhaps when a book is set in a place you know so well, you kind of want to it reflect how you see it. At the same time it showed it in a different light, one in which I don't think was at all mind blowing. Still waiting to be convinced.
Some would call this a YA book -- I wouldn't. If anything, it was probably shelved under YA in American publishing just because our protagonist is 19 and YA is the fastest growing category of books in the industry. But this isn't YA in my opinion.
The writing style is really left of centre, quite similar to what you get in 'The Book Thief' although slightly less developed as a 'voice'. I still really enjoyed it.
Zusak also wrote 'The Book Thief', there's no swearing or mention of sex in 'The Book Thief', in some ways it didn't feel like the same author. Which can in many ways be a good thing.
While it may seem a little slow and pedestrian at times, I think what really kept me going was wanting to know who was sending Ed these cards which was obviously going to be revealed at the very end.
It was a clever twist! I liked it, it kept me on my toes and made me appreciate the entirety of the book as a whole in terms of its nuances from its very first sentence. This is very much so Zusak flexing his writing muscles and having quite a bit of fun.
I guess I wasn't completely sold on it -- As deceptive and playful as it was as a whole, it seemed a little underdeveloped in terms of voice and as someone who lives in the city that this book is set in, I guess it didn't FEEL like the city I lived in which bothered me. Only the characters from one character for a handful of characters weren't white and that was it.
Perhaps when a book is set in a place you know so well, you kind of want to it reflect how you see it. At the same time it showed it in a different light, one in which I don't think was at all mind blowing. Still waiting to be convinced.
Rating: 4.5
I honestly expected nothing less from Markus Zusak, but the characters were beautifully fleshed out, the writing was great yet realistic for the character, and the story extremely compelling.
I honestly expected nothing less from Markus Zusak, but the characters were beautifully fleshed out, the writing was great yet realistic for the character, and the story extremely compelling.
I've read this book at least three, maybe four times, and I think that may be the first time I've understood the ending. It's still my least favorite part of the book, but whatever.
What I love about this book is the idea of simple acts of kindness making a huge difference. The idea that just watching people can help you to determine what they need, what you can give them.
I love the writing. The metaphors struck me this time. But it's very beautiful writing, not just "oh here's the facts," but here's what they smell like and feel like and look like in Ed's mind. I don't like the ending. I would have preferred no resolution about the cards. But I love everything else.
What I love about this book is the idea of simple acts of kindness making a huge difference. The idea that just watching people can help you to determine what they need, what you can give them.
I love the writing. The metaphors struck me this time. But it's very beautiful writing, not just "oh here's the facts," but here's what they smell like and feel like and look like in Ed's mind. I don't like the ending. I would have preferred no resolution about the cards. But I love everything else.
I finished reading this book, and immediately after gave this book five stars on barnes and noble. I really liked it. But now that i've come off the book high, I do believe the book had a bit of flaws and small things that annoyed me but I saw past because I liked the plot.. (how's that for a run on sentence?) .
But besides the few things I am about to mention, It was a great read. It was funny and extremely unique and really 'deep'. So please don't get me wrong, I liked the book.
With that said, I am the Messenger had really, really dramatic writing. This was the main thing for me. Now, some people might have really enjoyed Zusak's super unique writing style, but to me it was a tad overdone at times. Small and simple things were made really big and dramatic and just a bit awkward. When Ed found the card in the mail, for instance, he freaked out. In retrospect, receiving a card in the mail with some addresses on it isn't really thaaaaat crazy or obsess-worthy. And even smaller things than that were made big and exaggerated. Honestly, Ed was excited/discomposed/worked up VERY easily. It also wasn't extremely clear to me at all times what was happening, the writing was just so out there.
There were at times, though, that I did enjoy his writing style. For example, his line, "She smelled like clean.." - just a great line. (instead of saying she smelled clean, like clean, is just so nice sounding). He did little things similar to the sentence I just wrote often, and they were different and refreshing.
The next thing about this book - the ending. And i'm talking the last three or four pages ending, not the last section of craziness that was Ed's life. I don't want to give away and spoilers, but It really confused me. Questions were still left unanswered for me, and that is about all I can say without giving away some vital information.
But other than that, this story was good. I liked Ed and his assignments were very entertaining and fun to read about, and I can really appreciate the uniqueness of this story. So yep - 4/5 stars from me. Happy reading!
But besides the few things I am about to mention, It was a great read. It was funny and extremely unique and really 'deep'. So please don't get me wrong, I liked the book.
With that said, I am the Messenger had really, really dramatic writing. This was the main thing for me. Now, some people might have really enjoyed Zusak's super unique writing style, but to me it was a tad overdone at times. Small and simple things were made really big and dramatic and just a bit awkward. When Ed found the card in the mail, for instance, he freaked out. In retrospect, receiving a card in the mail with some addresses on it isn't really thaaaaat crazy or obsess-worthy. And even smaller things than that were made big and exaggerated. Honestly, Ed was excited/discomposed/worked up VERY easily. It also wasn't extremely clear to me at all times what was happening, the writing was just so out there.
There were at times, though, that I did enjoy his writing style. For example, his line, "She smelled like clean.." - just a great line. (instead of saying she smelled clean, like clean, is just so nice sounding). He did little things similar to the sentence I just wrote often, and they were different and refreshing.
The next thing about this book - the ending. And i'm talking the last three or four pages ending, not the last section of craziness that was Ed's life. I don't want to give away and spoilers, but It really confused me. Questions were still left unanswered for me, and that is about all I can say without giving away some vital information.
But other than that, this story was good. I liked Ed and his assignments were very entertaining and fun to read about, and I can really appreciate the uniqueness of this story. So yep - 4/5 stars from me. Happy reading!
Little back story to how I ended up with this book: I found it on a cart while wandering around in HPB while the YA section was way too crowd for a Tuesday. It was supposed to be my "light" read for my summer trip but I ended up just not bothering to take it with me. Long story short after reading this book, I feel like I've aged 10 years reading through some of the heavier themes that got me thinking deeply. Overall, I felt like I was Truman of the Truman Show, given clues to do something about anything that is thrown at me in Ed's shoes and in the end, Ed was there to tell me there's more to life if I just live beyond the worrying that is my mundane routine. Honestly there's so many take aways from this book but this particular meaning hit me the hardest. Fantastic read. 4.5 Stars.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my favorite book. It has been since I was 15 or 16. My personal writing style has been indelibly marked by this book’s every facet:
Oblique and obscure references to literature, humorous idiosyncrasies of human conversation, unexplained mysteries that work better for having been unsolved, endless longing, the constant state of growing up, existential forces of influence, author-inserts, vagaries and vague-eries, light descriptions of darkness and heavy descriptions of levity, and the crutch of relying on dysfunction because its familiar.
I do think this book made me a better person each time I read it. I hope to meet the person I’ll become next, and see what they have to say.
Oblique and obscure references to literature, humorous idiosyncrasies of human conversation, unexplained mysteries that work better for having been unsolved, endless longing, the constant state of growing up, existential forces of influence, author-inserts, vagaries and vague-eries, light descriptions of darkness and heavy descriptions of levity, and the crutch of relying on dysfunction because its familiar.
I do think this book made me a better person each time I read it. I hope to meet the person I’ll become next, and see what they have to say.
Fascinating, original premise that delivered a beautiful message of selflessness with very ordinary characters. One of the most moral stories I've ever read.
I Am the Messenger comes from Markus Zusak – author of the bestselling and incredible novel The Book Thief. Anyone who has read that will know how good Zusak’s writing and imagination can be, and while I Am the Messenger is not quite The Book Thief, I love the familiarity of the writing, without even looking, I could tell immediately this was his work... read the full review here: https://www.amysbookshelf.co.uk/2015/03/i-am-messenger-book-review/