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I am the Messenger
by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author)
by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author)
It only took me 30 pages to decide I wasn't going to like this book. It certainly sounds like an interesting premise--cards in the mail, the need for someone to care and to act--but the language turned me off, and when the main character starts reflecting on his pathetic sex life I decided this book was not for me. It didn't help that Zusak made his characters so completely unlikable. And in only the first 30 pages! I flipped through to see what else the book might hold, but only saw more of the same foul language and the title of chapter 5: "watching, waiting, raping." Hmmm...I think I'll pass. Too bad, because I really liked the Book Thief.
I'm surprised this book won a children's book award. Children?! really?! It reads more like the many adult books I end up shelving because of their language and content. I expected so much more from a book marketed for kids and young adults.
I'm surprised this book won a children's book award. Children?! really?! It reads more like the many adult books I end up shelving because of their language and content. I expected so much more from a book marketed for kids and young adults.
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Lisa
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rated it 1 star
Sep 10, 2010 04:53am
This is one of our book club selections--we may need to rethink this one. Did you read The Book Thief? Same writer, very unlikeable characters--that is why I always make a negative comment.
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As I was reading your review I kept thinking, "But isn't it for children?" I thought it would be safe. Good to know before I started.
it is not an explicit book. i too thought about putting it down (and yes, i admit that it is not for children) but i decided to push through because often i leave a book behind without really digging into it. the book was actually very insightful and the characters were very deep. i can understand if the language put you out, though. it happens a lot
Our book club is made up of members from our church and we try to avoid books for discussion that have bad language and inappropriate situations.
like you don't know anyone just like Ed?? That's what makes it such a thrill. We all have Eds in our lives.
The raping is definitely not what you think it is. You should've kept reading, because it definitely gets better the more you read. You stopped right before he invoked all his emotion! Read on, read on.
I know a lot of people loved this book, but I just couldn't get past the profanity and the characters and eventually had to put it down. And Adela, I really DON'T know anyone like Ed. This book is just not for me, especially when there are so many other great books out there. But I'm glad everyone else was able to enjoy it! :)
Should have stuck with it... And to others.. It's a young adult book not a children's book. Big difference.
Er..I know, right? I hate books where the main character rambles on and on about their sex life. It makes me sort of uncomfortable. (I hope I don't sound majorly immature by saying that...)
What, Josephine, even when it is no sex life????? Emily, you should have kept reading, the underlying message is (in part) about first impressions, even your impressions of your closes friends.
I am an English teacher and I don't understand how language can make you not like the book? Does profanity offend you? It is just words and i liked the priest's comment on language.. And I am confused also when you say that Zusak's characters are "unlikeable"... I wonder what kind of people you know? Ones that don't have sex, human emotions, or use "inappropriate subjects"? We must live in 2 very different worlds
You aren't meant to love and adore every character from every book, some you are meant to hate/dislike/pity or see yourself in no matter how hard it is it face it/
It WAS in the Young Adult section of the bookstore. It is definitely not for kids, I totally understand, but, kids wouldn't even understand anyways, if you think about it. You should have pushed on, because I personally, don't like that stuff either. But I thought the characters were lovable in all their loserish glory and the rape part was not what you think it was. It got better, and much more meaningful! Furthermore, I found the characters relatable! Hayden is quite right, you aren't SUPPOSED to like every single character in the book, that's what makes it interesting. It's what makes the novel dimensional. One more thing, have you seen the "children" today? I'm pretty sure most of the children know way more than you do when it comes down to sex and profanity. It's sad, but true.... so maybe that's why it is classified as a "children's award-winning novel".
The whole point was for you to get to the end and discover the emotion in each of the characters. Furthermore he is a 19 year old boy, I know it's not said for all, but many have only one thing in mind; sex. If you kept reading you'd discover him to stray from it more and more, and on to the beauty he sees in the people he surrounds himself with. I don't feel that a book should be rated until you've read it fully because you didn't even try to see it through.
