BBW Review: The Lovely Bones

I read and reviewed this book in honor of ALA's Banned Book Week. This book was moved to the faculty section of the John W. McDevitt Middle School library in Waltham, Mass in 2008 because its content was too frightening for middle school students. I actually understand this one because there was murder, rape, some language, and sex in the book, but I still think it's up to a child and/or their parents if they are mature enough to read this powerful and amazing novel. Summary is from Amazon.

Title: The Lovely Bones
Author: Alice Sebold
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Publication Date: April 20, 2004
Pages: 328
My Edition: Paperback
Reading Level: ----
Where I got it: Goodwill for 47 cents!

Summary:

Once in a generation a novel comes along that taps a vein of universal human experience, resonating with readers of all ages. THE LOVELY BONES is such a book — a #1 bestseller celebrated at once for its artistry, for its luminous clarity of emotion, and for its astonishing power to lay claim to the hearts of millions of readers around the world.

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her — her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, THE LOVELY BONES succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy.

The major motion picture version of THE LOVELY BONES, directed by Peter Jackson and starring Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, and Saoirse Ronan is scheduled for release on December 11, 2009.

Review (Lots of spoilers about the book, so read at your discretion!):

Wow, this book started off very intensely! I couldn't put it down, but once I got past the aftershock of her murder, the story kind of became a little boring. I really liked it, but it was a little too sad to read about. One things for sure Alice Sebold can really tell a powerful story of a teenage girl who is raped then murdered by a male neighbor. I was surprised that only the first 4 or 5 chapters was about Susie's murder, then the rest was about her "life" in heaven and how her family deals with her death. I really liked Susie's sister, Lindsay. She was a very strong female character, and I love how her life turns out with her childhood crush then husband. Also, it was perfect ending with Mr. Harvey (the murderer, ex-neighbor) dying by an icicle (the perfect murder). It was really interesting how connected Susie was to her school friend Ruth and how Susie actually went into her body and made love to her I guess boyfriend. This book will have me thinking and I won't forget her tragic story. I highly recommend it, and I give it 4 stars only because it was a little boring.

The movie for Lovely Bones is coming out this year, and it looks amazing! Here is the trailer:

Rating:

Friday Firsts! (1)

Friday Firsts is a new meme I came across hosted by Well-Read Reviews, and it seems pretty fun! The first line can make or break a reader’s interest. Just how well did the author pull you in to the story with their first sentence? To participate in this weekly book meme is extremely easy.

• Grab the book you are currently reading and open to the first page.
• Write down the first sentence in the first paragraph.
• Create a blog post with this information. (Make sure to include the title & author of the book you are using. Even an ISBN helps!)
• Did this first sentence help draw you into the story? Why or why not?

The book I'm currently reading is the Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and this is the first sentence:

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie."

This first sentence is alright and notice that she said her name was Salmon; the past tense is a key point. It did make me want to know more about the girl and at first I thought her first name was Salmon, then I realized it was her last name. I think it should've started with her name was Susie, and then go on to the second sentence which is really good but sad.This is the second sentence:

"I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

Go HERE to see Well-Read Reviews's post and post your link.

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is where I post the books I bought, borrow, won, or received this week. IMMB was started by Kristi of The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

This week I bought 4 books at Goodwill for 47 cents. Goodwill is a good place to get used books for a very cheap price!

The Neverending Story
by: Michael Ende  

Small and insignificant, Bastian Balthazar Bux is nobody's idea of a hero, least of all his own. Through the pages of an old book, he discovers a mysterious world of enchantment - but a world that is falling into decay. The great task of making things well again falls on Bastian, and there follows a magically evocative story to fulfill your deepest longings.

A Walk to Remember
by: Nicolas Sparks
In 1958 Landon Carter is a shallow but well-meaning teenager who spends most of his time hanging out with his friends and trying hard to ignore the impending responsibilities of adulthood. Then Landon gets roped into acting the lead in the Christmas play opposite the most renowned goody two-shoes in town: Jamie Sullivan. Against his best intentions and the taunts of his buddies, Landon finds himself falling for Jamie and learning some central lessons in life.

Lovely Bones
by: Alice Sebold
When we first meet Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. As she looks down from that strange new place she tells us, in the fresh and spirited voice of a fourteen-year-old, a tale that is both haunting and full of hope. Susie watches life continuing after her brutal death: her loved ones holding out hope she'll be found, her killer covering his tracks. As months pass without leads, she sees her family contorted by loss. With compassion, longing, and a growing understanding, she sees them face the worst -- then, in time, pass through grief and begin to mend.

Catch
by: Will Leitch
Everything comes easy for Tim Temples. He’s got a sweet summer job, lots of love from the ladies, and parties with his high school buddies. Why does he need to go to college? Then Tim falls hard for Helena—a worldly and mysterious twenty-two year-old. Their relationship opens his eyes to life outside the small town of Mattoon, Illinois. Now Tim has to choose: Will he settle for being a small town hero, or will he leave it all behind to follow his dreams?