Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful but hokey
Review: There's something to be said for novelty.... it's fresh, it's exciting, and inevitably it captures the reader's attention. The Lovely Bones has novelty built right in from page one, when we are introduced to our narrator who is - um - dead. Not only dead, but also telling us her story from heaven. From this vantage point she has a perfect view of the events on earth, both past and present, and can narrate with an omnipresence that comes across quite naturally. She darts from character to character, slipping in and out of private conversations, reading minds and hearts in a way that no ordinary narrator could. She also offers us a tour of a place none of us has seen before - heaven, or more precisely her heaven, a paradise built around her life experiences and dreams.This is a promising beginning. However, the problem with novelty is that it eventually, inevitably wears off. When this happens (it was about half-way through the book for me) the tenderness of the narrator's voice turns hokey, and the passages that were once touching and magical become a little too saccharine-sweet. I really loved this novel for about 150 pages. Then, slowly, I started to find myself rolling my eyes through significant portions of the second half. It wasn't the writing that changed - it was just that I had hit my threshold for this kind of writing. Still, the book was worth reading. It's oversimplified, and there are several glaring flaws - among them the lack of explanation for how a family simply welcomes back the mother who deserted them for eight years - but on the whole it is not a bad book. There is a lot of beauty and love in this story, enough that it is possible to overlook the fact that it is formulaic to the point of being predictable. My guess is that when I look back at this book in a year, I will remember it not for its flaws but for its beauty.
Rating: 
Summary: what's the big deal?
Review: My mother lent this book to me saying it was a very intense read and one of the best books she'd read in a while. I honestly do not see what she or anybody else sees in this book. The premise of this book is interesting and pretty creative. A girl looking from heaven at her grief stricken family and friends. Unfortunately it goes very downhill from there. Here are some major problems I found with the book: 1. The heaven that we are given, while a ballsy choice to make, did not go far enough into description. I feel that the writer did not want to anger any religous people with this book, so did not go into further detail. The book suffers from this. We do not know how Holly died, we have very little information on her conversations with the dead, and so forth. I mean if I died I would want to figure out a little bit more about the meaning of life, talk to my relatives and so forth - than just watch a bunch of people morning me. 2. On earth Susie seems to be loved a little bit too much. No 13 year old boy would be transfixed on a girl he kissed once. He would morn it and think it weird, but it wouldn't be an obsession. The other character Ruth is also a completely unbelievable character. And if I came down from earth for a couple of hours, I would try to turn my murderer in so my grief stricken family could have some peace - instead of going out and having sex immediately. 3. This book is completely cheesy and every part of the book is meant to pull at your heart strings. While the premise of the book was interesting, I found it to be badly written and the plot really went nowhere. Every possibly bad thing could happen in this book. Rape. Murder. Affairs. A break in. Body switching. But even all these interesting events, it does not make for a worthwhile read.
Rating: 
Summary: this would make a great movie
Review: this movie would make a great movie with george cloony as the dad, meg ryan as the mom
Rating: 
Summary: What a disapointment
Review: The whole premise of the book intrigued me, a girl looking down from heaven and telling her story. I just could not get into to book at all. It was trailing off and not very descriptive of this "heaven" that she resided in. It was "work" to finish this book. Not reccommended.
Rating:
Summary: Very inspiring
Review: This novel may seem to be sad or depressing at first -- In the first chapter we have a little girl (14) that gets raped and then murdered. Her family only recovers an elbow the dog brings back -- But the story quickly turns into one of hope and renewal. We watch through Susie's eyes as her family & friends learn to cope with her death and find ways of healing themselves. She watches as her friends fall in love and her little sister grows into a young woman. Sebold's writing style is very smooth. She's a wonderful storyteller. The ending seems to come at just the right time. I thouroughly enjoyed this novel.
Rating:
Summary: I so wanted to love this book
Review: I really did. I was ready to love it. I had heard/seen so much about it. But, I didn't. At first I was intrigued by the unique and effective way the victem of such a horrendous crime narrated her own story from heaven. In fact, I loved the beginning. But once that is over, everything that follows can only be described as dissapointing. It may only be my opinion, but I think that when a story turns in directions that are unsatisfying to the reader it should be done for a purpose. If a character becomes unsympathetic or unlikable, there should be some redemtion, or something that the reader can hold onto, otherwise interest is lost. That is what I felt happened here. Many of the characters became unsypathetic and unlikeble. The story took unnecessary and unsatisfying turns. It is a good book, but not a great one.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I'm clearly a minority here, but this book was a waste of time and money. After a good first chapter, the story becomes more and more boring. I ended up skipping bits and pieces in the end... The writing style is mediocre, the psychology of the characters and their interaction very predictable. Some of the events described, and some of the dialogs, were downright ridiculous.
Rating:
Summary: Heaven on Earth
Review: The book was good. I think the investigation with Mr. Harvey was going good and then it stops...But maybe in real life that is how is works for many people. What I liked it the most is the ending. When the family gets together, Susie is in peace. It is a message that the loved ones who leave us are at peace when the living find peace...As long as we continue to grieve and not live our life on Earth, neither do our loved ones enjoy their perfect Heaven....
Rating:
Summary: Coming of Age Story?
Review: This book has been out a while, but so many people recommended it to me that I just had to read it. It is the story of 14-year old Susie Salmon who is raped and murdered in a cornfield near her house. She narrates the story from heaven. She watches her family grieve and continue life after death. This is a coming of age story for Susie in a strange way. She never made it past 14, so she perceives life through the experiences of her younger sister. Becoming a woman and falling in love. She also watches over a boy she had a crush and follows him while he becomes a man. She also watches the murderer as he continues to live free. Very interesting concept for a book. Tough subject matter, but it is written very well.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Until the End
Review: The premise of the Lovely Bones is that a girl has been murdered and is watching from heaven as her family deals with her death. She describes what heaven is like for her, how she feels about missing her family, and what everyone is doing below her. Given that this is the premise, you will understand how far-fetched the ending needs to be to be considered far-fetched. The author simply doesn't play by the rules she's set up for this fictitious situation. An entire book based on coming to grips with a life cut short is turned on its ear when the heroine manages to return briefly to earth. The power of the message of loss, healing and carrying on is severely damaged. That being said, the first 3/4 or so of the book is wonderful, if upsetting, and it's worth reading, although perhaps not in hardcover.
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