The Lovely Bones

Rating:
Summary: Sensational and unique story of suffering and redemption
Review: We all know the general story by now, so rehashing it won't help much. I simply want to comment on the content and the concept.

I found Sebold's narrative clean and refreshing. There were very, very few attempts at flowery language, and she told her story straightforward with bare hints at metaphor. We weren't assaulted with a bevy of "big" words used merely to impress the reader; rather, she spoke to us clearly, much as a fourteen-year-old girl would. How invigorating to see an author - especially a first time author - not try to impress us with their remarkable and extensive vocabulary (or at least their sensational ability at thumbing through a thesaurus).

Regarding the concept: I don't know why in the world it took me so long to read this book. When I saw it in hardcover, and read the very first paragraph, I was inexorably and inexplicably linked to the book. I knew that I had to read it, but chose not to until just now. Who knows why? I've been researching Teen and Young Adult literature for the past year and a half, so perhaps I was afraid to break the rhythm. Whatever it was, I'm glad that I finally picked this up.

I'm unaware of any other book to tell a story from this unique point of view. First time writers are told not to end a first person book or story where the main character dies at the end, so instead Sebold started with her character already dead. That's absolutely brilliant.

I was on a plane while reading the majority of this book, and there were times that I really had to fight to hold back from crying. Sebold's management of the family's immediate reactions, and the reactions as the family managed to struggle through their various degrees of acceptance was beautifully told, especially the plight of the father. He was a tortured, misunderstood (perhaps even by himself) character who brought so much life onto every page he appeared, even though he was in a downward spiral that was part of the reason his wife finally left him and found her way working in a winery.

The idea of a person having their own special heaven was just wonderful. Sebold could easily have written about heaven as most people envision it, but she created something slightly different, believable, and refreshing.

There were a few scenes that I questioned, and had problems with, but they were minor, and to divulge them would be giving away some crucial plot points. Even though there are over two thousand reviews of this marvelous book, I'm sure there are many people that haven't read it yet, so I don't want to ruin anything for them.

Enjoy this rare treat. It's equal is not likely to come around any time soon.


Rating:
Summary: Unique; A major novel
Review: The first time I heard about "The Lovely Bones," someone else I knew was reading it. She described it as very powerful, at times disturbing, but an excellent book. I was interested... for about two seconds. When I finally came across the novel on a shelf at my local bookstore, I remembered how much my friend had enjoyed it. I read the entire book on a plane ride to Hawaii, never pausing. It was great. I can honestly say that I have never read anything like it before. Alice Sebold has created something magical here, something I will be glad to reread every once in a while. So naturally, I am surprised to see that a few people disliked it so much. My only advice would be to read it yourself. Don't let someone else decide for you. I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed with this one.

Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!!!!
Review: This book is very captivating it made me never want to put it down. I started reading it for my english class at school but I found myself reading it every chance I got. The story of the young girls murder made me sad because just think that stuff like that really happens in our world today.One thing I liked about this book is the detail. The books descriptiveness made the book seem to me like a movie instead of an actual book itself.

All in all this book is an awesome read. Im on my second time reading it which tells you how awesome I truly think the book is. I would reccomend anyone to read this book. It made me very emotional and see how cruel the world can be.

Rating:
Summary: I don't get it!
Review: I really don't understand the popularity of this book. I am about 4/5ths of the way through it and I don't know if I can make myself finish it.

Let me start with everything that I liked about the book. The author is clearly brilliant and literary. I loved her writing style, her way with words, and her command of the English language. Her characterizations were excellent and quite descriptive. And I liked the concept. So why does it feel as though I'm studying for a physics exam while I'm plowing through the end of this book?

Many parts of the book are just plain old boring. The story could easily have been condensed into a much shorter novel. I also find Susie's affect to be really strange and not credible. Some other posters here have described her as being wistful at times or matter-of-fact. To me, she seemed to have no affect at all until more than halfway through the book.

I have just reached certain scenes which seem highly implausible and I am tired of reading the book. I belong to a book club and have been forcing myself for months to read one book after another that I have not liked. A part of me is rebelling against that now and shouting, "Why finish it if you don't have to?"

Well, being the type A personality that I am, I will probably finish it :-) And I do want to know what happens in the end, but this will not be a book that I will recommend to other people to read. That's sad because the author is immensely talented and was brave enough to take on two very serious subjects -- murder and the afterlife. If only she had made her dialogue sharper, added more depth, cut the book by at least 50 --100 pages, I might have really enjoyed this book.

Sigrid Mac


Rating:
Summary: Great and enjoyable book!!
Review: The Lovely Bones is an outstanding novel written by Alice Sebold. It is written about a 14 year old girl named Susie Salmon who is murdered by a lonely, psycho neighbor named Mr. Harvey. Susie narrates the novel as she looks down on her family from heaven, which consists of her all favorite things puppies, duplexes, and gazebos. Through her eyes, we watch her family as they deal with her murder. We are also able to see how Susie deals with her family coping with her murder. How her father falls into depression, her mother's affair and as her younger sister, Lindsey, and her little brother grows. Susie also keeps track of her murderer, Mr. Harvey. She watches him escape the police by moving away to another town and watches as another innocent girl is victimized by him. Susie desperately wishes she could help her father and the police find her murderer, but she is sadly unable to do so. Instead she just looks down on them from heaven as several years go by. Susie also talks with her psychiatrist up in heaven about her death and her family. Alice Sebold constructs an amazing novel that is clearly like no other! A novel that is definitely difficult to put down. Reading this book allows you to sense the heartache that her family and friends feel for Susie's death. You also undergo rage and hatred for the affair that Susie's mother is has with the detective. Even though this novel seems to be discouraging and gloomy, it is not like that all the way through the novel. For instance, you feel excitement and happiness by the side of Susie as she witnesses her younger sister, Lindsey, first fall in love. You will surely be mesmerized by this great novel, whether it being the original, different and refreshing views of heaven. This book is of high-quality and I recommend it to readers who are mature enough to take the story in and will be able to realize that it is only a book. The ending will leave you relieved and glad that you met Susie and her family!


Rating:
Summary: hated this book
Review: It is depressing. and the last 3rd of the book is utterly ridiculous. Ugh, don't bother reading this, not worth the time.

Rating:
Summary: wow
Review: This book has been a wonderful release for me from the agony of turning through william faulkner or charles dickens in school. This book was what got me back in to loving to read. It was thoroughly entertaining and made me cry more than once. The only bad thing about it is you will get distracted from anything else but reading.

Rating:
Summary: A good read but not all that...
Review: After the hype of many friends, I picked this book up.

It is indeed a fast, easy read that you find yourself not wanting to put down, but the drive to find out "what happens next" is not always the hallmark of greatness.

Some descriptions drag on a la John Steinbeck, but without his skill and depth. It seems as if the writer took a wonderful poignant short story or novella and stretch it into a full length novel but without adding any more meat to its bones.

Don't get me wrong, the basic concept is brilliant, the lessons touching, and the characters real. But what was the purpose of the extra 50 pages or so? What possibly was added by the "coming of age" scene referenced by one of the other reviewers here (but which I won't spoil)?

I'm sure Ms. Sebold will continue to hit the Best Seller list, but in 30 years no one will remember this book.