Customer Reviews
read it in one go - By: E. Barnes, 11 Sep 2008 
Having read & delightedin The Book Thief, I thought that I would give I am the Messenger a go. I wasin Oz at the time & so the setting was perfect. It truly is a readin one sitting book. It may have been written for young adults but is a book that all can take from.
Book Of The Year? Quite Possibly.... - By: Finlay Meldrum, 09 Sep 2008 Where to start? After reading the Book Thief I had serious doubts that Markus Zusak could pull off another book of such amazing quality,so one day when I was browsing amazon i decided to see if there were any other books of his,and i never realised how many books he has released. I liked the idea of I Am The Messenger the fact that it was similar to my name is earl was kind of a factor,but the other main draw was that i hadn't read anything similar before so I thought id give it a try & im glad I did. The bare bones of the story are the main character Ed Kennedy & basically how hopeless his existence is,he has no real drive or motivation & seems to be going day to day as a taxi driver, but when he gets caught upin a failed bank robbery he becomes a local celebrity of sorts & thats when the fun really begins as he receives a playing card with 3 addresses on it,not knowing who sent it or what it means Ed starts his journey.I found this to be more fast paced that the Book thief but its hard to compare the two really as this is a very funny story with some genuinely laugh out loud moments. The characters are very likeable & you do start to feel for Ed when things arent going his way & when things start to come together you want him to succeedin his mission.If you weren't a fan of the Book Thief id still recommend this book as the style of writing is very different & the story may be more suited to a wider audience.I would actually go to say the messagein here is a strong one that will make me look at my life & that of others around me im not sure anyone else will get a similar message but what you will get is a very enjoyable read.
superb !! - By: j j, 19 Aug 2008 i've only found out this book is aimed at teens ? doesn't seem right but never the less a great book it was just a change to read something different it was great writing & the chacaters were just so close to your heart by the end a really warming story. just take a chance & give it ago can't belive its not more popular.
Another chance? - By: A. B. Mcmullon, 06 Aug 2008 
I read "The Book Thief" & hated it - couldn't see why it deserved so many good reviews! I read this book because,in the light of those good reviews I wanted to give Zusak another go - I am glad that I did.
I am the Messenger is a much better book. It's engaging & intriguing - you warm to all the characters, especially to Ed & his smelly dog, & his new found purposein life touching the lives of others, largely for the better!
I found the ending a little disappointingin that I think it's been done before (Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder) where it has a deeply philosophical, & entirely fitting, purpose. I still think that Zusak is a bit 'lite'in his philosophy, as indeed he was with 'The Book Thief' but I actually enjoyed this book much better. It certainly challenged me about the waysin which, for better or worse, I touch the lives of others along the way!
Wonderful book - By: Mrs. S. R. Wray, 20 May 2008 Like the other reviewers, I read this book because I enjoyed The Book Thief so much. I Am The Messenger is a very different book, but, I think, equally as brilliant. It's very readable, (I couldn't put it down & carried it around with my all day) & the characters are flawed but I loved them all. The book is very uplifting but never wallowsin sentimentality or emetic sweetness. If you like things that are quirky, & a little different, then give this book a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
