Helpful Score: 8
I really liked this - I couldn't really put it down. Playing cards sent to him lead him on a scavenger hunt of sorts. But what he finds are situations that he is challenged to resolve. Some of them are quite frightening. Who would do this to someone? But the chase was better than the kill, and I felt let down by the ending. The excitement still made it worth while to read. I don't think it will make it into my top 10 for the year, but maybe in the top 20. I think I would like to read something else by this author, his imagination intrigues me.
Helpful Score: 6
This is one of those books that surprisingly left me almost speechless. It is so much more than the synopsis leads one to believe. I am so blessed that this was required reading for a grad class for young adult literature or I never would have read it. Mr. Zusak's writing style is poetic in places: "Screams jump over the fence." "A murmuring crawls to the window . . ." It does have some obscene language, but somehow it seems necessary to the setting and voice. A couple of places left me feeling like I missed something, but the incredible message feels life-changing. It is very though-provoking and hard to put down. I highly recommend this book for ages 17 and up, and I will be recommending it to my book club because it could generate much good discussion.
Helpful Score: 6
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!
Helpful Score: 3
Very intriguing tale from the author of The Book Thief. There's a very deep and thought provoking undercurrent to the story. I highly recommend this book!
Helpful Score: 2
Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence and he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. That's when the first ace arrives in the mail. 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?
This author is one you're either going to love or hate, there's usually no in-between. This story is quite the story and an interesting read. I found it difficult to put down until I knew all of the answers, or could it not be what it sounds like?
This author is one you're either going to love or hate, there's usually no in-between. This story is quite the story and an interesting read. I found it difficult to put down until I knew all of the answers, or could it not be what it sounds like?
