Book Review: The Lovely Bones

I finished reading The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold last night.  I was aware of the premise beforehand, because people mentioned the movie, directed by Peter Jackson.  It features Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, and Susan Sarandon.  I have not seen the movie yet, so I am writing without that perspective. 

I will reveal plot elements if you chooses to read on.

The Lovely Bones follows a 14 year old girl, Susie Salmon; as she is growing up, is raped and murdered, and lives on, in heaven and in the memories of those close to her.  It begins as a terrific murder-mystery, but charts a course different than I expected, or would have preferred.  I was expecting the murder-mystery to continue, and evolve into a revenge plot, perhaps a race to stop the killer from murdering again.  I wanted  plot elements that never occurred, namely discovery of the body and revenge against the murderer.   

Instead, the story becomes a psychological study of the different characters.  We read how a young girl in heaven moves on, following a life horrifically ended too soon.  Family and friends deal with the murder, as well as each other - this becomes the driving force as the story progresses.  There is insight into the mind of a serial killer; also, the lead detective as he searches, but is ultimately unable to find answers.  There are moments of suspense, strong connection between the living and deceased, a few head scratchers, and a hasty conclusion. 

Sebold was motivated by circumstances in her life.  Many years later, she created fiction out of events that are all too real for her.   Sebold employs a notion that heaven is a personally defined space.  Another's heaven will be different, but may overlap with Susie's in certain areas. 

The book did not evolve the way I wanted, however it is the domain of its author.  It is her story, not mine.  The best authors tell a story and allow the reader to apply their own meaning and interpretation.  Sebold does a fine job, as the imagery is one of the novel's greatest strengths. We all read the same words on the page, but my picture of the neighborhood and of the sinkhole, which contains Susie's remains, is different from another readers, or that of the film.

The resolution is a reminder that not everything turns out as we would like it to.  In the end, the murderer will never kill again, the living are moving forward with their lives, and a teenage girl resides in heaven. 

It is a good book.  I was just looking for something different.

If you enjoy this book, others that come to mind that you may consider are The Five People You Meet Heaven, by Mitch Albom, and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, by Stephen King.  Alice Sebold has written two other novels, Lucky: A Memoir and The Almost Moon.