Susie Salmon, the narrator of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, is brutally raped and murdered at fourteen years old by a neighbor named Mr. Harvey. She tells her story from Heaven, where she watches her family as they deal with her death, the police as they investigate her murder, and Mr. Harvey as he goes on with his life completely free. Susie's father Jack begins to suspect Mr. Harvey and even shares his concerns with the police, but there is no evidence to tie Mr. Harvey to the murder. Susie watches from Heaven as her family falls apart after her death, helpless to do anything about it and frustrated that her killer continues to walk free, free to kill again. Will Susie's family ever come to grips with her death and put the pieces of their broken family back together? Will Susie's killer ever come to justice? Will Susie ever accept her existence in Heaven or will she forever pine for the life Mr. Harvey took away? Read The Lovely Bones to find out.
Review
The Lovely Bones is a great book, in my opinion, and I have had a number of students read and enjoy the book as well, but it isn't for everyone. The fact that the narrator is dead is a little too much for some readers to buy into, as is the whole switching bodies scene. I, however, think that it is a fascinating concept. Unfortunately, the types of crime that happened in this novel happen all of the time in the real world, so the thought of those victims watching what happens to their families and friends after their deaths, pining away for the life they left behind, and wanting to see their murders brought to justice is particularly poignant. I think that Sebold's depiction of the grieving family is spot on and could really open up some discussion about the stages of grief. The most gripping part of the novel for me, though, was the question of whether Mr. Harvey would ever be caught and punished for what he did to this innocent child. To know that her family suspects him, is convinced he did it, but can't prove it, is almost too much to bear, and the idea that he could get away with it is unthinkable. The reader just wants justice and peace for Susie and her family. The crime presented here is realistic, but, as a fantasy lover, perhaps it is the supernatural aspect that I found appealing. I can see, however, how Sebold's interpretation of Heaven might invite criticism by some readers who might find it offensive in comparison to their beliefs. It is, however, a lovely idea of Heaven if one can be open-minded enough to entertain the possibility. There is a movie out of The Lovely Bones, but I haven't seen it yet. I hope they handled this powerful story well.
References
[Cover art for the lovely bones]. (2011). Retrieved
from http://www.thebookwormslibrary.com/?p=208
Sebold, A. (2002). The lovely bones. New York: Little Brown.
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