I Am the Messenger

by Markus Zusak

[clementine]

I read this for the first time probably nine or ten months after I read The Book Thief. The Book Thief was the best book I'd ever read (and still manages to hold the title of my favourite book, three and a half years later). I honestly don't remember what I thought of it then, but I imagine I was a bit disappointed as it's of a much smaller scope than The Book Thief.

This time, in my meandering journey of re-reading all the books I decided to keep and move with me to Montreal, I read I Am the Messenger before The Book Thief. Really, you can't compare the two. The Book Thief is enormous and rather external in a lot of ways, whereas I Am the Messenger is much more internal, although the scope of it actually is quite large in the end.

Ed is an immensely relatable character, and although there's no question that he is a total loser, he is entirely sympathetic. What a great narrator. He is such a superb example of believable, gradual character development, and he's someone you really root for. I don't get that often with characters these days, I guess because I read so much that I'm becoming a bit picky.

He's not the only, though: all of the characters, even the minor ones who only had a few lines, were somehow well-developed. You can really feel the complexity lurking inside of them. Some of the characters are unsympathetic, but not horribly so - you can somehow see the humanity in all of them. I can't decide which of the messages I like best - Milla comes to mind first, but Sophie, Father O'Reilly, Angie Carusso, Marv, and the Tatupus are also great.

I think Markus Zusak's writing is absolutely beautiful. As with any writing style that's a bit unconventional, it tends to alienate a fair chunk of readers, but I like it. I do tend to like lyrical, slightly experimental writing.

God, I don't even know. I just think this book is so profound, and I don't care how pretentious that sounds. It is beautiful and it has incredible depth and I love it I love it I love it.