I Am the Messenger: Markus Zusak

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First of all, it took me a long time to read this book, but it wasn't the books fault. I had to study for a test to get into college (I got accepted, YAY!), so my reading had to suffer from it. But even that didn't stop me from enjoying this book completely. I think if I had the time I would finish it in one sitting. But my Marv keeps his cards close to his chest, I don’t want to give anything away but Marv’s message was my favourite part of the whole book. It came at the point in the book where I had pretty much written it off, so I was completely surprised when I found myself being a bit choked up! Okay, I can see the flaws, I mean..I'm not a stupid sap. I could see the formula... I knew what was coming. But, the writing makes up for it. It didn't take me long to be utterly annoyed by him and his behavior. At times, he was straight-up creepy and grossed me out. I must clarify; the message is sweet and simplified, even if some of the book’s events are quite disturbing.

Beautiful" is the first word that comes to mind when I think of this book. Because, it just is. Altogether, it's a pretty feel-good and uplifting story about the simple goodness of human nature, and about how the smallest actions can really change people's lives. This odd little story is touted as a Young Adult book. Um, I mean, I guess it could be, but it doesn't really feel like one. All of the main characters are adults and the story doesn't stand out to me as something that would specifically appeal to young readers. But, hey, I am a grown up so what do I know!?😁At the beginning, I thought that I was reading just an ordinary book, with ordinary characters and their ordinary lives. But now, that I've finished it, I can say that this book is anything but ordinary. It made me laugh, it made me tear up, it made me angry, and at the ending it left me feeling emotionally drained, but also really happy (if that makes any sense). It really touched me, and made me think about things that I (and a lot of us) just take for granted. I can't count the times when I've read a quote from this book that made me stop reading and just think about it for a few seconds. I loved Marv and Richie. One of my greatest weakness in life (I do have a few) is a boy who defends his run-down car to the death, so Marv and his blue Falcon was like cat nip to me. So many of Marv and Ed’s exchanges made me laugh so loudly and I could just imagine boys their age talking like that.

My heart applauds inside my ears, first like a roaring crowd, then slows and slows until it’s a solitary person, clapping with unbridled sarcasm. Fortunately, the story isn’t about Ed feeling sorry for himself, instead, it’s about his growth. Seeing the confidence he gained with every delivered message was beautiful and I loved following his development throughout the story. He’s pretty much live-and-let-live, makes excuses for people’s questionable behaviour, and is fairly content living with his dog, Doorman, an ancient smelly thing who drinks coffee with him and loves lasagne. Good company. But Ed does kind of wonder if he will ever amount to anything. I wanted to try another book by Zusak, to be able to see if The Book Thief was just a one off. I have a handwritten book list I made when I was younger, long before Goodreads and this was on it, so I gave it a go, and was thoroughly entertained!The greatest part of this book for me lies in two parts. The first is Ed himself. He is a fantastic protagonist and so relatable - you can't help but root for him. The second part is the message itself, the power of kindness, that people can really make a difference. Now, this guy is just a cab driver with no ambition, so he doesn't really want to get involved... but it turns out, he doesn't have much choice. And, there are 3 more aces to go. If you pass your mouse over the star choices, 1 star reads "did not like it"! This does not necessarily mean it is a terrible book, only that the reviewer did not like it. People like different things, right?! This book did not fit me. Hopefully, by explaining my reaction others will be better able to decide if they will like the book or not. I know, I know, they're far from carbon copies of each other's but I cannot help but think that I would have enjoyed I Am the Messenger more if I wasn't a huge fan of Amélie Poulain and her missions. What can I say, the story was more fun in Montmartre...

Then there was the ending which frankly I didn’t enjoy a whole lot. It wasn’t predictable, but it felt a little like a cop-out. It didn’t ruin the book for me or anything but I wish that the mystery aspect would have been more elaborate, better developed. I Am the Messenger (originally published in Australia as The Messenger) is an award-winning children's book by Markus Zusak. All you need to do is look, to pay attention, and to get up, step forward, and gift a smile, a meal, a hug; because sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference and as Zusak wrote, “ Big things are often just small things that are noticed.” I’ve said it before and I’ll continue saying it until all the authors in the universe heed my infinite wisdom: A book does NOT need a love interest to be a good book. Yes, I love it when authors bring the swoon. But only when it either adds something to the story or aids the development of a character. A romance shouldn’t just be thrown in as an afterthought. I couldn’t get behind Audrey and Ed because it seemed really forced and rushed. Also, Audrey was kind of a tease. Even though she has good taste in films… Me: OUT. OUT. OUT NOW. * grips him by the collar and drags him to the cross at the top of the screen* YOU DONUT I AM SO DONE WITH YOU.

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The writing was superb. I liked Ed's self-deprecating sense of humor and found a lot of parts very touching. I even shed some silent man tears when Marv met his daughter for the first time. The ending wasn't anything I predicted but it ended well. I’m trying and failing and trying and failing to put into words the sheer breathtaking beauty of Markus Zusak’s prose. Reading Markus Zusak, my breath flees; lungs starve; hands worry; fingers dance. Eyelids clap in the drizzle of my eyes; eyes cleave open hearts; hearts shout; thunder. And here I sit, speechless; useless. With broken words; inadequate; shattered. The dots scattered; gone. At the end of the road, just before I go around the corner, I turn one last time to see the lights.