I Am The Messenger | Spoiler-Free Book Review (seriously you should read this)

Hey everyone!!

It feels like ages since I did a book review but I actually don’t think it was too long ago. Apparently, I have no grasp on time. Anyway, I am really excited to be writing this review.

Because let me tell you now. I LOVED THIS BOOK.

So….. welcome to my spoiler-free review.

Content Warnings//sexual assault//mild violence//

I Am The Messenger (or sometimes called ‘The Messenger’) by Markus Zusak.

Contemporary young adult with a bit of mystery. This is a stand-alone which was released in 2006.

Synopsis: ‘Meet Ed Kennedy – underage cab driver, pathetic card player, and useless at romance. He lives in a shack, and he’s hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence, until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. That’s when the first Ace arrives…That’s when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary), until only one question remains. Who’s behind Ed’s mission’ 

This book is so different to anything I’ve ever read (and not because I have the habit of mostly reading one genre). In this book, we follow Ed Kennedy who is ordinary and I don’t mean ordinary as in before they become the chosen one or before he takes off his glasses and becomes a new person. I mean ordinary as in loves his dog, continues to live with his family issues, dislikes his job and loves a girl. You know you could ‘see-him-across-the-street-and-then-forget-about-him’ ordinary.

I adore this fact SO very much because I’m ordinary too. Anddd… it is worth reading about.

However, the story isn’t so ordinary. It involves Ed receiving messages he needs to pass on but it doesn’t actually say what to do but a massive hint that something should be done. It can be quite cryptic at times but we get to follow Ed on this journey and it is very enticing. Each time can be quite different from the other, from violent to caring to personal. Of course, Ed is busy living his life as well.

Plus there is this mystery. Who is sending these messages? Why are they sending them and why to Ed? How are they doing it? (And let me tell you, you want to know the answer. The ending was so unique and so thoughtful. I honestly don’t think anyone could predict it, Are you intrigued??? Is my plan working??

WRITING

*insert sonnet about Markus Zusak’s writing* I am a big fan of Zusak’s writing (it’s official after reading this and ‘The Book Thief’). He has quite a unique style which I adore. He makes simple things seem worth reading about and you feel as if every word is there for a reason. 

“I didn’t know words could be so heavy.”

This story also has an effortless comedic element. The voice of the story can easily ease into a tone where you can laugh at a robber (to his face) and the characters and the writing really bring this element to life. (The audiobook narrator, Marc Aden Gray does a great job at capturing the voice of the story, I highly recommend it.) The humour is a bit of the dark side but still has a light-hearted sense which I really enjoyed.

“I’m just another stupid human.”

PLOT

This isn’t an action-filled plot or a big romance novel. It’s a story that talks about valuing the little things (or maybe they aren’t so little) and the plot has a deeper meaning behind it so the audience can take something away from it.

“Maybe everyone can live beyond what they’re capable of.”

I could easily connect to this plot as Ed visited lots of different people to give these messages. Through this, we got to experience all sorts of people therefore lots of different problems so I can imagine many readers could connect to different parts. It was able to cover lots of emotions and touched upon what we should do with ‘life’, not necessarily in a big way but in the right way. I found it quite inspiring for the way it did this.

“I’d rather chase the sun than wait for it.”

The characters aren’t my favourite ever but they were still very likeable and interesting. For me, this was very much about the story and what it conveyed. The characters helped to do this so I was always interested in what was happening with them regardless.

OVERALL

//⭐⭐⭐⭐.5//

I really enjoyed this book and I could take a lot away from reading this as well as enjoyment. The story was addictive and I definitely found myself wanting to keep reading (yes, this was a finish at 2 a.m. book). The writing is wonderful and it covers a lot. I love that it follows ordinary people and makes you question what we can do to make life better. It has some really nice characters which can make you smile for sure. Plus, it had one big surprise ending. I am obviously going to be recommending this book. It only lost 0.5 stars because I didn’t love LOVE the characters and I am quite picky with my 5 stars.

 

Have you read this book? Did you enjoy it? Do you want to read this book? What Markus Zusak books have you read? What did you think?

What book have you taken away a message from?