I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

[katekintailbc]

The Messenger
by Markus Zusak
(Audio)

The thing I liked most about BOTH Zusak books I've read is the interesting storyteller he uses. I don't want to spoil the twist at the end, though ;-) So let's just say it's a book about a young man who has an un-extraordinary life. He's got some kind of stupid friends, he's got a girl he likes who doesn't like him romantically because he's crap at sex, and he's got a super smelly dog with the best name in the world: The Doorman. He drives a taxi and has no ambitions to do more.

But then he gets a playing card and, on it, three people he needs to help. And then he gets another card. And another. And another. Four Aces. Twelve people whose lives he must change for the better. Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes it's sweet. Sometimes it's fun. Sometimes it's dangerous. But he figures each out. And he carries out each one.

You know he will. It's just a matter of what the next adventure will be, not whether or not he'll accomplish it. And through it all, he struggles to figure out the meaning. Why is HE getting these cards? Who will he be when it's all over?

I really enjoyed this. It made me think. It made me feel inspired to go help someone. It made me want to be a better person and change the world. What more could you ask from a book?