The Lovely Bones

Rating:
Summary: Astoundingly Good!
Review: I can't believe this is Alice Sebold's debut novel! She has a remarkable knack for capturing the subtleties of life like no other author I've read. It is at once incredibly hearbreaking, riveting, uplifting, and joyous. Buy this book TODAY!

Rating:
Summary: Lovely Bones
Review: This is a book with tremendous creativity, while at the same time allowing readers who have experienced no tragedy to see what is behind the headlines: how people are hurt, how they handke tragedy, how police, because they see so much tragedy, are too quick to discont what may be true.

In 1964 my sister was killed by a drunk driver. I've often said that such an active is no different than pre-meditated murder since people "know" death is always out there waiting for someone who doesn't drive right. Lovely Bones had a significant impact on me, because I could see how normal emotional hurt can be.

I would recommend that everyone read it. In this summer where there has been so much publicity about kidnappings, we all need to have a better understanding of the effects of such tragedy which never end but leavesd an empty place in one's heart forever.

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous book!
Review: A lovely book, beautifully written. Two parts thriller, three parts coming-of-age, one part religious meditation. For once, a book worthy of the hype. I wept at the end, partly because I didn't want it to be over!

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic novel overall....
Review: I absolutely loved this book. After seeing it mentioned on The Today Show as a good summer read, I decided to pick it up.
It's an interesting perspective, although it does jump around a bit. Justice is served in the end, but not the way I was expecting. In fact, it was almost disappointing until I truly thought about it...that the victim's family puts aside their desire for revenge, and moved on not knowing what fate came of the man who took their daughter from them...now that takes faith!

Rating:
Summary: THIS NOVEL DESERVES EVERY BIT OF ATTENTION IT'S GETTING
Review: Given the huge volume of reviews already written about Alice Sebold's incredible novel THE LOVELY BONES, I'll be brief. This is quite simply beautiful and luminous -- don't let the fact that the story is narrated by a 14 year-old murder victim put you off. There is a gentleness of spirit here as well as a lovely, compelling voice given to this young girl by the author -- there is so much wisdom and healing energy contained herein. This would be a wonderful read for anyone who is attempting to deal with and focus their grief -- heck, it's a wonderful read for anyone who enjoys well-written, sensitive and imaginative fiction. THE LOVELY BONES is a lovely gift from a talented writer.

Rating:
Summary: The Lovely Bones
Review: This is the interesting story of young girl who is brutally murdered and then goes to "her" Heaven, where she watches her family, with all their problems on earth, learn, cope and grow older. The characters in the book are very well written, so that you care about what happens to all of them..Congrats to the author, Alice Sebold, for a great novel. Buy it, you'll like it.

Rating:
Summary: Good Read but.................
Review: The beginning of the book was exceptional, however, her transition through heaven was not really covered enough, although the pain felt by the family was very real, even that was not expanded upon as I thought it would be. Her father and sister seem to me the only real characters. The mother's actions became totally unexplained by the author, in other words not in depth enough to understand her actions within her own mind.

Rating:
Summary: Wow Great Book and an Easy Read
Review: I read this book in two days - a grand feat with two toddlers. It was very capitivating and entertaining. There were times I laughed outloud and times I cried from the depths of my soul. My kids even asked why I was crying then laughing then crying. I didn't share the book, but I shared how great it was to enjoy such writing. I have to admit there was one incident that never got explained and that makes me wonder why it was never brought to fruition, but that incident is just one grabbing insite to the horror of death and the beauty of the afterlife this book includes. Thanks to the author for writting "The Lovely Bones"

Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: I don't think any novel - and I mean ANY novel - could live up to the hype The Lovely Bones has received, and The Lovely Bones is no exception in my humble opinion. A wonderful debut novel, highly readable and touching, just not the classic that the media would have you believe. Buy this book, but read it on its own terms, not with the outlandish expectations that now dog this fine work of storytelling.

Rating:
Summary: Unexpected enjoyment
Review: I approached this book with caution since I expected to find it too harrowing. The summary reviews outlined the violence to the main character and I was concerned that the author would dwell on this too much.
In the end, I read it in two sessions. As others have noted, I was moved to tears and laughter on several occasions. The storyline moved at a fast pace and was well narrated by the teen character.
I also liked the fact that it wasn't all neatly tied up at the end. I'll be interested if Hollywood changes this when it makes it to the big screen. (And there's no doubt in my mind that it will).
Heartily recommended. I rate it as a favorite on par with Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier and I look forward to future work by Ms. Sebold.