Final thoughts?

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

Now that you are done reading what did you think of this book?

[Anna]

I want to go back and look at the symbolism in terms of the order of the messages--the order of the cards, the names of streets and people, time, etc. I enjoyed how Zusak interpreted the ordinary of life and how with a little "tweaking" it can lead to something extrordinary. Aren't we all the message in the relationships around us?

[Anna]

Who do you think the bank robber represented? the person who initiated the messages?

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

This book goes deeper then just reading. I mean you really have to think about it. I couldn't put this book down (unless life got in the way and then I was forced to put it down). I love Zurak's writing. I even thought this book come across as a mystery. Who was sending the cards? What do they mean? Of course we find out later. I think the robber represented choices. Which road do we take? When they were at the bank to me they took the dangerous road no direction. I think only certain types of people would stand up to a robber and Ed's group at the time was that group.

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

I thought it was weird that during the soccer game there were three characters who had names that started with M and where four letter words. I brought my book back today but just thought of that. So during that scene I kept getting confused and had to think about who it was that the author was talking about.

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

What does everyone think about the cover art?

[Amber]

First I want to point out that this was the 2nd book that we have read of Markus Zusak. I personally don't think we should be repeating author already. With that said...

Maybe I'm allergic to the writing of Markus Zusak's? I just wanted it to end. Out of the two books that we have read of his I liked The Book Thief more.

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

Since it is random selection I can't help which authors come up. And the group voted so I have to go with what the group wants. We also have repeated Neil Gaiman once too. I didn't vote for this book... but I tend to find diamonds in the ruff with this group as far as books go so gave it a shot. If you are unhappy with the selections then you can add some books to the master book list or rock the vote!

What was it about the book you didn't like? You didn't really say anything specific. Even people who dislike the book add to good discussion so let us know.

[Amber]

Angie wrote: "Since it is random selection I can't help which authors come up. And the group voted so I have to go with what the group wants. We also have repeated Neil Gaiman once too. I didn't vote for thi..."

The whole book I just didn't like it. I don't think I couldn't really pin point a area. The ending felt like the author didn't really know how to end it so he just stopped writing.

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

I see what you mean there. Like we don't even know what happened to Ed. Another book I read for another book club this month ended the same way. Totally up in the air. Those are my least favorite book endings.

[Liana]

Amber, it is funny that you said that you felt like it just ended. I read The Book Thief a couple of years ago and loved it so much that I read everything I could find by Zusack and I felt that it wasn't until The Book Thief that he really found himself as an author. I am the Messenger was an interesting book that left me baffled by the ending, it could have been better.

[Michelle]

I am in complete agreeance that this book ended too abruptly. The messages stopped and then it seemed like it was over! I would have liked to see how the messages changed him as a man. I would have also liked to see how the messages changed his friends as well. Did Richie get a job? Did Marv continue a relationship with his ex-girlfriend and daughter? And yes, I know what happened to Audrey, but I would have liked to see that develop more. I gave this book 4 stars, mostly because I was left wanting more w/ the ending. Otherwise, I thought it was splendid. :)

I am new to the YA book club; I'm sorry I missed The Book Thief. I'll have to read it!

[Lisa]

Michelle, The Book Thief was wonderful, and after you read it you can post in any/all of the threads about that book. You might get some discussion going again.

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

I have never cared for up in the air endings. Though we do find those everywhere. An example (thought not a YA example) is the Sopranos series ending. Why are books/shows ended like that? The author doesn't know how to end it? The author wants to make everyone happy? I feel like the author must have some idea in their mind how the story would end.

[Celestasaurus]

Michelle wrote: "I am in complete agreeance that this book ended too abruptly. The messages stopped and then it seemed like it was over! I would have liked to see how the messages changed him as a man. I would h..."

True. I liked the book, but I would've enjoyed it more if the ending was longer.

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

I really think the art on the cover of this book is funky and fun. I like how it almost gives you clues to the book (if you have the cover with several cards). I found myself sneaking a peak at the cover trying to figure out what the other cards might say later in the book.

[Heather]

I thought the ending was spot on. The whole point is that we can choose which coarse our lives go. The books primary plot is that he is put into this situation but at the end it is revealed that he determines his own destiny and he can be something.

The ending is the promise of life being fulfilled. If the author just hands it to us then their is no room for possibilities.

Through out the book all of the characters where left a bit better than what they were before leaving the notion that even a little kindness can make a difference in someones life.

What that impact is in the long run really isn't the point, in my opinion. It's the fact that in the present we all have choices upon us. It is up to us if we are going to be mindful and act upon what we believe.

In saying the above, I don't believe that this book is meant to be a narrative of characters that tells a complete story from beginning and end. I feel that the context of the messages are meant to be retrospective for the reader.

But then again, that's just my 2 cents.

[Heather]

Angie wrote: "I really think the art on the cover of this book is funky and fun. I like how it almost gives you clues to the book (if you have the cover with several cards). I found myself sneaking a peak at t..."

I had that one too and found myself comparing it with the cover as well!

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

I love what you thought of the book, 5peasinapod. I am glad that this book ended without getting too long. I feel like a lot anymore books are just series after series. Sometimes I like a book that ends in one book.

[Patty]

I loved the book. I sponsor a boys' book club in my high school, and we read last year. The boys loved it. They felt Zusak was spot on describing Ed's feelings about himself and his reactions to his friends, family and others. They especially loved the passage where Ed drove the prostitute. (They are teenage boys, after all.)

Cards are a game of luck, chance, experience and skill. I think the cards symbolized life in this novel, which has all of those elements. Ed and his friends have power over their destiny; that is the final message.

[Michelle]

Caro wrote: "I have some slight difficulties with the outcome of the book. Somewhere it says that the part of this man from Edgar Street was staged or did I get this wrong?? If not, I don't understand why it wa..."

Caro, that part confused me as well. I thought that maybe I misunderstood it because I also thought this message was staged. I even reread that part a few times just to be sure. If it was staged, how horrible! Is there anyone who can explain if it was staged or did we misread this? Thanks!

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

OH NO! I have returned my book to the library. But now that you say that I do remember reading that. Wasn't it the two mobster type guys who told Ed about it being fake? To test him to see if he could handle the rest of the assignments?

[Heather]

The guy that showed up with the folder with an account of everything was the author. During his explanation he said that he created all of it, even his dad dying. Since he was the author and created all of it then he was the one that "set up" or "staged" the scene on Edgar St.

[Michelle]

Lisa wrote: "Michelle, The Book Thief was wonderful, and after you read it you can post in any/all of the threads about that book. You might get some discussion going again."

I read it and I loved it... thanks!

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

It does seem strange that even the bank robbery was staged!

[Michelle]

Maybe the author of the messages was Fate and that's how he was able to stage everything, like the robbery? I don't really know. I'm just going by the fact that Death narrated The Book Thief. Perhaps Zusak is a fan of the beyond and writes these characters into his stories. I'm sure this theory is a little far fetched... lol.

[Annalisa]

It's not Fate. It's Zusak as the god of his literature. Since he put Ed on paper, he gets to say what happens to his life. He's pointing out that the book is fiction so that he can put the challenge to the reader that we start touching other people's lives, that we see that Ed is an example for us. I personally loved this book, but then again, I love Zusak. His writing is so beautiful I'd eat anything he said. Has anyone read Getting the Girl? It's not as popular, but I thought it was a great portrayal of a sad (read loser who's really the good guy not depressed) teenage guy protagonist.

[Angie, YA lovin mod!!]

I need to read another book by Zusak!

[Tee27]

It's amazing how deep YA novels are at times. I gathered a profound message from such an entertaining read. The characters were so well developed and amusing, especially the main character ( I forgot his name, as I read this book a while ago).

This was the overall message: Someone who seemingly lacks hope, such as the main character, is still able to give hope to others.

[Rachel Alice]

I was expecting this to be more like the Book Thief, and was completely mistaken. And I loved it for completely different reasons. I know a lot of people hated the ambiguous ending, and usually I hate those as well, but I think it worked here. It's open to interpretation, and I think I get it; I stayed up for two hours on the night I finished it, just thinking about it, but I also think it's for everyone to figure out on their own.