The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold

Mesmerizing and Luminous

"The Lovely Bones" is Alice Sebold’s first published novel. In the first chapter, 14-year old Suzie Salmon takes a shortcut, in the dark, on her way home from junior high school. She is raped and murdered in a room that was hollowed out in the frozen corn field by her neighbor, Mr. George Harvey.

Suzie begins to realize she is in a different place...heaven. However she is able to see what happens on earth and can feel the emotions of each person. As eight years pass, she watches her sister fall in love and become a woman instead of the sister of the girl who was murdered. She watches her father continue to search for her murderer as the law closes the case for lack of evidence. Her mother has an affair with the case detective, and her little brother grows up. She also watches the murderer as he continues to kill. Suzie describes everything in great detail and brings the past and present, heaven and earth, together in a way that is heartfelt.

I was drawn into the story and wanted to know what happened next. Would they finally catch the murdering neighbor? There were places that were humorous as well as gripping and sad. This book was unique and effective probably because Alice Sebold's writing just flows as she speaks from first-hand experience about the feelings that go along with being a victim.

(I just found out they are planning a movie about this book.)

Reviewed by a staff member, First Regional Library

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