The Lovely Bones
Trilaina Sibo
Issue date: 1/25/10 Section: Entertainment
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold is a tale that is both insightful and moving, while written in a style few would have the courage to try.
Where most stories begin at the beginning, "The Lovely Bones" begins at the end of the main character's life. The victim of a murder, Susie Salmon was fourteen when her life was horrifically taken from her. The story is told through her eyes, from her view after death. She watches as life goes on without her- her family coming apart, friends wondering what had happened, and her killer hiding his movements.
The characters feel more like real people than ink on paper - all have their faults, as well as redeeming features. Watching them grow and move on with their lives after the death of Susie is intriguing. Just like real people, however, this story doesn't have a real climax. Instead of heart-thudding suspense followed by the traditional happy ending, the reader is given a view of how the pain of loss lessens with time, and how all things in life don't end the way we wish they would.
Where most stories begin at the beginning, "The Lovely Bones" begins at the end of the main character's life. The victim of a murder, Susie Salmon was fourteen when her life was horrifically taken from her. The story is told through her eyes, from her view after death. She watches as life goes on without her- her family coming apart, friends wondering what had happened, and her killer hiding his movements.
The characters feel more like real people than ink on paper - all have their faults, as well as redeeming features. Watching them grow and move on with their lives after the death of Susie is intriguing. Just like real people, however, this story doesn't have a real climax. Instead of heart-thudding suspense followed by the traditional happy ending, the reader is given a view of how the pain of loss lessens with time, and how all things in life don't end the way we wish they would.
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