Rating: 
Summary: Speachless
Review: This was a wonderful book, I have read the other comments and it is obvious that the people who gave this book a one star are use to reading comic books.
I don't remember the last time I had so much emotion while reading a book, I cried, I laughed and I got excited. I felt as though I was in the story as well. It took me a good two days to finish this book and it was worth every minute.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: This book is wonderful. A must read for anyone who has lost someone close to them.
Rating:
Summary: My very best read in 2002
Review: I was completely riveted, moved and overcome by this superb book.
I cried, I laughed - and read it all night, couldn't put it down. I entered this world (and heaven) created by Alice Sebold completely, totally forgetting where I was, and my own life. There is no higher praise that I could give a book, other than that it totally transports me, that I almost forget to breathe and move, and forget that I am reading. It haunts me - it is unforgettable.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good, but not for me
Review: This book is beautifully written and lovingly rendered; a sensitive tale of survival after the brutal murder of a young child. In spite of the harrowing nature of the crime -- which is sprung on the reader in the opening pages of the novel -- there is little that is sensational or distastefully done in this book. Perhaps owing to Sebold's own experiences as a victim of violent crime, The Lovely Bones is a touching and heart wretching depiction of a marriage and family that is trying to mend itself back together after their daughter is murdered. As a parent, certain portions of the narrative are absoultely painful. And yet, the book is wonderful and uplifting in terms of how it shows a family coming back together and healing.Still, this book is not for me. There were many points in which I felt the descriptions were far too verbose and at times, unnecessary to advance the story. I tend to be a more literal individual, and prefer my fiction to have similar tendencies. While this book's literary merit can't be denied, it's not for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: pretty good
Review: I loved this book. I know most people dont like it because its 'not emotional' but personally, I liked it better that way. I am a fan of books that don't try to get all mushy. Its more intresting to me when its cold cut and on the table. While I agree the the character devolpment wasn't brilliant, I did think the story was intriguing.I found my self crying tears of sorrow and of joy through out the book.
Rating:
Summary: Worth your time
Review: I've read the other reviews and felt I needed to add this to
offset all the negativity. It's not a story you can truly "enjoy"
because the subject matter is a bit too disturbing for that - but
once you pick it up you won't put it down easily. Perhaps it
is not written in the tradition of "classic literature" but I
was unaware that it was supposed to be. It's this and nothing
more - hours of entertainment about a subject that can be difficult
but is somehow made interesting and more bearable. There are
few books out there that you could compare it too and that's
what makes it worthwhile. I'm sure the author realized she
might upset some people with her description of heaven
but as we all know she hasn't been there (nor have any of her
reviewers) and thus is entitled to create it the way she sees
fit. I would strongly recommend this, as a matter of fact I've
already given it to 4 other people to read and they all enjoyed
it.
Rating: 
Summary: discontent
Review: well this book is a great read until you get to the last three chapters! it seems like another person wrote the end of the book. Maybe Alice just got bored? In anycase if you want a good ending this book is not recomended!!
Rating: 
Summary: It's different.....
Review: This is a very interesting concept. I'm not sure what the author wanted to do. What type of story she wanted to tell. To me, it did show me a view of life as seen by a young person. While it was interesting, to me not very compelling. I read it and re-read some of it trying to see what I missed Not sure what! I've read many authors in a variety of fictional reading. This story I found lacking in something. Not every author can write for everyone. Unfortunately, this one was not for me.
Rating:
Summary: Makes You Think
Review: Alice Sebold provides a unique and at times haunting perspective on a child's death that will make you think. I wish that there were more redeeming lessons in the story, however. I just finished THE GRAVEL DRIVE by Kirk Martin and found that to be a more inspiring, redeeming book for parents. Either wya, you can't go wrong.
Rating:
Summary: What to read if your TV is broken and you miss your soaps
Review: This book was recommended to me by many people so I finally relented and read it over the weekend. On the positive side, it is short, there are no typos, and I didn't pay my own money for it. The negatives are more numerous and substantial. The story is founded on a secular spirituality, which allows the reader to experience mysticism while avoiding any references to God or religion, so it belongs in the same class of pastimes as numerology, astrology, crystals, Feng-shui, etc., that currently occupy weak-minded and lazy post-hippie suburbanites. These things allow you to have deep spiritual insights without reading long words or thinking too hard, or depriving yourself in any way, so that's nice, isn't it. The character Ruth also embodies the feminist crusade against male-female violence, except that rather than inventing statistics and redefining violence to shape the issue, she literally finds dead women and girls in every step around midtown Manhattan. This is, I'm sure, very satisfying for some comfortable women who would like to pretend to feel endangered and oppressed from the comfort of their suburban kitchens, and would like to pretend that they are "on the ramparts" against a real issue rather than just driving their SUVs to the tennis club, but it is tripe. The novel is badly written, it is directed at a fifth-grade reading level, the character development is slap-dash, the story is incredible, and the ending is contrived and ridiculous. I suggest as an alternative that you go outside for ten minutes and gaze at the sky.
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