UB Libraries Book Group discussion

Good morning readers!

I hope everyone had a chance to read I am the Messenger. Let the questions commence! I leave to you if you'd like to address any or all of these:

1. Have you read any of the author's other books, and if so, how did this one compare? Similarities/differences in style, etc.? (I find his books to be particularly distinctive).

2. Markus Zusak is classified as a young adult writer, as is this book. Is that a fair assessment? Do we lose anything by classifying books (especially a book like this), and should we classify books- I'm defining classification as "audience." Why or why not? Do Zusak's books defy and challenge classification?

3. Would you recommend this title? To whom, and why? Who wouldn't you recommend this book to? Why not? Who's the ideal audience?

4. Most important, what, if anything, resonated with you? Any of the characters (Ed or his friends)? Any of the "tasks" that Ed was given? How about the ending- was it satisfying to you? I'm being cagey here in case anyone hasn't read or finished the book yet ;)

I didn't pick up I Am the Messenger until later than I wanted, but then I wasn't able to put it down :-) I read it really quickly over the weekend and liked it a lot.

I agree with your statement that Zusak's books defy classification (or genre-ification). I have no idea why this was called YA as I am definitely not a "young" adult and I liked it. Maybe because the main group of friends was youngish (19-20) and dealing with some coming of age issues?

My other book club read The Book Thief by Zusak a few years back. We all loved it and had a similar conversation wondering why it was classed as YA. The narrator in that one was a young girl, so we figured that might account for the YA label. But as with this book, it appealed to audiences of all ages.

I didn't pick up I Am the Messenger until later than I wanted, but then I wasn't able to put it down :-) I read it really quickly over the weekend and liked it a lot.

I agree with your statement that Zusak's books defy classification (or genre-ification). I have no idea why this was called YA as I am definitely not a "young" adult and I liked it. Maybe because the main group of friends was youngish (19-20) and dealing with some coming of age issues?

My other book club read The Book Thief by Zusak a few years back. We all loved it and had a similar conversation wondering why it was classed as YA. The narrator in that one was a young girl, so we figured that might account for the YA label. But as with this book, it appealed to audiences of all ages.

I also read or rather listened to the book over the weekend. I thought it odd to be labeled young adult. But if taken literally, someone aged 19 really is a young adult. 😊
Is that a category in Britain? The story was set there and the voices definitely had a cockney accent.
I also zoomed through it as it was compelling. I'm not sure I think it would be a good idea to put people in the situation to make those choices. Though sometimes community leaders have taken steps to curb bad actors in similar ways.
I liked the fact that it seemed to good outcomes for the most part. It seemed realistic that in some cases he could only do small things rather than save people wholesale. Which inevitably be good for the people being helped. They see a better way and take up the job of having more good things happen to themselves until it is an everyday experience.

This is actually the second time i've read this book.my other bookclub read the book thief a few years ago and i think we followed it up with this one. Anyway i think i liked it more the second time atound. I like the internal voice Zusak uses in his book and the descriptions of Ed's feelings, making them more concrete.

Sometimes i feel thar categorizing book like YA makes people not read them. I have read a number of YA books that were fabulous. Harry Potter is a great example. If there wasn't so much talk about banning it would half the adults have read them?

It struck me how aimless these young people were. When Ed was given a purpose and a really vital purpose, he really stepped up to the plate and did what needed to be done. And he had to figure out what needed to be done in each case, with some being more obvious than others.

The four friends were smart and had things to offer, but they had large obstacles, nobody to guide them, and no challenges to step up to. I especially liked the case of the priest when everyone rallied around to come to the mass and the party.

I agree- the YA label (or any label), can limit the audience of a book, and Zusak's books in particular, strike me as inherently different. There's a sophistication to his books- I feel like he expects a thoughtfulness of his readers; he doesn't dumb anything down, avoid violence, etc. I feel trusted as a reader when I engage with his books. I like that!

And the characters were aimless, as I suppose many of us are at different points in our lives. So if this book had to be classed, maybe a "coming of age" story- whatever your age?

Would you recommend this book to anyone? Anyone you think it wouldn't resonate with? (I'm thinking general audience here).

I agree with Amy, I would classify it as a "coming of age" story. I would recommend it almost anyone. although Ed was aimless, sometimes it seemed a little to easy to figure out what everyone needed. Maybe the lesson is that we need to observe our surroundings more instead of just what is happening to us. I mean, how did he know that the mother just needed the ice cream cone or what I thought it symbolized, someone just doing something nice for her. My favorite part was the last card when he actually had to dig deeper into his friendships, to go beyond the surface and find out what they were really going through.

That was so well put, Marlies! Close observation seemed to be the key to figuring out what was needed at each address. Sometimes it was super obvious, sometimes not so much. But Ed persisted and even felt more secure each time that what was needed would come to him. Failure was not an option (to quote NASA).

I would recommend this book to everyone and I think I will :-)

I agree, we'll put Marlies. I appreciate all of your comments, they brought out the story more in my mind.

I apologize for the typos. I can't seem to be able to edit after the fact on my phone.
Also, Iwill have to look for his other books.

I just finished it last night (after starting it on Sunday night) so felt like most of you that is was a quick read and super absorbing. I have also read the Book Thief and loved it; I read it such a long time ago, though, that I never would have associated these two books had I not known it was the same author. The Book Thief was so poignant to me and I didn't feel the same way about this. I really enjoyed this book on its own merits though. I felt Ed's voice was very clear and I liked being privy to how he observed and figured out how to help people, especially the smaller actions. I liked watching Ed move from purposeless to purposeful and how he rose to the occasion and gained more confidence. I also really liked the part with the priest and Milla, the older lady. I like Marlies’ view that looking outside ourselves is a good takeaway.

A few negatives for me: some of the methods he used didn’t make sense to me (though maybe they did to a 19yo boy) especially the Rose brothers. Also, it bothered me a bit that his friends were rendered so shallowly until the very end – I was glad we finally got to know a little more about them. Each of them seemed so very aimless, as Ellen said, but also none of them made any effort to reach beyond that (in life or in their friendship) until Ed’s final mission. Every character seemed so isolated and dispirited, I was glad they got to connect with Ed at least (though still never each other?). Lastly, the ending! I felt a little cheated and immediately pulled out of the story.

Regarding the YA label: like Amy says, I do believe it may somewhat limit the audience that picks this book up but I think over the last 10-20 years that label has also attracted a lot of adult readers (probably starting with Harry Potter and moving through the Twilight times and the Hunger Games/Divergent/ReadyPlayerOne dystopias). I would recommend this book to most people (except I would still grumble about the ending).

I agree with Kath that I felt a little cheated by the ending. It didn't sit right with me. Plus it struck me as so rushed, in contrast to the rest of the story.

I confess I kind of wanted it to be Ed's father who set it all up before he died, but that probably wasn't too realistic given his limitations.

As to Kath's observation that Ed's friends still might not connect with each other the way they had with Ed, I think I assumed they would all have to connect with each other on a deeper level now. I certainly hope so or Ed's journey would have been for naught on that level.

Some of his methods were troubling to me- I can't remember the names, but the 15 yr. old girl he gave the empty box too. Following her around each morning- he came across as a creeper to me! Eek!

And the abusive husband? That just went on too long. Once you know something like that, how can you let it go on? That didn't sit well with me.

I agree that it was creepy for Ed to be following a 15 year old girl around but he knew it was creepy. I was okay with the ending of the story although it was rushed.

It was kind of odd that everyone, aside from the Rose boys and abusive husband, just let Ed enter their lives, even if it was for a short time. I loved the story line with Milla and Ed seemed all the better for seeing the beauty in her instead of just her age. I loved it that he would keep going back to see her even though the message had been completed.

It's true Ed acknowledged the potential creepiness of following the running girl.

The thing that disturbed me the most was the gun being delivered to Ed for the abusive husband. And that was early in the story. I was nervous that all cases would be that intense. Later on the cases were a bit more benign (except for the brothers) and it was clear that Ed was gaining benefit as much as the recipients of his actions. But if he had killed that husband, he would have been irrevocably changed forever. I hope that wasn't the intent of the person behind it all.

I actually forgot about the gun part -- that was terrifying! I agree that it was rough waiting for Ed to deal with the abusive husband. I was worried the story would take a very dark turn at that point and was glad when that part of the story was over.

It seems like folks liked this book! Keep commenting if you wish.

The next selection (for May) is A Farewell to Arms. A classic! Denise will lead the discussion.

Thanks everyone!