Class Book 1

"I Am The Messenger" by Markus Zusak- WOW, WOW, and WOW!

This book was amazing! This story, starting out simply enough about a boy named Ed Kennedy, nineteen years old, and he drives a taxi cab. He lives simply enough, in the city, in a small apartment, "shack", with his dog named "Doorman". The book begins with Ed and his friends, Marv and Ritchie(though later we meet Audrey too), at a bank while a robbery is taking place- by some stroke of fate no one is hurt and Ed plays a small part in stopping the bugler. After this amazing day Ed receives a playing card in the mail, it’s the Ace of diamonds. This card is a message, something that Ed must do. Throughout the book, Ed receives messages, via playing cards- the aces, and with each one he must figure out what is written on the card, what it means, where or who it is about, and what he must do.

This whole story surrounds Ed and his life, his ordinary life. It is the life of someone who does the same things day in and day out. He goes to work, deals with his swearing mother, his brother and sisters who barely speak to him because they have moved away, missing his father, seeing his friends, playing cards at friends' houses, and drinking coffee with his dog. He doesn't do anything out of the ordinary, never stops to think about something bigger and better, and worst of all he continually puts himself and his life down. But through this book we can see a transformation. Ed must push himself to do something more, something greater than he has ever done before. I don't want to give too much away because, everyone should read it! I would recommend this book to anyone!

The other interesting idea that I had throughout this book was how I could use this in the classroom as well as my own funny thoughts throughout the book on how the story was going or where the plot was going to travel. SO instead of giving away the entire book I want to list some of the comments I wrote through the book in two different categories- 1.) ideas for lessons and 2.) my silly thoughts/reactions to the book

1.) -the language is different from that of American- English, the book uses such language that points to the way people from England/Australia(it is hard to figure out) would be talking (fella, shirty, dole bludger, oi, arse, wanker)
-the vocabulary used is very neat, from simple words to more complex (dictionary time) - aspersions/sactimonious
-there are cool moments when the book points to outside events and people, this points to a huge literary term: context- using this starting point could go many ways
- The book does a lot of name dropping for movies, people, authors, etc.
- Setting, place and time are very important to this story
- This book also tackles “real issues” of life- how to handle, help, become aware and informed- that makes me think about the messages Ed is trying to deliver
-Metaphors and other ways to convey emotions
-Descriptive and chapters- only deal with one topic at a time- good idea for a book- works well with this one- why?
-Word choices- powerful meaning and messages conveyed through words- more than their literal meaning
-American English vs. other languages- how it affects the book
-Remembering- a theme of the book?
-What other books or movies does this relate to? - “The Box” and “Pay it Forward”
-Are there other people doing what Ed is doing?
- Does the book come full circle?

2.) - The descriptions are incredible in the story, you get the feeling that the setting (place and time) are important
- The language speaks to the reader because it is different and fun
- Why was it that particular card that was picked first (why aces), someone knows he plays cards- someone knows his life
-The cards give him an excuse to be someone else, something else than his ordinary life- to be important and do something important
- Every person that he meets deserves something better than what they have and doesn’t he?
- Do the cards relate to the people in his life?
- This book also tackles “real issues” of life- how to handle, help, and become aware and informed- that makes me think about the messages Ed is trying to deliver
- When he deals with some of the people he is supposed to deliver a message to, he is making the others have a moment, a message is conveyed right then and there- and to both not just one person involved
-The point of these messages that he is delivering is that he is helping others without getting anything from it, but then again- he is getting some joy in knowing he is actually helping
- Sisters, mother, brother- Ed is being connected to these people through the people already in his life- barefoot girl= his soccer game, Edgar street=his father, Milla= the love he can’t have
- Hard things in life sometimes must either be left alone or done alone
- Is Ed- by doing all these things from the cards- re-experiencing this in his life, but from another point of view?
-The messages are changing his point of view, he appreciates life and isn’t so down on himself all the time
-The priest, Angie, Rose brothers- are they all connected or how do all these people fit together and do the messages connect?
-Ed is getting back what he gave
-Ed starts helping without needing too-he originally helped at the robbery- had it in him all along

I also loved particular quotes throughout the book:
-“The moon escapes from the clouds, and I suddenly feel naked. Like the world can see me.”
-“It was like she held a string and pulled on it just slightly to open me up. She got in, put a piece of herself inside me, and left again. In there somewhere I still feel it.”
- “Inside, I laugh. Me? A saint? I list what I am. Taxi driver. Local deadbeat. Cornerstone of mediocrity. Sexual midget. Pathetic card player.”
- “I wouldn’t want four aces. In a card game, you pray for a hand like that. My life is not a card game.”- this is so ironic
- “I want to tell them, but I realize that all I do is deliver the message. I don’t decipher it or make sense of it for them. They need to do that themselves.”- interesting point to discuss in a class