The Lovely Bones

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: For the most part, my short list of recommendations of new literature is rather predictable: "My Fractured Life," "Secret Life of Bees," "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" but the one outsider to the list is "The Lovely Bones." This is an amazingly captivating novel told from a totally unique prospective - a girl who was brutally murdered. It fully deserves its recommendation among the other outstanding novels.

Rating:
Summary: It is good
Review: I found it so very hard to finish this book. It seemed to have a nice plot but the build up of the story and the characters was so ordinary. I was expecting drama, mystery and some "story". The novel being narrated by the dead girl, there is a subtle undertone of humor in the narration. Whereas, all the living characters have a sense of tragedy and loss enveloping them. Neither the humor will make you give even a smirk nor the tradedy will make you cry. I felt like a dead reader not feeling anything. One thing I hated about the book was the lack of innocence in the young teenagers.It was such a boring reading that I gave up and could never finish the book to the last page.

Rating:
Summary: Lovely indeed
Review: I have read a lot of books, and a week after finishing this one I am still in shock. This must be the best book I have ever read. Sebold developes her characters and situations so well that the reader is right there with Susie, a young girl victim to a grisly murder. Her interpretation of heaven is so comforting, and the anticipation builds as the reader watches Susie's family, friends, and murderer attempt to continue on in life. This is a beautiful book and comes with a high recommendation from many fans. It will make you laugh and cry, and while you can't put it down, in the end you will be so sad that the book is over. I can't say enough about Alice Sebold, and look forward to read some more of her writing. I highly recommend you also try Jackson McCrae's CHILDREN'S CORNER as it is extremely riveting and well-crafted.

Rating:
Summary: My most favorite read in a long time!
Review: I thought this was a great book. I couldn't put it down. Normally I don't care for the subject material, but I found myself captured by the story. It was often sad, but I wanted to read on. I can't wait for more!

Rating:
Summary: Flatlines....
Review: I won't go into describing the storyline, especially after more than 2000 reviews on the hardcover version of this book. All I will say is that this book is very disappointing. Does not hold your interest. The story flatlines and it is a struggle to continue. Not worth it at all. Pass on this one. You aren't missing a thing

Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: Seabold's writing is mesmerising...
This is an emotional read, most especially for anyone who has lost a child in similar circumstances. If there were any possibility that a child could continue 'to be', even for a time, one would wish that it were like this.
This novel is captivating at best; spine-chilling "at worst".
It is one that has stayed with me long since having finished it in a single late night, candle-lit, tearful sitting.