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The Lovely Bones

Published in 2002

When we first meet 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. This was before milk carton photos and public service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed these things didn't happen. In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and her own adjustment to the strange new place she finds herself. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets. With love, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie watches her family as they cope with their grief, her father embarks on a search for the killer, her sister undertakes a feat of amazing daring, her little brother builds a fort in her honor and begin the difficult process of healing. In the hands of a brilliant novelist, this story of seemingly unbearable tragedy is transformed into a suspenseful and touching story about family, memory, love, heaven, and living.

Summary

Written by: Alice Sebold

THE STORY OF A LIFE AND EVERYTHING THAT CAME AFTER...

Published in 2002

Rating

3/5

Disliked:

I really enjoyed this book, however it had some flaws. I felt the ending was
the worst part. It seems like they wanted the book to be shorter so rather than tighten up the entire thing, the author just chopped the last chapters and created a small and unpleasant ending. Additionally, I thought the description of heaven wasn´t as fascinating and beautiful as I imagine it will be. 

liked

Another point I think the author could have improved is the connection between the characters. After Susie´s death all her family became very distant and her relationship life came to an end. Finally the book has parts that are not that interesting and not worth reading. 
This novel was very well written and beautifully visual. It contains the greatest first chapter I have ever read. 
Alice placed the climax at the beginning and that was what totally immersed me into the book. I read the introduction to Lovely bones and thought the notion so interesting that I began forming ideas for the story in my head. 
 
Another element I thought it was very intriguing is how de author talks about the family´s victim. Sebold describes how Susie´s friends and each of her family members deal with her death. It makes you value your family when you read about the devastation they were left with.
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Additionally, although I said I didn’t liked the ending I felt it sent the readers a message. Susie and the rest of the victims will live on the hearts of their family forever. On the contrary, Mr. Harvey is so powerless and insignificant he wasn’t even missed or found until months after his death. 
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To conclude, I just really like Susie. She spoke her opinion and it was a unique kind of story. I really recommend this book because I bet you have never read anything like it.
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