The Lovely Bones - Discussion thread

[Cassiepeia]

Welcome to the June bookclub discussion thread. This month we're reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

If you haven't got your book yet, don't panic. I'll give you until the end of the week before I start making you stay after class. Hehehe...Just kidding.

So, what we're after first up are first impressions. What does everyone think of the book so far? Do you like the way the author writes? Is the story drawing you in yet?

Any thing else you'd like to add about the book so far?

Even if you come to this late, we would love to hear your thoughts on the book. So please don't feel shy, after all that's the whole point of the bookclub right?

Cass.

[Dog Tired]

I read this book last year or so...I loved it. I wont jump in the converstation just yet...but it was a good story! And I really liked the point of view.

Enjoy!

[GreenleafGreyhound]

Originally Posted by Dog Tired

I read this book last year or so...I loved it. I wont jump in the converstation just yet...but it was a good story! And I really liked the point of view.

Enjoy!

I did as well! I also read Lucky, but I found The Lovely Bones much more intriguing. I'll wait until the discussion gets started before I voice my opinion because I don't quite remember the details. Perhaps it's time for me to re-read it?

[k9hullio_sam]

Ahhhh! I still need to get the book....no time this weekend! Hopefully I will get it tonight!

[Cassiepeia]

Well I started the book and had a hard time putting it down. I love the point of view as well, Dog Tired. I'm a big fan of first person narrative so it was great to find that this book is written that way.

The murder scene brought tears to my eyes. I love Susie's character and am actually intrigued by the murderer as well, although I find him repulsive.

And the dogs mentioned in the story made me smile.
The whole story (so far) is so beautifully written I find I'm desperate to get back to it when ever I have a spare moment.

C'mon everyone else. We had a good group that voted for the book this month, grab a copy of the book and join in.

Cass.

[k9hullio_sam]

Okay! I bought the book last night and started to read it this morning after my first final exam.....SOO GOOD!! I have also had a hard time putting it down! Right now I am on chapter nine! I LOVE her brother Buckley. He is soo cute! It seems like he takes such a differnt view on Susie's death. I wonder if it is because the way his father explained her death to him, or does he really still see her?

I hope they are able to get enough evidence to capture Mr. Harvey...
In the father's "notebook" thing, the author mentions that he had without knowing it created a list of the dead. My question is- does Mr.Harvey move after every death. If these people were from around here, her father would have recognized them....so how long do they have untill he moves again??

Also, her heaven is a little dissapointing. I would like to think that I wouldn't be bored in my heaven. I also laughed at the dogs in her heaven...it was a nice was to lighten the mood.

Sorry if I am jumping ahead, but I just cannot stop reading this book!

[Cassiepeia]

It's ok that you're jumping ahead just don't try to reveal too much. I'm only up to chapter seven (almost eight) right now. I haven't had a chance to read it today but I'm sure I'll whiz past nine and ten today.

Buckley is very sweet. I think perhaps that he's just too young to really be aware of what death is, so he's not really affected by it like the others are. Although the way his father explained the death was odd. I wondered if the author had had her father or a relative explain a death to her that way or if she knew of someone who had?

Since I don't believe in heaven I find the whole idea absurd, but I actually like the imagery and think it goes a long way to showing how ridiculous it is to think that anything after life is better than life itself (if that makes any sense ). Susie's boring, but beautiful, surroundings in her heaven don't even compare to the life and wonder that is back on earth and she's compelled to watch what goes on down there, I think not just because she loves her family and wants to watch over them or because she wants Mr. Harvey to be punished, but because of her desire to be a part of that world again.

Ok...I probably just rambled on and on...apologies. LOL Anyhoo...I think I'll go and read again for a while.

Cass.

[Dog Tired]

I might have to go and get the book from my mothers...I have not read it in a long time...and alot of the minor details are fuzzy. I DO remember the murder scene though...and the way she watched the killer drag the bag...and the description of her body in that bag was too much. I cried a lot through this book.

As a believer, the Heaven that Susie has created has a muchdiff. meaning to me than Cass. I felt like there was a reason Susie was there, and things that needed her attention, or help.

I am gonna get my book back in a day or two, and hopefully will catch up with y'all. I think I finished this one in about a day or two.

I do remember the reason I didnt re-read it was because it left me in a sad mood for a day or two afterwards. I really felt as if I had lost someone dear to me for a bit. I had a hard time shaking the story.

[k9hullio_sam]

Okay....didn't get too much farther, Had to study. One thing I though was interesting was what Fanny said, that she could have all of those things she really wanted in heaven, if she forgot about earth. Do you think she will do it?? Like Dog Tired said, there are things needing her attention, but how much of a difference is she making my watching it all happen...like a tv show??? Is her watching going to make that much of a significance in the case of her murder.

Although I still am enjoying the book, there were a couple pages when I was bored. It was one of those times she 'flashbacked' and told a story that was a little off topic. It kind of seems that the murder case is at a stand still. Yeah I am glad her sister is going on with her life, but it took her forever to tell us that.

Got to run! Onyl two more days of school left!!!

[Cassiepeia]

I don't know if she'll forget about earth. She probably will eventually, in the end it will probably be best for her if she lets go because it doesn't do anyone good to dwell too much on the past or on things you can't change, which is what she's doing now. Hmm...maybe that's a lesson for us? LOL

I have to say, I haven't been bored at all with this book but I understand what you mean about the flash backs and the off topic bits...sometimes I wonder "why is she telling me this?". I'm hoping that those bits will eventually mean something to the story.

Mr. Harvey, as horrid as he is, is getting far more interesting as the book progresses. I find I'm hoping the author brings me back to him so I can find out some more grisely and sometimes horrifyingly normal things about him. I love, love, love this book.

Cass.

[k9hullio_sam]

Since then the book has picked up its usuall liveliness.
I am dissapointed in her mother, Abigail, though. I would imagine that even though things are hard for you, your living children should be your priority. In a time like this I would think you would spend MORE time with the family, not less. I can understand why she feels the way she does, but does she care more about her unhappiness than being there for her children?? Why would she leave her children when they need her the most??

I am glad they are finally picking up the case again...Lindsay is a brave one! I am not sure I could have done that, but then again, I have never experienced a death in the immediate family.

I have more to say, but I don't want to give anything away. Is there a certain pace I should be reading at?? Just curious.

[Cassiepeia]

I'm up to chapter 12 right now. So anything after that I haven't a clue about. lol

Cass.

[Swiftwind]

As soon as I started reading The Lovely Bones I got pretty much straight into it. I thoguht the characters were really interesting (though the mother did annoy me somewhat). The description of the murder is quite chilling and really wants to make you read on. Even though I don't believe in Heaven I think Alice Sebold has some really lovely ideas about the after life. I like the way Suzie explains her 'life' after she was murdered, and how she looks down on her family. I don't think this book is brillliantly written but the plot is interesting and most of the characters are, too.

[GreenleafGreyhound]

When you guys get to the part that talks about Susie's mom and the red nail polish and stuff, I'll jump in because I don't remember much else I'm afraid I might say something to ruin it all for you guys.

Have you guys gotten to the part where Susie's dad walks in on her sister shaving her legs with her dad's razor? I don't know why, but it brought a tear to my eye when her father reminisced about how her mother used to "take some off the top of her knees" when they used to go out on dates. I thought that was so heartwrenching because...aghhh...I want to say more, but I don't think you guys are there yet

Can you guys give a brief synopsis of what's going on and what part you guys are on? I'm really lazy and can't find the book, but I'll try!

[k9hullio_sam]

Well, I have gotten pretty far in the book. (Only because I stayed home this weekend and had nothing else to do ! ) I am in chapter 20 right now. I don't want to give it away if people aren't there yet, but...

There are so many dicisions for their poor dad to make! With the hospital and all...whew! It has turned into Buck vs. Susie, which