Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Review: I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak

This is my last "official" book for the Something About Me Challenge. I'm done! However, I'm quickly moving on to my "I hope I have time to read these" list.

Loved this book. Loved it. It only took me two days to read, because I just couldn't put it down. Authors like Markus Zusak amaze me. What happens with so many authors that I like is that after a few books I never read them again because, well, read one and you've read them all. I mean, I swear, pick up a John Grisham or a James Patterson and you can just substitute names and places and "voila!" you've got a new book! (Sorry Grisham and Patterson fans).

Not so with Markus Zusak. If you read The Book Thief and loved it, prepare for the same engaging, can't-put-it-down style, but a completely different book. Totally different premise, totally different setting, timeline, etc. There's not a thing about this book that reminded me of his other, except how much I loved it.

Now you're reading about a 19 year old card-playing cabdriver who's a bit of a loser. All of a sudden, he starts getting messages delivered to him on playing cards and you're off on a great adventure. Read this, read The Book Thief, and then you'll probably do what I'm going to do, which is scour the library and book stores for his other ones.

12 comments:

Suey said...

Welcome to the "I love Markus Zusak" Club! He is amazing, isn't he? Good luck finding more of his books. (One of them is impossible.) I'll be anxious to hear if you love them as well! I wish he'd hurry up and get another one out there for us!

lazy cow said...

It was the first book I read this year and I loved it too! I read The Book Thief after it, and still prefer The Messenger (as it is called in Australia). I was so rapt to find it for $3 in a charity store last week.Definitely re-read material.

raidergirl3 said...

I'm with suey in the club, and I haven't even read The Book Thief yet. I read this for the challenge as well, and loved I Am the Messenger a lot. I'm trying to spread the word as well.

SuziQoregon said...

I've got this one on my list for the 2nds Challenge - can't wait!

jay are said...

wasn't this SUCH a great book! I totally loved it too.

kookie said...

What a great review. I loved "The Book Thief" and now I'm chomping at the bit to read this one. Thanks.

Booklogged said...

Loved both of the Zusak books. And, like you say, they are so different from each other. Bring on the next one!

Bookfool said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bookfool said...

I've yet to hear (or, maybe I should say "read") a bad word spoken about Zusak. And, The Book Thief rocketed onto my "All-Time Favorites" list, practically from page 1. So glad to read another great review! Thanks!

Tasha said...

I enjoyed your review and am adding both I Am the Messenger and The Book Thief to my list. Thank you for introducing me to some new books!

Clare - The Super Mommy Club said...

I just finished The Book Thief - and after your review am now off to buy I am the Messenger!

Josette said...

Hi there!

I've read lots of positive reviews of The Book Thief and have bought a copy for myself already but haven't gotten around to reading it yet! Really can't wait...

Anyway, I also spotted I Am The Messenger in Borders but wasn't so sure how it is. Thanks to your review, now I'll try to get my hands on a copy of the Messenger book too! Liked your review!