Rating: 
Summary: Them Bones is Lovely
Review: if not high literature... This was the first book in a long time that I just could not put down, and read within a day. That kind of novel motivates me more in middle age than things admittedly more literary but which require a strong work ethic to get through. After work, I don't much want to put my work ethic to work... For such readers, The Lovely Bones might be very satisfying.The 'good guy' characters in this novel reminded me of those in several Anne Tyler books I have read. They are deeply-flawed, but decent, and for exactly that reason, I empathized with them, even though they were very different from me. Missing from reviews I read above (just a dozen or so) was reference to the interesting juxtaposition of evil in the form of the killer, against the good of the 'common folk.' There is an intriguing message to be inferred from the novel about good triumphing over evil, even when good is not only ordinary, but highly imperfect. What I find literary about this message is not its originality (it's not original) but how convinced I was by novel's end that the killer is evil and the others not. I didn't enter my reading of the novel with a 'good vs. evil' perspective, much less a belief in heaven. But I certainly respected the argument that was made, whether intentional or not, for that perspective.
Rating: 
Summary: please don't give money to this author
Review: i am reading this book because my mom recommended it to me after reading it herself. being one who likes novels with originality, creativity, and of course, STYLE, i am completely appalled by this book. the only original bit is the idea that the main character is telling the story from heaven. aside from this,the characters are boring and completely predictable. you have the withdrawn mother, the father who is 'on the case' and trying to be strong to solve the mystery, the teenage sister who hides her emotions, and the four year old brother who just doesnt get it. anyone could write this book. if you want a book that will require no thought or provoke any life questions, pick up this book. if you, however, prefer books that arent what chick flicks are based upon, please dont waste your money on this. remember that some of the money you spend to buy this book goes to the author and it is not deserved. buy books that make you think. buy books that make you wiser once you've completed them. buy a book that serves the purpose of a book: not only to entertain but to provide some knowledge. unless you have a completely feeble mind, i assure you this book does neither.
Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing concept, but something's missing
Review: Initially, I thought this book would be a very interesting read. The concept of a young girl narrating the story from heaven is very novel. The description of her rape and murder is graphic, scary, and attention grabbing. Unfortunately, by the end of the book, there is not a single reason to care about any of the characters. With the exception of the protagonist, they are flat and unidimensional. And if you don't feel emotionally attached to the characters, then it is very difficult to actually care about what is going on in the book. I read the first half of the book in a couple of days - - and the remainder seemed to take literally forever to get though. I must have missed something because the critics loved it.
Rating: 
Summary: Best book read in years!!
Review: I have not been so moved by a book in many years! I was expecting one type of story but was pleasantly surprised to find so much more than what i expected. Each character is well developed and the author manages to make the reader really feel what each character is feeling. I felt as though I was going through the whole grieving process with each member of Susie's family and friends. The author takes you on a journey full of emotion and self discovery unlike i have experienced in a long time from a novel. I read other reviews, and those who found this book disappointing or boring are simply missing the story's purpose.. I was not the least bit disappointed in the ending as others may have felt, because I get what the author was trying to say. Without giving anything away...if you are going into this book, expecting just another murder/whodunnit book....you will be disappointed. I usually begin another book as soon as i finish one, but after reading this, i find myself unable to get it out of my mind and will wait a few days before picking up another. A MUST read!
Rating:
Summary: What a G R E A T book!
Review: The Lovely Bones is on my top ten list for good... I was searching for a new book to read and everwhere I looked, this one seemed to keep popping up. I picked it up to check it out and couldn't put it down. The characters are easy to connect to and the story is very touching. All of the different character's perspectives of one tragic even make the story an all-encompassing journey to understand the meaing of life, family, and love. I loved this book! Read it!!
Rating:
Summary: Good page-turner
Review: Excellent read. I couldn't put it down. The first half has moments of brilliance. As Sebold tries to tie the ends together, she falls into some sentimentality and cliche, but it remains a haunting story with an excellent premise.
Rating: 
Summary: An Interesting Premise that Falls Flat
Review: This novel begins with Susie Salmon's death on a cold winter day in 1973. We spend the rest of the novel watching, through Susie's eyes, her family and friends unravel and find a way back again. What impressed me most about this book was the premise, dead girl watches family and killer from heaven wishing she could communicate and occasionally being able to at times. It was particularly heartbreaking to read about the father's grief and his obsession with catching his daughter's killer. He feels he must keep his dead daughter in his mind or she will be forgotten while Susie's mother must find a way to forget, to block out the pain. What doesn't work is that somewhere about half way through the book it falls flat. I lost interest in the story and stopped caring about the characters after their initial reactions of grief. Maybe I needed to understand more about the heaven Susie was in, Sebold intices the reader with descriptions of places and people but it never really goes anywhere. There were some good characters, like Grandma Lynn and the people Susie meets in heaven that were never really developed. The ending is hokey and contrived it seemed an odd choice for Sebold to make after the mother abandons the family for eight years. The reader is given very little insight into her life and her emotions after she leaves. The lovely bones refers to the bones growing around the hole left with Susie's death and this is one of the strengths of this novel. Sebold has beautiful descriptive language that really pulls the reader into the moment. There was alot of hype surrounding this book and it wasn't a bad read but it was mildly disappointing on many levels.
Rating:
Summary: Overrated book
Review: Why are so many people in love with this book? I will admit that the first half is so good you don't want to put it down. That second half is horrid!!! It is as though the author had to drag herself to finish it and did so with overused cliches. What was up with the "Ghost" like out of body sexual experience?-I realize reality had to be suspended since the narrator is dead-but it was just too silly and reminded too much of Patrick Swayze taking over Whoopi Goldberg's body so he could be with his beloved Demi Moore). I wanted to love this book to the end but it was just not possible.
Rating:
Summary: [bites]
Review: this book ...-its a phony book-- its a great idea-- thats all- it goes nowhere really slowly-- i was intrigued-- for a few pages then felt manipualted and bored - and ripped off--- dont waste yer time !
Rating:
Summary: Worth the Read
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I recommend reading it. Be aware that it is very sad. I cried through most of it.
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