i am the messenger

By the same author as The Book Thief, this young adult book held my attention all the way. It has some poetic elements like The Book Thief but had a completely different plot that was just as engaging.

I Am the Messenger is the story of Ed Kennedy, a cab driver who appears to be going nowhere in his life, until he stops a bank robbery in progress. After the robbery, Ed's life changes as he becomes the messenger (or so he believes). He receives mysterious playing cards with clues as to people whose lives need changing. And Ed is the person for the job.

This story made me laugh, it almost made me cry, but most importantly, it made me really think about life. Cool book. Definitely worth the couple days it will take to read.

labor day

My freshmen used to read Joyce Maynard's novel The Usual Rules and I invited her to speak to them a year ago. She is a great writer, a gifted storyteller, and she has a quirky side that's quite interesting. After her visit, I read her memoir At Home in the World, which tells the story of her year-long relationship with J.D. Salinger. It was a page-turning to say the least.

So, when I received an email from Joyce Maynard this fall asking me to pick up her new book, I immediately ordered a copy. It took me a couple months to get to it but I did finally read it over the last couple days. Easy read. Bizarre storyline. Single mom and 13-year-old boy invite an escaped convict to come home with them and mom falls in love with him. It all takes place over Labor Day weekend.

I didn't love the book but didn't hate it. It just doesn't have the real substance I look for in a book. No wow factor.