Rating:  Summary: 4+ A Disturbingly different.......Inherently insightful... Review: tale that flows in a smooth, satisfying rhythm from Sebold's pen.Yes, it starts off with murder and that might throw some off a bit. Susie is 14 and her death is truly at the crux of the everyday lives of those who love her. Her Mom, Dad, brother and sister seem not to be able to bounce back from this tragedy. But this story is told to the reader BY Susie and from Susie's own personal Heaven. How strange, yet luminously beautiful are her words and thoughts. We are the lucky ones who get to travel beside her as she 'returns' to earth and tries to guide the people she loves in their search for her killer. But she also gets to see her family grow in the years that this book covers. Sometimes they grow closer because of her death and at other times they grow apart as the memory of her is a wedge in all their relationships. Her father has strong convictions as to who the murderer is....her mother denies all and hides away...her sister is lost without her...and her baby brother just doesn't understand and then is resentful. Her maternal grandma, is the staple in all of this. Albeit a little askew in many ways, she is the glue that holds this family together. Susie sees all this from her personal Heaven..and takes us along to see how the family 'matures' and is surprised to discover that she herself has matured as she must do in order to really leave earth and let go of her family and friends. I think you will enjoy this novel beacuse of the different tack that the author takes in it's telling and in it's evolution.A grand book by Alice Sebold and a softly told tale that will intrigue you and that you will contemplate long after you finish reading it.
Rating:  Summary: A unique premise Review: Most readers know by now that The Lovely Bones is told from the perspective of a deceased main character, Susie, a young girl who has been brutally raped and murdered. Oddly enough, this seemingly emotion-ladden story comes across as vague and emotionless. Susie's narration is so matter-of-fact that much of the emotional impact of what she is describing is lost. The author portrays the reactions of Susie's family to her death in a very real and well-written manner, yet there is a distance there--perhaps the distance that Susie herself feels as she looks down on her loved ones from heaven. From Susie's perspective, we see heaven as a place that is wonderful yet also sad, as paradise does not prevent Susie from longing for those she left behind. The story meanders through many years, never quite reaching a point of conclusion. Although I found this novel to be disappointing, Sebold certainly has shown significant promise for the future, and I wouldn't hesitate to read her next book.
Rating:  Summary: Compelling Review: This novel herald among the best of the best in NY times bestsellers; so it was no surprise that this book has to be read. Sebold is an amazing writer able to articulate feelings into words. I found myself tearing as the emotions flow along the pages. I like this book, but I don't love it, it did not deliver a great ending to the characters, but I suppose that is the beauty of it. The book is about a girl who was brutally killed; her killer at large; her soul linger among her love ones and witnessing the pain of her untimely death.
Rating:  Summary: absolutely loved it Review: i loved this book. i was reluctant to read it at first. but when i had no book to read for school i finally picked it up.sebold did a wonderful job, in my belief in describing her vision of heaven.i also liked how it wasnt all about finding the murder. you had not only susies' point of viewbut you were also able to watch the family cope with the grief and slowly but surely recover and move on with their lives
Rating:  Summary: Lucky was Better! Review: After reading Alice Sebold's memoir, Lucky, I rushed out to pick up her first novel. I had read how she had started writing this book and was forced to stop and write Lucky first so she could move past her own experiences with rape and focus on Susie Salmon. I was disappointed. Sebold's style in Lucky is raw and real but her style in Lovely Bones seems contrived and capricious. Although I connected well with Susie, the other characters in the story were flat and uninteresting. I would highly recommend Lucky as an alternative Sebold pick for all those who felt let down by this bestseller (and for those who loved it!). It is an incredible account of a serious crime with lots of dark humor but minus the murder and syrupy sweetness of Lovely Bones.
Rating:  Summary: Awesome book for anyone. Review: This is one of the best books I've ever read. The perspective of Susie from heaven is a stroke of genius.
Rating:  Summary: Not what I expected Review: I picked up this book becuase I had heard phenominal things about Alice Seabold and there seemed to be a lot of anticipation for the release of this book. First and formost, I must tell you its NOT a murder mystery as the synopsis lead me to think. Its not about finding the killer or anything. Its basicly about a family's healing process after a daughter was murdered. I proably would't be so bitter about the book had I known the focus wasn't on the murder, but on the family instead. Other than that, the writing was eloquent but a touch on the flowery side at times. Not a terrible read as long as you understand where its suposed to lead.
Rating:  Summary: A Fascinating Read! Review: This book is haunting. I hesistate to use that word, "haunting", because so many people interpret it in a negative way. That's not how I wish to use it in this case. What I mean by saying that this book haunts you is that it's characters stay with you. And when I finished the book, I found myself mourning the characters as though I had lost someone I knew. And yet, when I put it into perspective this book is just about life. These people, these characters, just trying to get through life and all it's complexities. Sebold does an incredible job creating this story and in the end manages to pull it all together with an unexpected happy ending.
Rating:  Summary: Outstanding Review: This is an extraordinary book. You will not be able to put it down. A heartbreaking and heartwarming book.
Rating:  Summary: Everything you need in a book Review: The Lovely Bones was an excellent book, full of suspense, mystery, betrayal, and love. It is quite graphic, and kept the interest of a senior guy in high school like me. It had humour in it, as well as sex and violence. Alice Sebold twisted these elements into a quite captivating story.
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