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I Am the Messenger

Markus Zusak

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Nov 19, 2013 Kaitlin Foley rated it really liked it

I Am the Messenger Book Review

I Am the Messenger is a suspenseful, riveting and emotional novel written by the admirable Markus Zusak. Ed Kennedy, the protagonist, is an underage cab driver from Australia who has his life altered in the most bizarre way. At the age of 19, Ed lives his life with no aspiration of success and not much of a future. On the outskirts of town in a worn down shack he shares with his dog, the Doorman, Ed has a routinely and peaceful life. He rarely wins card games with h I Am the Messenger Book Review

I Am the Messenger is a suspenseful, riveting and emotional novel written by the admirable Markus Zusak. Ed Kennedy, the protagonist, is an underage cab driver from Australia who has his life altered in the most bizarre way. At the age of 19, Ed lives his life with no aspiration of success and not much of a future. On the outskirts of town in a worn down shack he shares with his dog, the Doorman, Ed has a routinely and peaceful life. He rarely wins card games with his best friends Marv, Ritchie, and Audrey, the girl who he is hopelessly in love with, and enjoys sharing the occasional coffee with the Doorman. Yet, all changes tremendously after Ed accidentally foils an attempted bank robbery and is declared a hero. That's when the first of four aces arrives in the mail with a list of addresses and times. Each location is in need of a message and it is then that Ed becomes the messenger. The places may be unfamiliar to him, but what remains the most prominent concern is who is behind this and why.

Despite the tornado of questions swirling through his mind and admitting this is the strangest fate he has ever experienced, Ed sets out on his mission discovering and entering the lives of many people. Ed must find the message for each person and send it. Not all messengers are delivered easily, some even becoming difficult to bear and communicate to those who must receive it. From threatening an abusive father out of his own home to comforting an elderly woman who has suffered from a loss, Ed must complete these dangerous and emotional tasks. Along the journey, hearts are mended, families are unified, and secrets are unveiled. There are times of triumph and moments of disappointment along the way. However, this is only the beginning, only the introduction for what lies ahead.

Once the final card appears, the ace of hearts, Ed must face his hardest challenge yet. Sending a message to each of his closest friends. The question of how well he knows the people around him arises following this incident. Only after he has completed his mission, does Ed meet the mind that had orchestrated it all and learns the reason why. The finale may play out with much anticipation, but it is the journey and life altering impact it has had on Ed that should entertain the reader in this engrossing story.

Markus Zusak's superb writing ability is displayed brilliantly in this novel. Ed narrating the story allowed for the reader to fully grasp the emotions felt by the characters when following their every step. I enjoyed how Zusak portrayed the feelings throughout the book in a way you could relate to. Each character seemed real and were genuine people who battled with their own problems. It wasn't just the writing of emotions and personalities that was impressive, but also the way Zusak expressed his thoughts through his characters. "If a guy like you can stand up and do what you did, then maybe everyone can. Maybe everyone can live beyond what they’re capable of." This is just a snippet out of many examples that was written in quite a simple way, but conveyed the message exceptionally.

Another aspect of the book that I liked was the fact that the people Ed encountered varied and the situations were different each time. There were scenes of high anxiety and danger, but others that had little activity with only uplifting moments to capture your attention. Ed didn't always have to receive a difficult, life-threatening job to make the book captivating. In fact, I found the assignments with less action the most compelling and inspirational. I will admit, that for other readers the sometimes predictable happy ending stories of Ed saving the day might become repetitive. At times, I myself hoped for a little more excitement, a little more of a struggle within the plot. Yet, Zusak had a tendency to draw me back in with a dark secret or dramatic situation that wasn't always in favour of the protagonist. One of the other disappointments I had was the exposing of the person behind it all and who he happened to be. Although I enjoyed that it came as a complete surprise, I would have preferred that it was someone who had a more meaningful relationship with Ed. Also, I wanted Ed to have met him in a more interesting and intriguing way. I found some of the endings a little too predictable and sometimes I wish there would have been another alternative.

Overall, I was delighted in reading I Am the Messenger, for it not only changed Ed's view of life, but mine too. In the end what mattered was the journey Ed made, touching the lives of strangers, family, and friends. At the same time, it was a moment in his life to examine his own thoughts and attitudes. Finally, he had found his purpose in life. No longer was he a guy who let each day pass by. He used to be someone you were prone to forget, but now Ed Kennedy was a name worth remembering. As a reader you are constantly questioning and reflecting the story to your own life. The messages conveyed in this book are important and valuable ideas that you can instill into your own life. I would recommend I Am the Messenger to those in the mood for a heart-warming novel. With elements of humour, suspense, and action, this inspiring and thought-provoking book was a read I truly enjoyed.
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