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The Lovely Bones: A Novel by Alice Sebold
The Lovely Bones: A Novel by Alice Sebold: I tried to tell some friends who came over this weekend why exactly this book was so good, but it seems hard for most of the people to get past the fact that this books is by a girl who has just been raped and murdered by a family friend as she watches down on her family from Heaven. Of course, her heaven has the high school that she went to with the wonderful architecture that she loved so, but they never have to go to class and their textbooks are Vogue and Seventeen.
Susie watches her family try and come to grip with the sudden hole that she has left in their midst. She can't influence them, but she cannot tear herself away from them either.
What moved me most about this book was the way that the characters - from the boy who gave Susie her first kiss to her sister to her little brother to the girl who felt her soul leaving this earth to her killer - were intertwined. The story's biggest impact on me was simply the way that one must learn to let go - not forget, no - but let go when a tragedy like this has occurred.
Sebold writes with a clear voice that makes all of the people in her book incredible real and alive. I can't help but worry for her family as they try and stay together. I can't help buy worry about Ray, the boy who kissed her - will he be able to move past almost having her?
Oddly, though, George Harvey, the man who killed Susie was never much in my mind. I think it was because I loved her family so, that as long as he wasn't near them to do harm, he didn't really matter much to me.
Despite the morbid tone to the idea of this book, this book does not ever come close to being morbid. In fact I found it full of promises, light, and hope and I hope that everyone will take time to read this amazing novel.
(Finished on July 19, 2003 for Zuly's Reading Room.)
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Comments
Didn't know if you knew this, but Alice Sebold also wrote a book called Lucky: A Memoir that recalls her own rape and subsequent struggle with recovery.
.: Justin said on July 28, 2003 09:37 AM :: link it :.I enjoyed The Lovely Bones, despite the fact that it was about a depressing subject. I loved the way it followed all the people who thought about Susie. I was thankful that they got the death out of the way at the beginning and then talked about different ways people cope with the death of a loved one. Glad you enjoyed it as well =)
.: Nicole said on July 28, 2003 10:52 AM :: link it :.I've been wanting to read this book for a long time. My shoddy library close to my apartment never has it, so I think I'm going to have to resort to home delivery. I just want this, Lolita, and Reading Lolita in Tehran. That's not too much to ask, is it? ;)
.: Crankydragon said on July 28, 2003 11:54 AM :: link it :.I really liked this book as well but it was hard for me to stick with it, I cried alot while reading it. I'm glad I finished it though.
.: Carla said on July 28, 2003 01:10 PM :: link it :.that book has been on my wish list forever and I still haven't bought it! I guess I'll have to once I finish the book I am currently reading!
.: MishMish said on July 28, 2003 03:07 PM :: link it :.I'm glad you liked it. I couldn't get into it at all... I think it was the style of the book. I never did finish it. Maybe I'll try it again sometime.
.: Zuly said on July 28, 2003 03:15 PM :: link it :.That was an amazing book. I'm usually more into sci-fi/fantasy, but definitely worth taking time out to read. It evoked a number of emotions as you almost feel what this girl is going through.
.: kimmie said on July 28, 2003 04:47 PM :: link it :.I got the book in a Christmas gift exchange and I literally could not put it down. I think I read it in about a day and a half. I was worried that the premise about her being in heaven could end up being super-cheese, but I thought it ended up working really well. I also loved the way that the different characters' stories intertwined.
.: angela said on July 29, 2003 05:00 PM :: link it :.i also enjoyed The Lovely Bones. I still havent read Lucky, i need to. I finished the Lovely Bones in 2 days, i couldnt put it down. Does anyone know how to contact Alice Sebold? like, an email address or something. if you do email me or post a message here, thanks.
.: Iris said on August 25, 2003 02:29 PM :: link it :.I read this book too. I read it in a bout 9 hours straight!! I am currently reading Lucky, but once you read the Lovely Bones it is hard to read the other one, Well for me it is. This book helped me think of how everybody has to cope with things, they just have to be worked through! from things as small as running a mile and not feeling the pain, the regret, to knowing that you will someday die, and not feeling the pain or regret there to.
I too, read The Lovely Bones first, and couldn't put it down, then I saw Lucky advertised and rushed to order a copy, and read that straight through.
Alice is a fantastic wtiter, I just want to know when is her next book being published?
Although I love reading, I wouldn't describe myself as a person who normally gets excited enough to want to analyse writings or critique them.
Unlike my husband who is a writer and has just finished his MA in writing!
Have you seen the reading group questions about the book?
I'm hooked!...Alice don't stop writing, you are a gift to women everywhere, and a challenge to provoke people's understanding of power misused, crisis and recovery and the complexities of legal systems.
A wounded healer has much to offer...victory instead of victim.
I work in the local courthouse as a mental health worker...I found The Lovely Bones, read it in 7 hours straight, time only to pee, and have lent it to many others at work. Fabulous work Alice Sebold
.: Susan Cook said on September 30, 2003 06:00 PM :: link it :.I have just finished reading The Lovely Bones and it has really touched me...i'm still crying!!! Wonderful book.
.: Audrey said on October 22, 2003 03:52 PM :: link it :. 
Please let me know if anyone has a way to email Alice Sebold. I am having a book discussin group, the local high school is now involved, and this can be a big event. Anyone?
.: laura said on October 27, 2003 02:28 PM :: link it :.i also need to find a way to contact alice sebold. I read this book and was thinking....it would make a good movie wouldnt it?
.: lindsay said on March 7, 2004 12:41 PM :: link it :.I am in 9th grade i read the book and even tho the topic was disturbing to me at first i warmed up to the book after 3 chapters! i LOVED it! the ending was my favorite i hope alice continues to write!
.: Hillbaby said on April 8, 2004 05:10 PM :: link it :.I just finished The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, and like many of you, I was very emotionally and physically moved by it's poignant story and gentle message about families and letting go of tragedies/traumas. There were many very special resonances for me as I grew up in the same area as the location of the story, and am the same age as the author, and could find many similarities in 'susie's' family life and language of expression and my own. I am hoping to find a place of contact or email address of the author and will keep posted for more of her writings. Brilliant writing, Alice!
.: frnchpink said on April 16, 2004 04:49 PM :: link it :.i've heard alice is writing a new novel all the time! so, let's hope we can soon read a new book from her! i've also read this book (allthough in finish) and i really liked it!! brilliant!! :)
.: ida from finland said on April 25, 2004 11:16 AM :: link it :.Hey everyone!! Just finished Lovely Bones while traveling....i couldn't put it down. I wanted to agree with Lindsey--would love to make it a movie. Some of the shots would be really spectacular
.: Michelle said on July 1, 2004 12:46 PM :: link it :.Posted by Sebastian Uda (sebastian68@yahoo.com) on March 01, 2005 at 14:12:54:
I discover a novel that deals with the 9-11 events at:
http://www.hugosantander.com/novels_archivos/ntm.html
Any clue where I can get the complete text?
Fiodor
.: Fiodor said on March 1, 2005 02:47 PM :: link it :.i loved this book. it was awsomw to the max times ten..... thousand that is !!!
this book was nice, but i didnt like how she crammed everything into the end of the novel. It seemed like she realized she had to do all of these things to get the ending she wanted and just crammed it into the last 50 pages or so. If she didnt drag on the middle of how everyone was coping and then kind of gradually add everything on, then that would have been better. However it was well written and an intriguing plot and easy-to-relate-to characters.
.: Jess said on April 30, 2006 01:33 PM :: link it :.however, despite my last comment in sebold's defense i must say that this was a great topic to write about and make people [girls mostly] more aware about the horrors of rape. For that i tip my hat to her
.: Jess said on April 30, 2006 01:35 PM :: link it :.I had really enjoyed reading the book entitled “the lovely bones”. From the very instant I opened the first page, I felt empathy for the character. It was very pleasurable, and I would recommend it for someone to read!
.: said on May 23, 2006 09:19 PM :: link it :.this book was definitely one of my favourites. i just bought lucky and am looking forward to reading it.
.: carly said on July 20, 2006 04:02 PM :: link it :.Awww, I'm only in 7th grade and read the book. I dunno why, but I fell in love with it. T_T I cried at the end with what happened with Ray and Susie. The lovely bones is the best book ever!
.: Reeny said on October 15, 2006 04:46 PM :: link it :.You're too early! Come back at July 28, 2003 01:46 AM to see this post.
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