Trapped in a perfect world... (Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold)

Member Name: angel_at_birth

Product:	Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
Date:	12/05/09 (23 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Makes for compulsive reading, beautifully written.

Disadvantages: Is rather heavy reading at some points, some people may find the realism upsetting.

'My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973'. This, the first sentence of the first chapter of Lovely Bones sets the tone for the next 323 pages, being at once simple, thought-provoking and heartbreaking.

Lovely Bones is set in 1970's Philadelphia, and is told entirely through the eyes of Susie, watching her family from Heaven. This is no murder mystery however, the identity of the killer is revealed to the reader at a very early stage which makes for very frustrating reading in some places, as Susie desperately tries to guide her family with varying degrees of success. It is in essence a coming of age story as Susie struggles between her desire for vengeance and her desire to see her family move on and be happy. From her vantage point in Heaven she watches as the lives of those she was once close to unfold without her.

This book really is an emotional rollercoaster, where at times you will be laughing through the tears. The most poignant moments come at unexpected times, in particular the moments which show younger sister Lindsay growing up and becoming a young woman, a journey which Susie herself never got to make.

I am not going to describe this book as life-changing or unmissable because it really has to be read to be believed. This is a beautifully written tale about a horrible tragedy which also manages to paint a picture of hope and love in the healing process of a grieving family. Both heartrending and joyful, this story will stay with you long after you read the last line, and I for one could not put it down.

Summary: A beautifully tragic story of healing and loss.