The Lovely Bones

Alice Sebold

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold What happens after you die? There are so many theories and no...more

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold What happens after you die? There are so many theories and no way to prove any of them. One is just as plausible as the next. This book explores one of these many possibilities. When we meet our main character, 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already dead, the victim of a murder, and in heaven. She has to deal with no longer being a part of what was her life, and she is exploring the place in which she now resides – heaven. Throughout the book we learn what she learns as she watches her family and friends from above. The stress of her murder, the dealing with the unknown location of her final resting place, the ongoing speculation on who the murderer is… She watches as her parents’ marriage suffers in the wake of the tragic events that have unfolded. She sees her sister distancing herself from friends and family in an attempt to be strong. And she watches as her baby brother struggles to understand what ‘gone’ means when all he really wants is his sister back. She is witness to her friends going on without her and the boy she liked moving on as well. And she investigates this place called heaven. It looks a lot like the world she left behind with playgrounds and new friends and anything she wants appears, just by thinking about it. It is in this place that she grows up and matures, where she learns to leave her old life behind knowing that they will be ok without her. Truly an inspiring novel, regardless of your belief, or lack thereof, in an afterlife. This story turns a tragic, painful event into one of hope and understanding. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a non-demanding read that touches the heart and makes you believe in all sorts of possibilities.    hide

Soo good. Little Suzie Salmon (like the fish...) disappeared after school one day and was brutally...more

Soo good. Little Suzie Salmon (like the fish...) disappeared after school one day and was brutally murdered by her creep of a neighbor.Her father is instinctively suspicious of the strange man but his accusations are only scorned at by the town and police as there is no evidence supporting his theory. The murder goes unsolved for years and Suzie witnesses it tear at the hearts and relationships of her surviving family. Only a piece of her elbow is found in a cornfield. She narrates the novel and part of her remains on earth with her loved ones in spirit every day. She is creatively suspended in her own peice of heaven where she meets others and can only look on patiently and await the necessary closure of her death for herself and loved ones on earth. She lingers in the minds of many who's lives were impacted by the loss of the little girl. The deceased Suzie remains with them, however, and watches with a bit of envy as her sister and friends grow up to greet the oncoming years that were so violently snatched away from her. They are granted the opportunity to fully live experiences that she can only dream of and observe from afar. The book resembles a suspenseful murder mystery. It keeps the anxious reader hoping that her family and friends can solve the mystery and catch the man who continues to commit perverted random crimes leaving his young dead hidden away and those still living with painful wounds to mend.   hide

Lovely Bones was an intriguing book. And I mean intriguing because of the concept. Basically it's...more

Lovely Bones was an intriguing book. And I mean intriguing because of the concept. Basically it's the story of a young girl who is murdered and tells us her story from heaven. Watching everyone she loves and knows, putting back the pieces together. And watching her murderer live on covering his tracks. I've wondered myself what it would be like to look down from heaven. What it would feel like watching the world move on without me. So, I was really drawn in by the book. At times it did become a little hard to read, especially when it comes to her murder and reading her describe certain things that happened. But through the changes going on without her and through the changes she finds herself experiencing, as she becomes more adjusted to heaven. It really gives you a sense of hope. And I was really surprised by the ending... twist of fate, and justice. I hear there's a movie in the works. Would like to see how that works out. Enjoy the book!   hide

I was at first reluctant to read this book. I knew the basic plot premise and decided not to get...more

I was at first reluctant to read this book. I knew the basic plot premise and decided not to get myself depressed by reading it. over the next three years as my library increased i found myself more frequently in the book store. Every time i went into Borders or Barnes and Nobel sitting there on a table would be The Lovely Bones with its bright blue cover i could hardly ignore it, but i still refused to buy it. One day i decided that it was time for me to give the book a chance. Once i started reading it i could hardly put it down. The way that the emotion of the characters comes off the page, i found myself being frustrated even after putting the book down by the fact that they never caught her murderer or even found her body. Now, even though the book frustrated me i consider it one of my favorite books and would recomend it to anyone.   hide

This book had a lot of buzz when it first came out, and I saw a lot of people (okay, a lot of...more

This book had a lot of buzz when it first came out, and I saw a lot of people (okay, a lot of girls) reading it back when I was in high school. Every once in awhile I'll indulge my chick side, so I checked it out over Christmas break. The first half of the book had me hooked. The way it took the perspective from the murdered girl was very unique and I didn't want to put it down. Unfortunately, the author must have put all her energy and creativity into that first half, because the second half just became ridiculous and on par with a cheesily-bad Lifetime movie. The worst was the very last line which was trite and anticlimatic. The concept of this book had so much potential and I really wish it had lived up to it. PS: I read on imdb.com that a movie is in the works for this book. I hope some (okay, A LOT) artistic liberties are taken to make up for what the book should have accomplished. The director is Peter Jackson...wtf.   hide