Review: I AM THE MESSENGER by Markus Zusak

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Protect the diamonds
Survive the clubs
Dig deep through the spades
Feel the hearts

This description of I Am the Messenger sounds interesting enough, when you know that it’s about Ed receiving playing cards in the mail with special instructions written on them from an anonymous source, but I was honestly just bored with most of the story, even while listening to the audiobook. This book reminded me of Zusak’s Underdogs trilogy, probably because of the personality of the main character. I didn’t really like those books, and I didn’t really care for this story either. There was nothing inherently wrong with it—it’s a really neat, well-written story—but it just wasn’t for me.

Ed was a fine character, but I didn’t particularly connect with him or like him. I didn’t dislike him either though. I did think the book’s plot was smart. The ending was pretty great too, and although I should have guessed it, I didn’t. But then the actual ending after the reveal was disappointing and left me with the obvious questions of who? I don’t like not getting answers in my books.

I like the message of this book: everyone is struggling with something and everyone needs help, and anyone can benefit and feel better after serving another. I think that’s a great takeaway.

Although this book grew on me the more I read it, I was still just feeling very meh about the whole thing by the end.

If I Am the Messenger wasn’t written by Markus Zusak, I doubt I would have read it. This is my fifth book by him, and the only good one was The Book Thief, unfortunately. I wish I liked them all, but I don’t. I still have Bridge of Clay left but once I read that I’ll have read all Zusak’s books. That one’s a similar situation: I don’t think I would read it if it wasn’t by Zusak, but because it is, I do want to read it. But I also don’t think I’m going to like it though, just based on what I’ve heard about the story and what I know about my own reading tastes. I’m becoming increasingly convinced that The Book Thief was a one-hit-wonder by Zusak, and that makes me really sad. It was an incredible book, and I wish I could say the same about his others.