"Meet Ed Kennedy-underage cabdriver, pathetic cardplayer, and useless at romance. He lives in a shack with his coffee-addicted dog, the Doorman, and he's hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence, until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. That's when the first Ace arrives. That's when Ed becomes the messenger. . . .

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary), until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?"

Mark Zusak is one of the most talented writers I have had the pleasure to read in a long time. He is amazingly skillful at making ordinary lives extraordinary. To compare this book with 'The Book Thief' is a bit like comparing apples and oranges for me. Each book had it's charms in different areas. 'I am the Messenger' is a compelling read with enjoyable characters. The flow and prose are wonderful and contribute to the overall enjoyment of this book. Ed and the characters in this book are lovable and easy to identify with and I loved Ed for his gradual self-awareness and for loving the people who he met along his journey. As with the 'Book Thief' I'm not sure I would classify this book for young readers. I think there are mature themes and ideas that I don't know that young readers would appreciate until they are older. However, I definitely recommend that anyone should read this book.

This book is going travelling! Here is the list of participants and shipping preferences.
rockyhorror1978 (Canada; international)
yoursecretninja (Canada; international)
bananabrianna (Canada; international)
anathema-device (Austria; international)
AgdaAgulina (Czech Republic; EU)
misterpip (Czeck Republic; EU)
arturogrande (UK; international) (SKIPPED)
kicking-back (UK; EU) (SKIPPED)
kerriou (UK; international) (SKIPPED)
franaloe (Netherlands; EU)
marko167 (Switzerland/Spain; international)
hyper7 (South Africa; international) (SKIPPED)
Sherlockfan (New Zealand; international) (SKIPPED)
hyphen8 (US; US pref)
tempestsans (US; US pref)
arugh48187 (US; US pref)
mrsboknows (US; US pref)
perryfran (US; international)
parisfrance312 (US; US/Can)
imawinn2 (US; International)
hoserlauren (Canada; end)<---Book is here
FREEDOM!

I hope everyone enjoys the book and I just ask that you do you the following:
1. Make a quick journal entry when you receive the book.
2. Read and send on within four weeks- or make a journal entry to let us know how you're getting on if you need longer.
3. Make a journal entry when you've finished.
4. Use the cheapest method of shipping available to send the book on.

My girlfriend gave me this book to read. It was quiet a wonderful read. Though intended for younger audiences, the book has a lot of charm. The narrative of the story reminded me of someone telling a wonderful story. And the content is something we can all relate to - mostly about the relationships we make and develop and the aspirations we have and the roads we travel.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Being sent to bananabrianna! Hope you enjoy!

Awesome, received today!

I'll start on it this weekend. Thanks!

What a nice book! I really liked the writing style and I fel the ending was not rushed or put together in haste, the ending was a nice surprise. I enjoyed this book.
On to anathema-device!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Forgot to make release notes!
It has been sent to Anathema-Device!

This book arrived just before I left for the weekend (which I spent at some friends' lakeside cottage, so I couldn't write a JE sooner). I have been looking forward to reading it for quite some time now.
Luckily, I have only about 50 pages left of my current bookring, so I can start on it really soon.
Thanks for passing it on to me.

Wow.
My first impulse, after I'd read the first couple of sentences, was to just keep reading till I'd turned the last page.
Unfortunately the next day was a work day, so I ended up reading the book on three consecutive nights, just over 100 pages at a time.
As with The Book Thief, I was amazed at what Markus Zusak can do with words. Even during the most heartbreakingly beautiful scenes he never once slips into kitsch.
At first I was slightly uncomfortable with the ending (but then I suppose, Ed was too) - but by the time I'd reached the last page I was not only reconciled, but truly content. I guess this story will stay with me for some time, even though the book is going to travel on.
Oh, and for some reason I had the feeling that this story was very... Australian. :)

I've asked AgdaAgulina for her address; the book will travel on to her as soon as I have an answer.
Thank you so much for sharing this reading experience, rockyhorror1978. :)

Thank you! I am the Messenger is in Prague! Next to be read...

I wanted to read this book a long time, since getting to know the author through the Book Thief. This was complitely different experience, but very enjoyable too - maybe also because we were reading it chapter by chapter with misterpip (another bookcrosser), that way we were bit racing each other and shared the world of the book. Sometimes the telling was bit too simple for my taste, but other times again very challenging for the thoughts - all in all, great holiday read.

Thanks a lot for sharing this book!

Fun book! I also liked 'book thief' better, this at times feels slightly cheaply premeditated, or intentionally immature (for 'young adults'). But on the whole, very addictive read, leads you on and gets better as it goes. The whole idea is quite clever and playful as well, fittingly post-modern for the times!

Worth reading, quick and catchy. THANKS for sending around!

CAUGHT IN PRAHA CZECH REPUBLIC

OOPS! the above entry is mine, I thought I was logged in but I guess I got booted meanwhile or something. The ring hasn't been hijacked!!

Thanks again...

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

After three (!) bookcrossers asked to be skipped, the book is finally on it's way to franaloe, the Netherlads!

The book safely arrived in the Netherlands. Will be added to my huge TBR-pile...

Nice story, a little bit simple at times, but a page turner for sure. I think some of the thoughts behind the book are a little bit far sought, which is a pity. I liked the book thief better, although it gave me a similar feeling.

Will be send to marko167 today.

Ooops, this arrived a couple of weeks ago and I forgot to journal it apologies.

Excellent and easy read. I really enjoy Zusak's work and will be seeking out a copy for my PC.

A friend wanted to borrow it and have turned him down as it is a ring, but when questioned on it, told him it was excellent, a kind of mix of Fight Club and the Littlest Hobo.

Many thanks for sharing.

M.

Hyper7 asked to be skipped. Have PMed Sherlockfan.

Sherlockfan asked to be skipped. Have PMed hyphen8.

Wow, how did that happen? I got two separate bookrays from Spain at once, in the same package!

I'm in the middle of reading a ring book right now, but once I finish that one I'll start on one of the two I got today. I normally try to read them in the order received, but since these arrived together I might have to flip a coin!

Here's another copy on my shelf.

Somehow I was in just the right mood for Ed & his friends; I really enjoyed this book a lot, although I have to wonder if I'd have been able to figure out what to do in each situation as well as Ed did - not to mention having the guts to follow through on the tough ones. Ed has an amazing journey in this book, and although sometimes things seem a bit extreme, there are some really touching and wonderful moments as well. I may have to look for another copy of this book to share with people not in the bookray.

This book was very different from The Book Thief, but I liked both books. I'll be on the lookout for more by Markus Zuzak - I know he's a young man and an enjoyable speaker, and I'm hoping he's got a nice long book-writing career in front of him. :)

Ed & company are off to tempestsans via media mail, which will probably take about 3 weeks.

Edit: this book apparently took the looooong way to Georgia, sorry about that! I'm glad it finally arrived.

wow - this one appears to have been traveling for a time...but at least it has now arrived - and while the packaging is in very poor shape, the book is pretty well in tact (front cover will need to be taped before i send it to the next reader but nothing that can't be reinforced to allow all others in the ring/ray to enjoy it). i am 1/2 through my current read and though this book arrived today with another ring, this one will be first read of the 2 since it's been so long in transit and others are waiting.

thanks for sharing!

interesting read - though not as compelling as The Book Thief. this author is quite thoughtful in his development of story and lesson. i will continue to look for new opportunities to read more by him.

off to PM next in line for this one in hope of getting it into the mail during the holidays.

thanks for sharing!

off to next in line in tomorrow's mail.

I found this one in my PO box this afternoon. I have one other book in front of it, so it shouldn't tarry long.

I have a feeling that I will be adding this book to my permanent collection in the near future; a privilege I only reserve for a select few treasures. This happens to be one. This copy, however, has been read and passed on. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters, the premise and the message. Zusak is a charming author and I will eagerly await his next offering. Thanks for sharing and sorry for keeping it so long.

Mailed off to mrsboknows who is next on the list. Happy reading!

Arrived today. It is next TBR.

I tried a couple of times to get into this book, but it just didn't capture me. I'm pretty disappointed that it didn't since I absolutely loved 'The Book Thief.' It's on the way to perryfran. Thank you for sharing.

Received today - thanks for including me in this ray. I will try to get to it soon.

Finished reading this one today and must say that I really enjoyed it! At first, I was not too sure I would like the book given that it is supposedly written for "young adults", however, some of the themes and subject matter I feel are more for older readers including themes of love, sex, and the plights of ordinary human beings. The story is basically about a young man, Ed, who is wasting his life away being put a position to help other people through a series of clues delivered to him on playing cards. The way he reacts to the clues and how he decides to assist the people involved is the crux of the novel. In some ways, Ed reminded me of Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of "Catcher in the Rye." Some of the novel was also a little dark and could have been written for a "film noir" mystery. In the end, Ed discovers that if a guy like him can stand up and do what he did, then maybe everyone can. Maybe everyone can live beyond what they're capable of. I would recommend this one!

Thanks rockyhorror1978 for sharing this one. Parisfrance312 asked to be skipped so I will be sending this on to imawinn2.

Heading to imawinn2 in Wisconsin to continue this bookray. Enjoy!

USPS DC# 0309 1830 0000 8454 9592

The book has landed! It is safe and sound and temporarily staying in Wisconsin. I had another book arrive this past week and have started reading that one. But then I will read this book immediately after. Thanks for sending my way. :-)

*June 10, 2011: Just finished my previous book and will start I Am the Messenger today.

This was absolutely fun to read and I loved the whole concept of clues on playing cards and sending poor, ordinary and underachieving Ed out on various missions. It was wonderful to read how our hero, despite some reluctance, could make a difference in other people's lives, be it by simple heartfelt gestures or using somewhat creative or painful means. And yet, one finds that it is not always the recipient that is affected by such actions. But the big question... who is behind these mission assignments and for what purpose? Why has Ed been singled out to be "The Messenger?"

Thanks so much for sharing this book with us. I had a nice chunk of uninterrupted car travel time to read and finish the story today. It allowed me to really get into the book and it's loveable characters. As soon as I get an address from the next participant, I will be sending this back on it's world tour journey.

I tried sending the book off today but I guess the Canadian postal strike is still in progress. As soon as I get word that the strike is over, I will send the book to hoserlauren. But for now, the book is all "dressed up" and ready for the next leg of its journey.

6/28/11: Sent the book out today. Evidently, I arrived minutes after our post office got word that they could resume shipping mail to Canada again. Anyway, I made a little bookmark for you, hoserlauren, and placed inside the book cover. Enjoy!

This book is back in Canada!

Special thanks to imawinn2 for putting up with having to go to the post office a couple of times to try and get the book here while Canada was in the midst of a postal strike. The bookmark is cute and ironic!

I'll start reading this soon.

Ed Kennedy just happens to be in a bank when a really bad bank robber holds up the bank. Ed manages to stop the robbery and is lauded as a local hero. Shortly thereafter he receives his first ace in the mail. An ace of diamonds with the name of three people on the card. Ed soon realizes that he must visit these people and bring them a message.

Some of the messages are good, such as keeping company with an elderly lady and reading her Withering Heights. Some of the messages are bad, like it being suggested that he murder a man that rapes his wife every night. Ed knows that there are more cards coming and more messages that need to be sent and they get harder and harder with each card.

This is supposed to be a young adult book but it sure doesn't read like one. The themes are more mature than what I would expect to see in a young adult. As soon as I started reading this, I was hooked. Even though Zusak uses a lot of short sentences, which doesn't always lead to a well written book, that's not the case. I very easily connected with the characters and couldn't put the book down to learn how Ed was going to help out each of his messages and which message he was going to give them. I like this book just as much as The Book Thief, which I also thoroughly enjoyed!

I am going to share this with my mom!

This book is stopping awhile with me :)

Ed Kennedy is a slacker. He drives a cab, plays cards with his friends and wishes for a romance with his girl pal. He definitely has not reached his potential. All that changes when he inadvertently stops a bank robbery and becomes a hero.

Thereafter, a set of aces arrive giving him clues as to what he is to do. These 'jobs' involve easy ones like befriending an elderly lady and reading to her to harder ones like stopping a man from raping and abusing his wife. The reader can see Ed evolve after each set of challenges.

This is definitely not a YA book. At first, I found the book quite simplistic and wondered what was the point. I enjoyed the journey and the characters but really fell in love with the book at the last sentence when it all became clear.

Mailed this today to my birthday partner. Happy birthday!

Thank you so much, Lauren! The Book Thief was such an outstanding book, I can't wait to get started on this.

I enjoyed this one very much! Quite a bit different from the Book Thief but still very well written. It was such a strange and unusual story, I had a bit of trouble explaining it to friends. I loved watching Ed grow, and the ending was just right.