Rating: 
Summary: Crying, over you
Review: Well written and insightful. To those that complain that Suzie becomes wise beyond 14 as the book goes on, I point out that she had been the proverbial fly on the wall for some time. And her murder took more than her life, but her innocence. A few years ago, I lost my mother to cancer. She was youngish to succumb and never saw her grandchildren. I have dreams where she and I talk on the phone, where we always got along best while she lived. Sebold's novel evoked this for me. Now, as a mother myself, this book raised the question of what would I do if one of my children were to be taken from me. Would I retreat? Would I play amateur sleuth? Would my marriage survive? I don't know the answers to those questions, but, Sebold left me with hope. This book could have been such a downer and it wasn't. Though I wept a great deal while reading it. Mostly my tears were filled with joy and gratitude that I am tied to the earth and my wonderful family. Read it in good health while those you love are safe in their own beds!
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful
Review: One of the best books I have ever read, and I am almost certain will be taught in high schools within the next 20 years.
Rating: 
Summary: Death of a great premise
Review: I was surprised that this book was so simplistically written. I thought some philosophical and even metaphysical aspects of life and death would be delved into, but this is a sing songy children's book that at times is just plain annoying. The character development ranged from shallow to non existent and the heavenly narratives by the dead girl are weak. If you want some originality and a thought provoking read pick up PREY by Michael Chrichton and CLONED LOVE by Thorne Peters. This novel I thought was just drivel.
Rating:
Summary: characters can feel more than one emotion
Review: I've never written a review on-line before, but there has been so much hype about this book I finally gave in and bought it. It's a gutsy premise for a book, and , as many others have said, starts off strongly, but when Sebold tries to do the really difficult stuff - tangle and untangle the pain, anger and emotions in response to such a tragedy - she fails. Each character seems to have only one response - Dad is pitiful, Mom is detatched, little sis goes on to leave such a charmed and uneventful life it simply is not believable. I don't want to give anything away in the book, but when events happen that would make Mahatma Gandhi angry and all Dad does is weep you just lose interest. It is the writer's job to make a character complex, but whenever Sebold comes close to something,she pulls back and throws in another character, from the town or a roadside diner or school. It ends up being a very superficial treatment of a very powerful subject.
Rating: 
Summary: Not my usual . . . but I liked it.
Review: The Lovely Bones is not the sort of novel that I usually read; I prefer books that either scare me half to death, or keep me laughing out loud. That said, I enjoyed, and found comfort in, the premise. I want to believe that, even if something horrible happens to me on earth, heaven will be life as I wish it. Readers embrace The Lovely Bones because it reassures us that Reverend So-and-So is right: unless we're flat out evil,we'll have eternal life. The overall feel of the book trumps the storyline, however I do have two specific comments. First, I liked it that the killer's fate wasn't what I expected. Second, the Ruth out of body/sex scene confused me. I don't care about these things, because every once in a while, all I want is a pat answer to a weighty question. The Lovely Bones delivers.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: I spent the past three days with my nose in this book. It was a very touching story of a girl who was raped then murdered by her neighbor. She, Susie Salmon--"like the fish,"watched down upon her family and friends from heaven. The book wasn't depressing, it was almost humorous at times.
Rating:
Summary: On my top 10 list
Review: This was a great read - I couldn't put it down. I didn't think I would like this type of book but the author did a nice job in drawing me into it and feeling bad for the murdered 14 year old. I also admit to reading this because of the great words it received from the Good Morning America hosts - their comments were right on. I read some of the other reviews on here AFTER reading the book and they seem to be all over the place from love to hate, so I guess it depends on your tastes. I enjoyed the creative aspects of presenting the narrative from the viewpoint of heaven. Even the description of what heaven is like was a little creative - "it's different for each person". This author did a nice job of descriptive writing although the editing in places is a little rough and could use a grammatical clean up. Can't wait to read more by Seybold. Lovely Bones is on my top ten list of great books for this year.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read
Review: This was by far one of the best books I have ever read. It was thought provoking on every level.
Rating:
Summary: A DEVINE STORY
Review: This is a devine story heavenly told. It is written to touch the heart and lift your spirits. Yes, it's sad in parts, but the ending is uplifting. I also would like to recommend the book, The Little Guide To Happiness. Two thumbs up.
Rating: 
Summary: The Lovely Bones... not as lovely as i expected...
Review: I just finished this book last night, and although i enjoyed it... i must admit that i expected a little too much out of it because it was getting such great reviews. As i have read in a previous review, there were too many instances in the story that did not really belong... the ending was also a little abrupt. She watches her family for eight and a half years then comes down to earth for a little romp in a shack then leaves and can all of a sudden live peacefully in heaven without her family? in some ways it made sense, but for the most part, there was something missing. I recommend this book to everyone, but as far as the writing goes... i just didn't clash very well with it.
| 
