Rating: 
Summary: An Emotional Book on Many Levels
Review: I found this book to pull at my emotions on many levels. Ms. Sebold's writing of Susie's heaven was so different. She developed each of her characters extremely well and made the reader feel as though you knew them. A terrific book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Story
Review: This was a wonderful story from the fantastic insight of a young girl. The author writes so smoothly that you actually feel like you are the little girl experiencing all the ups and down's of being up in heaven away from her family and friends. An excellent read!
Rating: 
Summary: questions that linger?
Review: This was a very touching story but very hard to read. The author will start out decribing someone or something and spend several pages and just when you want to know more she skips to another character or characters and does the same with them! A few chapters later she goes back to the characters she left a few chapters ago and spend a few pages on them and jump around again I had to read parts of the book over again in order to remember who was who. As it was we have no clue if Susie's Mom and Dad got back together again or not. There was no closeure to that part of the story. Susie never mentioned why her mom and Len her lover broke up. We only know that one minute she was hot after him both in the hospital and again the back room of a shopping mall. The next mention of them is that she is moving to California and that whatever they had, had evaporated in thin air. Many trists do, but it would have been nice if the author could have covered the end of their relationship at some point in the book. Instead she did the same as she did with Abie and her husband "Im here now" she said in the hospital and very little is mentioned about it again. When Susie had began to speak about the future years"her grandmother passing" etc. would have been the perfect opprotunity to mention that "Mom and Dad renewed their vows and are living close to their new granddaughter" Or "Mom and Dad faced the fact that thier marraige was over and Mom moved back to california and len soon followed." But as I say it was a hard book to keep up with all the characters, when the story is so broken up with lots of other stories. I would also loved to see more dialouge surounding the children and their mother and how they cope with her now and renew the relationship that she had broken by leaving. Because this is what would happen if this were to occur in real life! Does anyone see my point?
Rating: 
Summary: A promising first novel
Review: I am usually not a fan of the bestseller racks but was given this book by an acquaintance and found it to be a worthwhile read. Though I would not put the book on my top ten, I found the characters compelling and real. I read the book in just a few hours (very rare for me).I think the author takes a very big risk and (mostly) succeeds. I really loved the compassion and honesty of Susie, and the book never becomes overly sentimental. After finishing the book, I still felt my mind drifting back to the characters and story, always a good sign. I know some reviewers have complained about the meanderings of the narrator, the sexual content and the book's conception of heaven, etc., but I think a lot of these complaints are unfair and misrepresent the book. I personally didn't have a problem with any of these things, but I guess it just depends on your expectations and how literally you interpret the book. It is more about life than the death, more about compassion than judgement and more of a coming-of-age than crime novel. I am definitely glad I read it, but it is not for everybody. If you like plot-driven books (or Touched by an Angel), Lovely Bones is probably not for you. But if you are open to unique and fresh storytelling, I would definitely recommend it. You don't have to agree with any perceived "agenda" by the author to enjoy it. Just be ready to stay up late because it is hard to put down . . .
Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable Read
Review: Its an excellent book. At times it does drag a bit, you're curious to see what happens to the characters, but overall, I really thought this was an amazing book. The narration of Suzie was extremely interesting, just from a completely different point of view. I enjoyed the fact that she was separate yet a part of everyone's thoughts. The frustration of her not being able to do anything was evident as well as the interesting concept of the struggle of whether to be involved in the lives of those she left behind. I highly recommend this book, it will make you go through several emotions and you'll be left to ponder some interesting questions when you finish it.
Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: I didn't have any expectations for this book as I hadn't heard of it. It was recommended to me by a book store owner as I was browsing. I loved it! From Chapter One I couldn't put it down. I think it will give great inspiration and a good laugh to anyone who reads it.
Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful idea wasted.
Review: A beautiful idea wasted. It looks more like Susie did not actually die, she was too involved with the eartly things, the sex, and the mundane characters. I thought we will be taken to a new level of understanding from the heaven, but Susie never left the earth. The book is hard to read and teaches nothing
Rating:
Summary: I'm sure they fought over the movie rights . . .
Review: This novel began, as many others have pointed out, with a very interesting premise. Interesting enough to keep me reading until the end just to find out if there would be any other unique surprises, concepts, etc. The subject matter is initially difficult and disturbing. Sebold handles the rape and murder sequence well in that she balances our need for detail with our abhorrence of the crime. I found myself very moved in the first few chapters by the thought of a young girl's life stopped so brutally and suddenly. But that's just it: it stops, and although our attention as readers is meant to mostly shift to the lives of those left on Earth, we want to know more about Susie Salmon, her heaven, and what comes next. I realize Sebold does not want this to be the focus of the novel, which is why she does not develop Heaven and the characters that inhabit Susie's version of it, however, this does not erase the fact that some plot lines are left undeveloped in favor of somewhat plodding descriptions of Susie's friends and family. The ending, as others have noted, is very pat, although not as much as some authors would create. Kudos to Sebold for this, and for her courage in addressing some difficult issues without sensationalizing them as she might. All this said, I do think the movie will probably be a bona fide tear-jerker, although I don't know how well it will translate to the screen.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: I was so sorry for this book to end. I must admit that I was intrigued by a book told from a dead child's perspective. However, this was a terrific book from start to finish. Excellent character development, and a unique story.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!!
Review: I picked this book for my neighborhood book club and we all loved it. I found it hard to put it down....I even read it at stop lights! They way she takes the focus off the murder and puts it onto the family is what makes this book a great read. She gets into how they deal with Suzie's death, each in there own way. For having a sad start to the book, you will find yourself smiling by the end. I can't wait until she comes out with her next book.
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