The Lovely Bones
Author: Alice Sebold
Genres: Young Adult, Adult, Contemporary, Mystery
Published: June 1 2003
Pages: 328 pages (Paperback Edition) (Picador)
Read: August 2014
Rating: 4 Stars
When we first meet Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. As she looks down from this strange new place, she tells us, in the fresh and spirited voice of a fourteen-year-old girl, a tale that is both haunting and full of hope.
In the weeks following her death, Susie watches life continuing without her -- her school friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her family holding out hope that she'll be found, her killer trying to cover his tracks. As months pass without leads, Susie sees her parents' marriage being contorted by her loss, her sister hardening herself in an effort to stay strong, and her little brother trying to grasp the meaning of the wordgone
And she explores the place called heaven. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets. There are counselors to help newcomers adjust and friends to room with. Everything she ever wanted appears as soon as she thinks of it -- except the thing she wants most: to be back with the people she loved on Earth.
With compassion, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie sees her loved ones pass through grief and begin to mend. Her father embarks on a risky quest to ensnare her killer. Her sister undertakes a feat of remarkable daring. And the boy Susie cared for moves on, only to find himself at the center of a miraculous event.
In the weeks following her death, Susie watches life continuing without her -- her school friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her family holding out hope that she'll be found, her killer trying to cover his tracks. As months pass without leads, Susie sees her parents' marriage being contorted by her loss, her sister hardening herself in an effort to stay strong, and her little brother trying to grasp the meaning of the wordgone
And she explores the place called heaven. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets. There are counselors to help newcomers adjust and friends to room with. Everything she ever wanted appears as soon as she thinks of it -- except the thing she wants most: to be back with the people she loved on Earth.
With compassion, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie sees her loved ones pass through grief and begin to mend. Her father embarks on a risky quest to ensnare her killer. Her sister undertakes a feat of remarkable daring. And the boy Susie cared for moves on, only to find himself at the center of a miraculous event.
I always thought this book was an adult novel. Even when I picked it up I thought it was adult. It's just when I did a Goodreads search this book is categorised in both Adult and Young Adult. I guess it's for the readers to classify.
Anyway, I admit, I saw the movie before I read the book. This is one of two books where I've seen the movies first, Twilight being the other one. So yes, I saw the movie first and I thought it was amazing. I loved how the film was made and when I saw in the big screen in the cinema that the movie was adapted from the book, I instantly thought 'Oh My God, there's a book!!! I have to read it!!' So I pestered my mam into getting me the book. I was also very particular in what book cover I wanted. I got the cover pictured above, I wasn't going to get the movie cover one. I was young at that time, so even then my particularity in book covers was apparent. I can't even remember what age I was, but it was when the movie came out in the cinemas so I don't know when that was (It was 2009, I was 14, ok not quite so young)
But ya, this is a book review, Sarah!!! Not a post about you reminiscing.
The Lovely Bones is a novel about a young girl who is horrifically murdered, in a time when murder was hardly heard of. This young girl is Susie Salmon and in this novel we see from Susie's point of view as she looks down from heaven on everything she left behind, her family, friends, life.
We see how Susie's death affects everyone she looks upon and how it affects her too. This book is filled with sadness and desperation in the present tense but is also filled with warm, comforting glimpses of the past and future. This is a story about death, plain and simple. It is a story about grief, despair, loss and inevitably moving on.
I enjoyed this novel. There were some parts that were slow to get through but overall it was a very good story, with very realistic questions and musings left after you finish this. So if you'd like something deep, dealing with a very hard topic, then I suggest this book.
Ya, that's all I can really say. Let me know in the comments below if you've read this book or if you are planning to.
Anyway, I admit, I saw the movie before I read the book. This is one of two books where I've seen the movies first, Twilight being the other one. So yes, I saw the movie first and I thought it was amazing. I loved how the film was made and when I saw in the big screen in the cinema that the movie was adapted from the book, I instantly thought 'Oh My God, there's a book!!! I have to read it!!' So I pestered my mam into getting me the book. I was also very particular in what book cover I wanted. I got the cover pictured above, I wasn't going to get the movie cover one. I was young at that time, so even then my particularity in book covers was apparent. I can't even remember what age I was, but it was when the movie came out in the cinemas so I don't know when that was (It was 2009, I was 14, ok not quite so young)
But ya, this is a book review, Sarah!!! Not a post about you reminiscing.
The Lovely Bones is a novel about a young girl who is horrifically murdered, in a time when murder was hardly heard of. This young girl is Susie Salmon and in this novel we see from Susie's point of view as she looks down from heaven on everything she left behind, her family, friends, life.
We see how Susie's death affects everyone she looks upon and how it affects her too. This book is filled with sadness and desperation in the present tense but is also filled with warm, comforting glimpses of the past and future. This is a story about death, plain and simple. It is a story about grief, despair, loss and inevitably moving on.
I enjoyed this novel. There were some parts that were slow to get through but overall it was a very good story, with very realistic questions and musings left after you finish this. So if you'd like something deep, dealing with a very hard topic, then I suggest this book.
Ya, that's all I can really say. Let me know in the comments below if you've read this book or if you are planning to.
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