My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.
These haunting words are the first readers see in The Lovely Bones. When we meet Susie, she's already gone, looking down on her family from her very own heaven. In the instant she's killed by a neighbor, finds herself looking down on the world.
Alice Sebold's unforgettable novel reveals the tragedy and reaction from Susie's viewpoint. She bluntly discusses her killer and his torture. She watches her family disintegrate under the strain of tragedy. She sees the community cope with the trauma and heal as time moves forward. From her heaven, she sees her siblings live the life she'll never have the chance to experience.
Heaven wasn't perfect. But I came to believe that if I watched closely, and desired, I might change the lives of those I loved on Earth.
Sebold provides brief illustrations of Susie's heaven while leaving further afterlife exploration up to readers. The Great Beyond in fiction makes for interesting group discussion; book club members take note. You don't need Oprah to tell you this is a must-read novel.
In The Lovely Bones, hope and faith are imparted within this tragic circumstance. Sebold doesn't dwell on the crime, rather she examines it's effect on the other characters while Susie continuously touches their lives. In time, you'll come to realize this is an optimistic, calming tale.
Many well-known authors have given high praise to The Lovely Bones. The novel is also the recipient of several rave reviews, some of which reveal key parts of the story. Keep this vague analysis in mind, pass on the other reviews and discover this remarkable book for yourself. It's an experience you won't soon forget.
