This book was surprising! I was apprehensive about even picking this book up to read in the first place. But it was highly recommended by friends and so I went with it. I enjoyed reading the Lovely Bones after all.
I assumed that the plot of the story would upset me too much since it was about a child (14 year old Susie Salmon) whom was brutally murdered. Despite my assumptions, the author guided me through an inexplicably dark and viscious experience and showed me that out of such darkness and despair, love and forgiveness can prevail. Reading parts of the book I noticed my breathing was heavy from anticipation while other times I was actually holding my breath.Alice Sebold made me feel like I could reason and understand the actions, feelings and heartache that this family lived with during this tragedy and the years that followed.
I enjoyed being told the story through the victim's words. As grotesque as the crime was having Susie tell the story seemed to lessen the violence in the sense that you knew she was OK since she was talking to you the whole time. I realized that when I had questions about Susie's well being while reading , she would explain all of her thoughts and emotions at the same time. Susie was growing wise and learning from her tragedy just as we were. It felt eerily personal. And I wanted to save Susie.
Towards the end of the book though there was one particular instance that was very far-fetched and almost ruined the book for me. Almost. I don't feel this particular part needed to be spun into the story since up until that point the reactions and life choices from Susie and her family were enough to make the story powerful. I'm guessing here, but I think that Alice Sebold felt she needed to give some lightness to the book in order to not completely devastate her fans with a story that was so overwhelmingly ominous. Despite my displeasure for the end of the book, overall I would recommend The Lovely Bones.
In case you haven't heard, The Lovely Bones has been made into a movie and it is scheduled to premier in theaters January 15, 2010. If you plan on reading the book before watching the movie then I would recommend you not watch the trailer since it does contain spoilers.
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