I Am the Messenger: Markus Zusak

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I am the Messenger shows us the reality in life, despite the hardships that we face every day, there would be that day where everything will be right. Also, how everyone is not just another somebody. Everything we do, will have a direct or indirect effect to those people around us. This was a lesson Ed (the main character) learned. At the end of the road, just before I go around the corner, I turn one last time to see the lights.

Me: Thank you for your contribution Ed but that’s the last time you interrupt me so please kindly shut up. 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. Me: * to readers again* As you can see, the MC is a contradictory, oblivious, absurd cinnamon roll— with an expert balance of humour, sentimentality, and hopefulness, this story is a work of art (side note: the first chapter of this book is the most spectacular chapter ever written in the history of chapters. i have probably read it over 100 times. its utter perfection). this story also has one of the most beautiful messages - how kindness can be life changing and how being kind can give a life purpose. the high quality writing lovingly explores this message through the heartwarming and heartbreaking life of ed kennedy, showing that sometimes people are not just the messenger but the message itself. Caught Up in a Robbery: The book begins with Ed and his friends getting caught up in a robbery at a gas station. When he accidentally stops the robbery, Ed's life changes but he has the robber's threat that he's "a dead man" hanging over his head. When the robber reappears at the end, he reveals that it wasn't a threat, but a warning that Ed was wasting his life.The novel starts off with one of the best first chapters I have ever read: the bank robbery. That scene was hilarious, full of intrigue and made me curious as to what the rest of the novel would bring. Unfortunately, the book never again reached that high mark of suspense but it was entertaining nonetheless. He was definitely a big surprise. My mouth was hanging open. I could not believe what Mr. Zusak did with him. You only meet the sender towards the end of the book. You'll meet him, but you'll have to guess who he is. At first, it would be unclear, because you've never met him. But as you go and read everthing he has to say, you'll see what I mean. I couldn't understand him. And I was starting to fear that maybe I won't like the book after all. Reflecting now, I realize how frivolous that fear is. This book was destined to be a favorite of mine. It just was.

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. See this sentence? Nobody can disagree with that, and yet... I'm sorry, but it reads like a Nike advertisement.

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I have a love-hate relationship with the ending. It makes sense, but I was disappointed in how it all wrapped up. Honestly, when I finished the book, I threw it down onto my bed, and left the room. The way the book ends...it’s unconventional, to say the least. It catches you off-guard and takes its own sweet time to really sink in. But God, I loved it!! I think it’s the kind of ending that only a genius like Markus Zusak could come up with. In 2011 the novel was adapted again for the stage by Curtin's Hayman Theatre Company and performed at the "Subiaco Arts Centre" in Perth, Western Australia. [3] [ failed verification] All the while, Ed has no idea who is sending the cards, or why. not gonna lie, when we do find out, it was actually the bank robber who set the whole thing up, I thought it was a bit odd. He wanted to test Ed, to see if he could become more than just an average Joe. A wonderful idea, but to me it was pretty strange. I understand why Zusak ended it the way he did, and I didn't entirely hate it, but I just wanted more. More of an explanation, more of a conclusion. I probably would've given this a solid four stars, had that had happened.

What I loved so much about this book, aside from the writing and the characters and the setting and the suspense and the emotion, was that despite the novel's outlandishness, Ed's achievements and his impact on others is completely believable. You know that there is nothing significant about Ed. He has no superpowers, his acts of goodness were not preordained. Yet you don't doubt for a second that Ed's simple deeds make his world a better place. There are countless saints who have nothing to do with church and almost no knowledge of God. But they say God walks with those people without them ever knowing it." As we follow Ed through his journey from "just another stupid person" to messenger, we see him grow emotionally as the assignments touch him deeper. In touching other people's lives he finds the purpose in his, his way of being great. Ed visits Audrey for help with the message. Her lover asks who’s at the door and Audrey identifies Ed as someone of little importance. Ed takes offense when she won’t talk to him and indignantly leaves. She comes over later and Ed tells her about the first three tasks. Audrey encourages Ed to take satisfaction in his good deeds with Milla and Sophie. He regrets his high-profile role in stopping the bank robbery and complains about having been chosen for hard tasks. Ed segues into telling her he wants to be her lover. When Audrey tells Ed he’s her best friend, he despairs of having a deeper relationship with her. Summary: 5♣ cabs, the hooker, and alice

Then there were times were the story (especially in regards to the love story) became cheesy as hell. I guess it could have been cute to some extent, if the rest of the story would have been similar. But it wasn't, so it just seemed misplaced. The writing was good. There was a certain desperation in the words to be heard out, that threatened to become vociferous. It was irksome in the beginning but slowly became dearer and now, it is somehow etched on my mind. He also acts too sexual towards an underage girl, for my liking. He didn't even interact too much with her, but when he did, it left me feeling uncomfortable. I must clarify; the message is sweet and simplified, even if some of the book’s events are quite disturbing. Marv shares a personal loss, Suzanne Boyd. Ed wants to follow up because he cares about Marv, but the conventions of their friendship preclude that kind of intimacy. He changes the subject to ask how Marv might feel about having a duty but not knowing how to accomplish it, and Marv’s answer foreshadows his conflict with Suzanne Boyd. The two best friends share a sense of frustration, but neither knows the other’s circumstances causing it, like two ships passing in the night nearly colliding.

I conjectured that maybe it's because he reads a lot of books. People who read a lot become naturally eloquent with their spiels. 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. For me, this line right there, was the best lesson I got from this book. Towards the end, you'll realize that he made Ed the message, not the messenger. We are not just a somebody, we are all a someone. I hope that made sense. We may think that what we do, are insignificant to someone else, but that's not true. We could affect other people's lives, for the better or for the worse, it is out choice. We have to make that choice.The envelope contains a note and the ace of clubs. The sender’s note praises Ed’s handling of the three ace of diamonds tasks, particularly the man from Edgar Street, whom he says fled to an old mining town. The note ends with the cryptic observation that Ed’s life depends on completing the tasks. The ace of club's message, “say a prayer at the stones of home,” baffles Ed. Summary: 4♣ just ed This book is just... beautiful, from start to finish. I'm not really good at putting my thoughts into words so I know that nothing I could ever say will bring this book justice (but that still won't stop me from trying).