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The
2004 Award
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The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Publishers
of Nominated Editions: |
Nominated by:
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| the complete A-Z listing of nominated authors |
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ABOUT
THE BOOK
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| When
we first meet Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. As she looks down
from this strange new place, she tells us, in the fresh and spirited voice
of a fourteen-year-old girl, a tale that is both haunting and full of hope. In the weeks following her death, Susie watches life continuing without her - her school friends trading rumours about her disappearance, her family holding out hope that she'll be found, her killer trying to cover his tracks. As months pass without leads, Susie sees her parents' marriage being contorted by loss, her sister hardening herself in an effort to stay strong, and her little brother trying to grasp the meaning of the word gone. And she explores the place called heaven. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets. There are counsellors to help newcomers adjust and friends to room with. Everything she ever wanted appears as soon as she thinks of it - except the thing she wants most: to be back with the people she loved on Earth. With compassion, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie sees her loved ones pass through grief and begin to mend. Her father embarks on a risky quest to ensnare her killer. Her sister undertakes a feat of remarkable daring. And the boy Susie cared for moves on, only to find himself at the centre of a miraculous event. This story of the worst thing a family can face is transformed into a suspenseful and even funny novel about love, memory, joy, heaven and healing. |
| ABOUT THE AUTHOR |
| Alice Sebold is the author of the memoir, Lucky. She has written for the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. She lives in California, USA, with her husband, Glen David Gold. |
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Reader
Review
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The Lovely Bones is an enthralling book and hard to put down. I'm usually reluctant to read fiction especially if there is a hint of the supernatural in it. Susie, writing from her place in heaven is slowly letting the reader know who her killer is. From the beginning to end one is on tenterhooks wondering if he will be found out. This book changed my mind about fiction, it is a most enjoyable read. A novel idea and an ideal novel! May Coleman, Finglas Library Readers' Group, Dublin, Ireland You can understand why this book is a best seller. Its narrator is a murdered fourteen-year old girl who is looking down from heaven on the world she has just left. She describes her horrific rape and murder and the devastating effect her murder has on her family, her friends and her neighbourhood and their different ways of coping. Through time there is healing for them. She also watches her murderer, and how events unfold for him. I thought it was a beautifully written book, having read it a second time for this review. The characters were beautifully portrayed. The fourteen-year old narrator shows us the sweetness and innocence of childhood - her love for her family and friends shines through. Her parents, her sister and brother struggle in their separate ways to come to terms with her murder. I
also read Lucky by the same author - a story about the rape
of a student and how she came I found this to be a book that appeals to all ages. It's a page-turner, but also reflective and heart-warming. It probably won't make the short list but I think it is well worth reading. Member of Raheny Library Readers' Group, Dublin, Ireland Our group found this a completely compelling read. The story is about a young girl, Susie, who is assaulted and brutally murdered by a respectable neighbour, Mr. Harvey. Her body is cut up and buried in this man's cellar. And this is not his first or last murder. Susie then relates the effects of her death on her family, friends, neighbours and the perpetrator himself. We found this book excellent - the story unfolds slowly but not too slowly. While the subject sounds horrifying and depressing we all agreed it was so well written that although sad, it was also uplifting and full of hope. The characters were very well developed and interesting - one wanted to know more about them and what was going to happen to them. Our only complaint would be that the end was somewhat rushed, as if the author was told to tie up the loose ends quickly. Also we thought that the taking over of Ruth's body by Susie was a bit strange. Otherwise we would highly recommend this book as a good read, well written and with lots of material for discussion and thought. We rated it 4.5 stars out of 5. Review
by Dolphin's Barn Library Reading Group,
Dublin, Ireland
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