22/04/15
The Lovely Bones
Novel
By Alice Sebold
Published 2002 I read a crippling, chilling novel called The Lovely Bones, written by Alice Sebold. It is a novel that explores many important ideas including morality, love, violence, the supernatural, family and time. The story foretells the perspective of fourteen year old Susie Salmon, who was brutally raped and murdered by her neighbour George Harvey. She tells her story from her view from heaven, as she watches her friends and family come to terms with her death, and as her killer gets away with murder. As the novel progresses we learn of Susie 's desire to be revenged and he fathers passion and love to do bring justice to those who utmost deserve it. Very early on in …show more content…
I believe Alice Sebold wrote The Lovely Bones to give the readers an idea of what interactions of the two paralleling worlds might be like. I also think she believed it was important to show the family’s strength and perseverance through the tragedy as it gives those facing similar – or even completely different – affairs to know that living or dead, there are always people who care for you. Sebold has given the readers an uncanny view of life and death, The Lovely Bones being interestingly written in the perspective of the dead- which is something mysterious to us all as no dead person will ever be able to share their story and their views on the supernatural and the mortal world. In this way, Sebold has shown us her portrayal of heaven and has shown people that such tragedies do exist, but so does hope to overcome or endure the pain of death and/or loss. "These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence: the connection- sometimes tenuous, sometimes made at a great cost, but often magnificent- after I was gone." (p363) This quote above gives a very clear meaning for the title of the novel. The depiction of the quote entails that although tragedies are unavoidable, the author hopes the victims of such tragedy will see things in a different light and grow to accepting their losses. This is interesting as the author began writing the Lovely Bones, but after writing the first chapter, in …show more content…
For the entirety of reading the story as well as long afterwards, I 've had a feeling of caution and unease towards certain environments. Although this can be seen as a good thing as it has made me more aware of where I am and who is around, it has also made me rather paranoid. Especially because the first time I read the book I felt I related to Susie 's character very much, it was as if I put myself in her situation which was a very daunting thing to feel. As of not too long ago, I have learnt the difference between caution and paranoia and although I wish I never went through the anxiety the book brought me, I would say it has made me much more aware myself and others, in the end making me feel like a stronger, more independent person. The experiences the novel presented to me has been a good way to learn this lesson of differentiating caution and paranoia - something that I believe is very