Purple Poppy Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 I read LB a good while back, so can't remember specifics, but I too was disappointed and couldn't understand why Susie took over her friends body for sex. It was so disjointed. We hadn't been aware of this being a strong desire throughout the book, although she was curious about the things she was missing. The book had potential but it didn't happen for me. The ending was too vague and the connection with the ice, crystal (or was it glass?)very tenuous...help me out here someone. I can't remember what it was, but I remember thinking it was quite clever and she missed a trick because she didn't emphasise it enough. 'Lucky' was better but depressing not because of the content, (which is depressing and frightening in itself) but because of Alice .. I couldn't make sense of her somehow. I personally don't like Alice Sebold's writing style and struggled to follow it, having to re-read many sentences. I doubt that I would read anything else by her. Susanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessponti Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 Just scanned these posts as not to spoil the book for me, but it seems like there are mixed reviews. I have this on my bedside table and am to commence reading it tonight or tomorrow, having finished my current read this morning! I can't wait to read it! My mum has been pestering me for years to pick it up, so I can finally see what all the fuss is about!! Yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcow Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 I don't care what anyone else says i really enjoyed this book. I found it easy to read despite how she died. There were some poignant parts like how her family coped with her death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessponti Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I read the first chapter on the way home from work, I have to say that I really didn't like it. I think this is because of the subject matter more than the writing style or anything else (to be honest I didn't notice anything other than the subject matter) - does it get nicer? I don't want to read the reviews, but I also don't want to keep reading the book, I'm a delicate flower and the first chapter was way to heavy a topic for me.. any reassurances to help me continue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted October 24, 2006 Share Posted October 24, 2006 it's only mentioned in passing after the event... you only have to read through the details once. I hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessponti Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I've given up! I read another chapter last night and I just can't read it. I figure what's the point in struggling to read something that makes me feel quesy, I'm just too delicate! Thinking about it, I don't read articles in the paper that are about similar things as they play on my mind, so I don't know why I even felt I could read it! I've just driven the book over to my aunties to give to her, it's no longer in my house and I feel better! Saying that, I really enjoyed her description of heaven and would have liked to have learned more about that! ..thanks for the post Kat.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilou Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Alice Sebold is a real psychological genius when it comes to the dissection of the state of mind and relationships of a whole family and neighbourghood after the traumatic murder of a young teenager. The fact that she wrote it from the point of view of the dead girl was quite fresh and new at the time and it opened a new style of writing perspective. I found the book really good and I recommended it to all my friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 I have read 'The Lovely Bones' and 'Lucky', and I have to say I preferred Lucky. The Lovely Bones had all the traits of a good story but it was hard to see them when I was personally quite annoyed with Susie, I felt bad about what had happened to her, but at the same time, I could not helping thinking why?, why go with a man you are not sure of. Lucky is the stronger of the two books for me, its well written. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 I guess this is the sort of book people really enjoy, or really hate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted February 17, 2007 Author Share Posted February 17, 2007 It's another one of those that really gets people talking, for sure. Whether you like it or not, there's always going to be something to provoke you and get a reaction. Books like this are great for discussion because you get so many different viewpoints and sometimes get to see things from an angle you perhaps didn't get yourself when you read it, but looking back can see it once it's pointed out to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Poppy Posted February 18, 2007 Share Posted February 18, 2007 Gyre said, Lucky is the stronger of the two books for me, its well written. I would agree with that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slywaka1 Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 The Lovely Bones was a good idea, but I couldn't really get involved with the story or characters, I loved Lucky though, I've read it 4 times and keep lending it to people, it's one of my favourites. Really well written and inspirational Anna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronny Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I just finished, the Lovely Bones, and I did enjoy it. I came close to loving it but there was a chapter towards the end with Ray, Ruth & Susie that threw the book off a bit for me, it didn't ruin it but it almost did. I think that I preferred Lucky as well. I would definitely read more by her, does anyone know of any future books by her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 The Lovely Bones is set to become a movie as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piccolina Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Princessponti, I don't blame you for giving up. I powered through, as it was given to me as a gift... and I felt it only polite to finish so to discuss with it's giver. Reading the story of a young girl's violent sexual murder, told by the young girl could not have been more disturbing for me. Once I got through the first 2/3rds, and the details of the murder were not referenced, it started to get a little better. I did find Sebolds writing however to be choppy. Did anyone else find Lovely Bones to end abruptly? I felt cheated from many lose ends tied up quickly in haste. It's as though I read her first draft. Unfortunately, I am not interested in reading the final. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooncat Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I thought this book was great - it has to be in my all time top 10 books! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Andrea~ Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 It sounds really interesting. I'd like to give it a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~V~ Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 We could do with a vote on these contentious books to see what the overall opinion is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 My SIL lent me this book and I didn't much like it. She loved it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopeanha Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I really didn't like the part when Susie takes over Ruths body, that was totally stupid. It kinda ruined the whole book for me. All together it was quite boring, it started promising but than nothing else happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I thought I had replied on this topic, but I can't find my post...sorry if I have posted twice!!! I thought this was a brilliant idea for a book, but I was really underwhelmed by it, and struggle to understand all the acclaim it received. However, Lucky, by the same author is a terrific if harrowing read. I had her third book - The Almost Moon - on audiobook, and I didn't enjoy that either. I prefer Alice Sebold when she is writing non-fiction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexiepiper Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 I have to say I did like LB, and I much prefered it to Lucky, which I didn't really take to at all. I'm not overly tempted to read her newer one, might just leave it and pick it up if i ever see it really cheap but wont go out of my way to but it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kay_loves_purple Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 I really didn't like the part when Susie takes over Ruths body, that was totally stupid. That's sort of how I felt too. But I think the author had wanted Susie not to miss "certain stuff" that she couldn't have had access to while alive due to her young age. I could have done without that scene though, although I do see its purpose. From what I've seen that scene is the most criticized one in the book, people are always complaining about it (me included) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookBee8 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 I've tried to read Lovely Bones a couple of times and never finished it. I'm not really sure why, I just don't think her style appeals to me at all because the storyline seems fascinating. I wouldn't buy another one of her novels as I'm assuming it would be similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcilroga Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 (edited) I know it's a clich Edited August 6, 2009 by Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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