My guest blogger for Bloggy Book Club is Rhonda from A Day in Rhonda's Life...she is one of my favorite bloggers...she is funny, witty and charming. This month's Bloggy Book Club choice was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.
The Lovely Bones is a story of young Susie Salmon, her tragic death, and how she is able to watch her family, and her murderer, from Heaven. It is a heavy, sad novel of tragedy, vengeance and ultimately of healing.
Stories of children in this context are never easy reads. It would not be a novel I would recommend for some light beach reading. It is, however, a story that makes you think.
I have often wondered what happens after you die. This viewpoint is how I like to think of it. No matter how I go, I want to be able to watch down on my family. I don’t want to miss graduations and weddings and babies being born. I like to think that this is possible.
Watching my family struggle, however, would be horrendous. Susie has a front row seat as her family copes with their loss. She sees her family fall apart. She watches her murderer live among them. Her friends. She witnesses horror and sadness, revenge and grief, and finally, acceptance, healing and love.
I’m not entirely certain whether or not I’m to assume you’ve read the novel and give away the ending. So I will anyway. It was a huge disappointment to me that there was no REAL ending. Yes, her family and friends were able to move on. We find out what comes of her murderer. But I needed them to find HER. I needed that closure. And that never happened. In life, yes, parents never find bodies of their children. People are left for years wondering. I know this is a real-life ending. But they were so close! I wanted to jump in and start screaming “She’s right there!! LOOK!”
I read for enjoyment. I read because I love a good story. I like a book with a beginning, a middle and an end. If you are like me, then you may want to avoid this book. It isn’t a happy read. It is difficult to get through at times, although it is well written. Sort of like The Shack in many ways. I think this stems from the real life experiences of the author, Alice Sebold. Her story, Lucky, is one you may want to read if you enjoyed The Lovely Bones.
I look forward to hearing other people’s thoughts on this novel! Thanks, Ronda, for letting me be your guest blogger today!
Thank you Rhonda, I agree with everything you wrote. I found this an interesting read and Alice Sebold is a great writer...it was interesting how she used the dead child's voice to tell the story. I found the author's idea of heaven intriguing. But, like you I wanted the child's body found and I wanted "the bad guy" caught and it was very unsettling for me that it did not happen in the context of the story. Perhaps, that is what she intended for her readers to feel...unsettled.
I do think a hallmark of a good book, for me at least is my willingness to pick up and reread a book through however, because of my feelings of this story...I wouldn't do it.
She does writes beautifully...it was her story I had issue with.
