The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Lovely Bones
Book Review: A Lovely Book
Summary: 4 Stars
Read this book a few years ago and recently reread it. An original, unformulaic story with an interesting premise and well developed characters. It can be difficult to convey all the emotions encountered in this story without being cliche, but Sebold pulls it off, especially in her realistic portrayal of the impact of Susie's murder on, and the gradual unravelling of her family, in the aftermath. The "happy" ending may not be realistic enough for some, but, hey, this is fiction. Overall, a book I would recommend to most anyone. It is timeless and has a permanent place on my bookshelf.Book Review: A (Somehow) Unmoving Story About Murder
Summary: 2 Stars
Everyone raved about this book. I was told by multiple people that I just HAD to read it. I finally read it and am completely underwhelmed.
More than anything, this book feels like it was written for the Lifetime Network crowd: people (primarily women) who have a morbid fascination with bad things happening to other people. The story had a chance to put a unique spin on an oft-told tale, but instead it was completely uninspired and felt like it should be sandwiched between a story about a woman who was attacked and wheelchair bound but still won a gold medal and a story about a woman who gets up the courage to finally leave her cheatin', beatin', drinkin' husband.
Nothing about this story moved me one way or the other. I didn't feel hatred or love. I didn't cry or laugh. It was a complete waste of my time.
Book Review: A Book Lover's Heaven
Summary: 5 Stars
Imagine a world where you can see and hear your family suffering, and there is nothing you can do to make them feel better. Not exactly the standard definition of heaven, but that's how the afterlife is portrayed in Alice Sebold's novel The Lovely Bones. Susie Salmon, a curious and spunky fourteen year old girl, is brutally raped and murdered in the opening chapter of the book, which immediately grabs the readers' attention. Susie then relocates to heaven, which is described by Sebold when Susie notes that "we had been given, in heaven, our simplest dreams." (18) Also, Susie was allowed to watch people on earth, but not to interact with them. She observes her family's struggles and successes, and watches with disgust as her murderer manages to avoid getting caught. The complex plot in this book compensated for the superfluous and lengthy passages of speculation.
Do not let the simplistic writing style of this book fool you. If readers are easily offended by graphic or explicit scenes, this book is not for you. From the violent rape and murder, to descriptions of sex, and the portrayal of a sick serial rapist, this book is no stroll through the park. As Susie watches her family, her voice in the novel matures and grows, just as if she were still living. Readers gather a unique sense about heaven: the ability of the deceased to have whatever they want, to observe those whom they left behind, and to "grow up" despite being dead.
Although short, this book is far from an easy read. It is written clearly and concisely, but still proves to be though-provoking and emotional. This book is recommended to anyone who enjoys thinking about heaven and does not mind long passages of speculation by the narrator.
Book Review: A Book That Deserves All of its Accolades
Summary: 4 Stars
"My name is Susie Salmon and I was murdered on December 6 1973." This riveting line is the beginning of the award winning book The Lovely Bones by Alice Seabold. Seabold writes this book from the viewpoint of Susie Salmon, who is watching her family from heaven as they try to cope with her murder and continue on with their lives. I think this book is a phenomenal read because of Seabold's original writing style and concept. I have never read a book that was written from this particular viewpoint and I like it because it kept me engaged in the story. It is very refreshing to find an author who avoids writing a story that is very cliché and instead is able to write a story with a plot and format that is all their own. I think that if given the opportunity everyone should read this book however; I think that this book is only for mature audiences due to its discussion of sensitive subjects such as rape and life after death.Book Review: A Very Touching, Unique Story
Summary: 5 Stars
This book has a very original premise - the story being told by the child who had been murdered. It's very touching to see her watch as her family falls apart after her death, and to observe the progression as years pass. Not for everyone, but I couldn't put it down.