The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Contemporary Fiction United States
As the story begins, Susie is already in heaven relating her murder step by step. As she watches the investigation proceed, she witnesses not only the murderer covering his tracks and presenting a face of innocence to the police, but she also sees the pain and suffering of her family and friends. Susie’s heaven is very different from the one we read of in the Bible. In her heaven, Susie is aware of pain on earth and she experiences her own pain. She regrets not having grown up. She misses her family. She feels cheated not having had the chance to experience love with a man. Her heaven adjusts to each of her wants except what she wants most – going back to earth to reclaim her life.
As the story progresses, her mother falls apart, her friends grow up, and everyone finds a way through life without her and then – miracle of all miracles – it happens!
What I didn’t like:
Oh, how I wanted someone to find Susie’s body and give her family and friends closure. Would it have made things easier? Maybe . . . maybe not.
What I liked:
Susie can’t influence the investigation of her murder, but she is hell on wheels with an icicle.
The author told the story of the mother’s pain with compassion, understanding, and without excuses for her failures.
I loved the grandmother. What a wise woman!
The father was the very best man imaginable but there wasn’t quite enough of that to go around – to grieve for Susie, to be the husband he needs to be for his wife and the father he needs to be for the other children.
The sister – what a jewel. A beautifully developed character.
Ruth – what an imagination it took to invent a character like Ruth.
The story is an original take on the whole murder mystery theme. I loved it.
