I was new to Reddit and as I was scrounging for some book-related Reddit’s I came across the popular ones like u/books and u/literature. The Reddit books page was very much active, and they had a wonderful monthly book club thread. I was intrigued, and I thought I should start a club that would also force me to read more books. And so I started a club. I was to select two books every month, and they would comprise a fiction and a nonfiction book. The fiction book was I am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak. I enjoyed Book Thief and so I went ahead with this book for the month of September.
The start of the story captivated me and the hilarious tonality of a bank robbery felt welcoming right from the first page. I started to enjoy the quirks of Ed, and his very abusive mother (bad words seem to flow perennially from her mouth) quickly got my attention. The story is narrated by Ed Kennedy, an underage cab driver who spends most of his time driving his cab and spending time with his capricious friends. Until one day, he is seen as a star after he stops a bank robbery.
The characters in this novel are well developed. No one is perfect, and the relationships between the characters are odd at times. Yet, it is truthful and believable. The dog and its quirkiness are portrayed well by the author.
The structure of the novel is based on playing cards. Ed starts to receive mysterious cards with names on them. As the story progresses, he comes to understand that he has to deliver certain messages to them. He receives spades, clubs, diamonds, and finally hearts. The people who are involved in this rather wild conspiracy enter into the story from time to time. Sometimes they threaten Ed, and other times they are awkwardly friendly.
The narrative style is typical of young adult fiction. It is free and humorous, with woeful overtones of dejected love. If this work is to be read critically, the plot has not very much to offer. The only way the author is able to keep the reader interested and guessing is by not revealing the mastermind behind this Messenger job. In the end, however, I was a little bit disappointed.
The story in one sense is a didactic lesson for teenagers about taking responsibility for their lives. It implies that big dreams can be pursued even if you think you are not up to the task. Ed’s mother, by the end of the novel, spurts a hard and bitter truth by saying that she hates her son, Ed. The reason is simply that he is just like his father, who was all talk and no action. The relationships in this novel are complex. The relationship between friends, brothers, and parents.
Ed, despite having a close relationship with his friends, did not really know them. Only by the end of the novel does he come to understand their problems, and he acts as a messenger for them. The novel is not on par with The Book Thief, but it appears to have an important message. The message is simply: “Everyone can make a difference if they start to help others”. I would rate this book a 4/5. To read more book reviews click here.
Research Ideas:
- Relationships in the novel can be explored.
- Social theory can be examined.
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