Speaking of books, I finally finished The Lovely Bones (after about 6 months of trying to read it). I’m always a little late on the “popular” books. I like to wait until the hype dies down and I can settle into it after the attention has faded away.
Let me preface this in two ways:
1. I read The Lovely Bones immediately after reading Alice Sebold’s, Lucky. I loved Lucky. So, naturally, I was expecting to have the same reaction to the #1 National Bestseller, The Lovely Bones.
2. I did not (and still have not) seen the movie. I always try and read books before I see movies to make sure my imagination has a run at illustrating a story before the movies just take over.
A little background (courtesy of Wikipedia):
The Lovely Bones is the story of a teenage girl (Susie) who, after being raped and murdered, watches from Heaven as her family and friends struggle to move on with their lives while she comes to terms with her own death. The novel received much critical praise and became an instant bestseller. A film adaptation of the novel, directed by Peter Jackson who personally purchased the rights, was released in American theatres on January 15, 2010, and in the UK on February 15, 2010.
I wanted to like this book. I wanted to love this book. Perhaps it’s my fundamental belief that the best books/novels/articles come from writing what you know. Getting lost in the unknown is rewarding, too. I enjoy a wonderfully entertaining Sci-Fi book — something that’s so far fetched it requires a wild imagination to even begin to comprehend. However, looking down on your family from heaven might just hit a little too close to my heart.
I didn’t want to have a violently negative reaction to this book. I had set out to read this book about six months ago. It generally takes me no more than one month to read a book, cover to cover. I almost gave up on this book a dozen times, but I’m not a quitter. I had to finish, and I’m glad I did.
Sebold tells the story in an incredibly realistic manner — she doesn’t use vivid imagination to describe heaven, her details are lazy at best. She’s extremely matter-of-fact. And I’m just not convinced.
For many (myself included), heaven, as a destination, is very religious. Sebold’s perception of heaven was completely devoid of any religious aspects. It takes on the stereotypical “whatever you want and don’t materially have in life, you’ll have in the afterlife” stance. There’s no suggestion that anyone has been judged — in fact, Susie doesn’t even wonder what happens to people like her murderer. Her heaven is powerfully cute — like, eye-rolling cute. Susie’s pet dog dies and arrives in her heaven.
Other critics that alluded to the idea that this book is inherently positive despite being centered on a young girl’s rape and murder are just wrong. The sentiment in the book is a highly approximated imitation of feeling.
Not to mention, a scene in which Susie falls from Heaven and takes over her best friend’s body. In that time, she makes love to her crush who recognized her immediately. Like a scene straight from “Ghost.”
As a foreign review states, “Ultimately [The Lovely Bones] seems like a slick, overpoweringly saccharine and unfeeling exercise in sentiment and whimsy.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Anyone else read The Lovely Bones? What did you think?
I thought Sebold indicated that the place where Susie resided after she died wasn’t actually Heaven, but more of a waiting room while she came to terms with her death and accepted letting go of her family and life?
At any rate, I loved the Lovely Bones when I read it, but I can definitely see how it might be grating for some. It was very saccharine, and I’m a little uncomfortable with the way she uses her friends body to have sex with her crush. But ultimately, I really felt for her family and wanted them to find the proof needed to prosecute her killer.
Thanks for the comment, Amy! I’m glad you liked the book. I’m very interested in seeing the movie so I can make a comparison.
I used to LOVE this book. I believe I told you how much I loved it months ago…but now, having experienced some of the things in the book-I no longer think it’s one of my faves. This is probably a hodge podge of my own personal experiences but yes…it seems to skip over the young girls rape and murder…although I know one point of the book was to show how the family deals with such a loss.
I’m torn, obviously 🙂
Love you! I’m glad you finished it regardless.
Yeah, this book would definitely be hard to swallow for someone who’s been through an ordeal like this. I’m very proud I finished it, and I think I may check out the movie and see if it’s any better 🙂
I actually started this book on a cruise. I brought it as my relaxing-vacation-book. However, after reading only the first 5 pages, I was angry and depressed. Not quite the book I wanted to read on vacation. I never picked it back up again. I have thought about it since, but can’t really seem to get myself to do so. I did think the movie previews looked pretty decent though.
-Caryn
Carynlevyonline.blogspot.com
i know this is a ridiculously late comment for this post but i JUST read it and i have to comment. LOL
i loved this book. nay… i LOVE this book. It is and forever will be my favorite book of all time. But that is because of personal circumstances.
7 years ago (around when this book came out) my 17 year old sister was killed in a car accident. I was devastated. A total and complete wreck. My mom tried to send me to counseling but that was even worse for me. It was re-living my pain over and over again. But the counselor gave me the Lovely Bones to read.
I sat down to read it at home one day… and after the first sentence i burst into tears.
My sisters name was Suzanne… she went by Suzy.
As someone who was dealing with a tragic loss at only 20 years old this book was my answers to everything. It was the comfort i needed to know where my sister went was to a better place. It helped me understand why i was so mad when everyone kept saying “you look SO MUCH like her, every time i look at you i just see her”. It got me. I got it.
i would never EVER wish that anyone goes through a loss like that but if, god forbid, something ever happened to you like that i highly suggest opening this book up again. And think about the person you lost.
And if you still don’t like it… well, not everyone has the same taste right?? 🙂
It’s never too late for a comment like this! I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s truly amazing how much books, words, writing can help one get over or move forward from an event like that. That’s actually part of the reason I’ve always wanted to become a writer – to tell stories that will affect someone’s life. It’s wonderful that this book was able to do that for you and help in the healing process! I’m sure it was a relief to feel not so alone.
Thank you, sincerely, for your comment and I’m looking forward to keeping in touch!!