Play Book Tag discussion

I Am the Messenger - Zusak
4 stars

Superficially, this is a young adult, coming of age novel. It’s a first person narrative of a year in the life of Ed Kennedy. Ed is a 19 year old taxi driver, and a self-described loser. He’s having an unusual year. He begins to receive cryptic messages on the backs of playing cards. Each message requires him to do something for another person. This is a knight’s quest story in a low income, urban, Australian setting.

There’s more to the story than the likable Ed, his three best friends, and his smelly dog. (I really loved the dog, Doorman.) Zusak gives Ed a perfectly believable teenaged voice, short sentences, limited vocabulary. But, the book is full of literary subtext. It became a reader’s quest to identify all the references. Hint: none of the casually mentioned book titles are accidental. Unreliable narrator, magical realism, metafiction; it’s an ambitious list of literary devices. Sometimes, I felt it was too contrived and a bit over the top. On the other hand, I want to go back and read it again. I still feel like I’m missing some of the messenger’s secrets.

That sounds more interesting than the typical YA book! I have the CD for this book, so it's my next car read.

Loved The Book Thief, may have to think about swapping this in for my Australia book!

NancyJ wrote: "That sounds more interesting than the typical YA book! I have the CD for this book, so it's my next car read."

I'm on a waitlist for the audio. I will listen as a reread. Maybe I will pick up something that I missed.

Isn’t it awesome, and so unexpected after The Book Thief. They are so different. I adored Doorman!

Susie wrote: "Isn’t it awesome, and so unexpected after The Book Thief. They are so different. I adored Doorman!"

He wrote this one before Book Thief, I think. I could see how his writing matured. I really want to read his newest one.

Jgrace and Susie, since you're both right here, I hope you don't mind a little detour. I read your reviews for an Ali Smith Book (it had "both" in the title) and it seemed like there was a gender difference as well as a difference in the order of the sections. I commented on one or both reviews. I think you both read it a year ago.Thinking of it now, would you recommend it? I want to read one of her books now, but I'm not sure which one.

Jgrace wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "That sounds more interesting than the typical YA book! I have the CD for this book, so it's my next car read."

I'm on a waitlist for the audio. I will listen as a reread. Maybe I wi..."

I often overlap when I have both the book and audio, and I pick up different things too. I think I'm a visual learner, but a good audio performer can add a lot of nuance and make a sentence more memorable.

NancyJ wrote: "Jgrace and Susie, since you're both right here, I hope you don't mind a little detour. I read your reviews for an Ali Smith Book (it had "both" in the title) and it seemed like there was a gender d..."

( I shouldn't be here. I need to go out, but I'm avoiding the heat. ;)

It's How to Be Both. I do recommend it. I enjoyed the innovative way that it was written.

Do you guys think this book "represents" Australia for the horizons challenge?

Joi wrote: "Do you guys think this book "represents" Australia for the horizons challenge?"

I'm a bit on the fence about that Joi. It could have been almost anywhere except for some slang and the fact that it was clearly southern hemisphere (Christmas with very hot weather). I am going to use it for the challenge unless I have a chance to read something that works better before the end of the month.

Susie wrote: "Isn’t it awesome, and so unexpected after The Book Thief. They are so different. I adored Doorman!"

Oh yes, I should have explained myself more clearly. I read The Book Thief first, so in relation to my personal experience The Messenger (as it is called here in Australia) came after The Book Thief.

A friend worked at the Byron Writers Festival a few weeks ago and was lucky enough to meet him and have dinner with him. She said he is lovely.

Joi wrote: "Do you guys think this book "represents" Australia for the horizons challenge?"

I agree with Jgrace, although if I didn't know and someone asked me I would probably guess that it was an Australian writer.

Thanks for the input guys :)