I Am the Messenger

By Markus Zusak. Who's read it?

Because I am too lazy to type up a summary of the book, I will simply provide a link to the Wikipedia page and then follow up with my opinion of it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Messenger_(Markus_Zusak_novel)

I comment Mr. Zusak for using a relatively new style of prose, one that is fresh and interesting. The book is first-person, so we're exposed to a lot of attitude and wry observations about the world. Fully developed paragraphs are rare if any actually exist- but that's okay, because we have fully developed sentences to read instead.

On the other hand, the plot-line is absolutely brilliant, and each sub-story has an emotional appeal that draws the reader in and makes them sympathize with the characters. For me, it's difficult to sympathize with people in...say, War and Peace. However, in "I Am the Messenger" the character's turmoils are laid out raw and described with modern slang that really make me feel their hurt and troubles. In line with this is the dialog- something that Kris knows I'm a huge stickler on. The dialog is perfect, it is real.

The one thing I take problem with is the end. I get kind of confused as to who the man who's been sending Ed on these missions is. Is he God? Is he just a really impossibly influential human? I infer that it's God, but it seems on a completely different string than the rest of the novel, so I honestly don't know.