Rating: 
Summary: A solid, mainstream novel with an interesting perspective
Review: Sebold's writing is not particularly elegant or beautiful, but its definitely good and solid. What's notable about this book is the story and how it's told-its unique and somewhat surreal perspective and its nostalgic voice. An easy, pleasurable read by all accounts, but definitely overrated; it's not one that will be considered a "classic" in years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Quite Good
Review: Alice Sebold's Lovely Bones, her debut, celebrates Grace in form of a tragedy. The author starts you off from a very unfortunate loss which initially brought Susie's family to turmoil and eventual redemption to hope and grace; even for Susie herself. The book may have more room for some more pages of character and plot development. But altogether, the book is a moving experience. It is indeed an affirmation of the idea that life goes on. Except this one leaves a comfortable smile of promise in your heart.
Rating: 
Summary: One of my favourites
Review: I read this in two sittings which is something of a record for me. I was so drawn in by the characters and the wonderful premise, I couldn't put it down. I thought it was going to be sad, but it was actually incredibly inspiring. I can't recommend this highly enough.
Rating: 
Summary: too moral
Review: I appreciated some of the deft sentences here, and was suprised to discover that the overall conceit (girl looking down judging us from heaven) didn't bother me at first.But this quickly became to much like a "try-to'make-them-cry" 5 oclock news story...and the cliched bad guy gets his commupance in the end. Yawn. Most of us can recognize when something is evil, and I object to the vigilante take on the world...even in the form of fiction. Overrated.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!!!
Review: This book kept me interested from the first sentence. I haven't read anything with such emotion in a long time. The last chapter written so eloquently had me crying. I could have read it all over again as soon as I put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Longing to stay...
Review: Very beautiful and emotional book. I was captured by the first chapter and could not let it go...much like Susie didn't want to let go of her loved ones. It really struck a nerve in me about souls all around us still holding on and watching their loved ones below. I swear I went through a box of Kleenex!
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the hype
Review: I found this book disappointing. There was so much hype and it fell short of my expectations. The dialogue was not believable, and there was no closure at the end. It seemed to ramble on forever without the good ending I had expected.
Rating:
Summary: set up to be let down
Review: i chose to read the lovely bones because i work at a new and used bookstore, so i had easy access to getting a copy of it. second, i was hearing all the rave it created amongst customers. it wasn't until after i started it and mentioned to my manager that i found out, the people i knew personally that had read it, didn't like it at all. i knew i had to be my own judge.
at the point in the book when ray makes love to susie while she's in ruth's body, i knew i agreed with those who were disappointed with sebold's so called masterpiece.
i was disgusted with the fact that after all the years that had passed, ray being out of college, that he would see the pubescent susie he used to know when they were just children in a sexual manner. if thoughts could be convicted of stagetory rape, his mind would go to jail.
i was also appauled with the part when susie, still in ruth's body, called her home. her poor, innocent brother picks up the phone and is supposed to hear "buckley, it's me susie" and take it seriously? it sounded more like a sick prank call.
i had the greatest expectations for the lovely bones, and yet i highly advise passing this book up.
Rating: 
Summary: Life as a Cloud
Review: "Once released from life, having lost it in such violence, I could not calculate my steps. I didn't have time for contemplation. In such violence, it is the getting away you concentrate on. When you begin to go over the edge, life receding from you as a boat recedes inevitably from the shore, you hold on to death tightly, like a rope that will transport you, and you swing out on it, hoping only to land away from where you are." These vivid words give the descriptive detail of young Susie Salmon as she transcends Heaven. When the book begins, 14-year-old Susie Salmon is already in Heaven. After being murdered she recaps all events leading up to her murder, and the ones there after. She watches as her family grieves and attempts to cope with their loss and the parent's unstable relationship. The style in which Alice Sebold, author of The Lovely Bones, portrays Susie's "looking out" for her family is magnificent.
When Susie arrives in Heaven she is greeted with an array of things enjoyed in her past. Goal posts, old schools, "Seventeen", and whatever else her thoughts desire. There are of course other people, some of whom Susie befriends. Holly, a girl her age, becomes her best friend, and Franny her guide. Overall the picture perfect world that Sebold provides will astound you with its color.
Through about 10 years of watching Susie sees her best friends, family, and boyfriend grow-up. She normally observes Ruth, a girl who saw her go into Heaven, Lindsey, her sister, Ray Singh, her old boyfriend, and Mr. Harvey, her murderer.
Overall The Lovely Bones rewards you a great tale. The plot proves exiting, the emotions fantastic, the climax thrilling, and the story, in a word, lovely. I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: Surreal....
Review: As one reviewer stated on the back of the novel, this is one of those books that you will see in the bookstore after you have read it, and touch lovingly, trying to remember every detail and every emotion you felt in reading it. This is one of the most beautifully written books I have read in a very long time. The vividness, the emotion, there is something in this sad story that just touches every part of you. Yes, Ms. Susie Salmon is dead, and at times there is a touch of longing, regret and anger at everything that was stolen from her. But in watching her family grow, in watching her father torn apart by her murder, her mother's growing apathy, her little brother's confusion and her dear sister's tough cynicism, Susie begins to forget what she lost and simply prays for her family's survival. She comes to terms with wanting them to never forget her, but at the same time, she understands that they need to move on. And in the midst of this heartbreaking story, Susie is also watching her killer cover everything up and quietly move on, yet she never expresses hatred, but rather concern for what could happen when the urge strikes him again.
I have never read anything that conveyed emotions so clearly, so strongly, so convincingly. I highly recommend this novel to anyone. Even if you are tired of all the hype it has received over the past year, give it a shot, the hype was well-deserved.
|
