Customer Reviews

The Lovely Bones

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4 star:		(1)
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The Lovely Bones is the story of a 14-year-old girl from suburban Pennsylvania who is murdered by her neighbor. She tells the story from Heaven, showing the lives of the people around her and how they have changed all while attempting to get someone to find her lost body

In the audio narrative hands of the author Alice Sebold, this audio production is slow and sluggish. Yes, the novel does end . . . but after disk five, the listener will get a "who cares" attitude. I will say this, I enjoyed reading Ms Sebold's novel. It has heart and spirit. I wish that would have transferred that way to the audio medium. To say Ms Sebold's oration is boring is an understatement to the facts.

Well we can hope this presentation will be re-recorded next year in time for the film adaptation of Bones, directed by Lord of The Rings Peter Jackson. May I suggest actor Stanley Tucci, who is part of the film cast and a wonderful narrator to boot, may be a good choice if Hachette audio is smart enough to redo this wonderful novel in audio.

I cannot say this production in its current narrative form is worth any time to listen. This is one time I suggest read the book, it's better!

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

Alice Sebold should not narrate her books. Her monotone and unemotional reading of her book was upsetting and lackluster. I found myself rewinding often because I would get lost or distracted during her boring read. The plot/story was great nonetheless.

Alice Sebold, is the author of The Lovely Bones a book about an average 14-year-old girl, desperately falling for her first love. Before 1980 Alice grew up normally, in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where life was good. Sadly, 1980 wasn't so great. While walking to her dorm, during her first semester at Syracuse University Alice was brutally raped. The rapist who she later recognized was put in jail, and given the longest sentence possible. Seeing how being raped can traumatize you, Sebold got the inspiration for The Lovely Bones. Because of this inspiration she wrote a memoir for a college class, that she later turned into a fiction book.
Every character in this book plays an extreme role. Seeing how everyone is connected to this horrid murder. At the beginning you meet Susie Salmon, who is the main character. And dies in the first chapter. While the murder is taking place her dad Jack, mom Abigail, and her siblings are looking for her, because she never came home from school. George Harvey "Mr. Harvey" is known very early as the murderer, but there is no proof. Len Fenerman is the detective working on the case. Sadly, after a few months he fails at discovering the murderer, and gives up looking.
The conflict is plainly obvious. Susie is dead. And they cannot find the murderer, or the body. In the first chapter she is brutally killed, by a neighbor who tricks her into being alone with him. Since Susie was a daddy's girl, he can't get over her death. Desperately spending every waking moment trying to catch the criminal. Because of this, his wife leaves him and he had no idea where she went. Seeking some closure in the case was all he wanted.
Zeroing in on the murderer would definitely be the major climax in this story. Susie's sister, who knows it was Mr. Harvey, goes on an epic "run" to consume the proof needed. Proof is mandatory. Since Mr. Harvey lives alone, he knows someone is in his house, and because of this, the story gets crazy. After Mr. Harvey is a suspect to Jack, he makes excuses to go over that, to try to figure this guy out. Luckily they were neighbors.
Opinions are usually biased in some way, shape or form. Before reading this book, I would suggest reading a few reviews, because mine is just from a 15 year old gir. When reading this book, I was in shock on how greatly Sebold wrote. Sitting and reading this book for 3 hours at a time was a daily activity I was doing, which is very odd for me. It changed my ways. Greatly recommended, to anyone who like mysteries, murder books, or just a good story line. It's an amazing book. Hard to put into words.

Author tends to wander off topic for extended periods, which was a bit of a put-off, but in the end was well worth the time spent.

I tend to read non true crime books in audio format as I go through my daily life of running errands from doctor to doctor etc. We also drive to visit family frequently so we listened to this on one of our trips and loved it! A must read!

I always use audio books/cds when I am teaching my students novels. I like this one in particular for two reasons: one, there is soft, background music at the closure and beginning of some chapters which truly enhance the mood; two, Sebold narrates the book with a unique, detached tone. Some of my students found her tone to be indifferent, and they didn't like it because the topic was so emotional. To them, the tone did not match the topic. But, the detachedness allows Susie's nonchalance to come through. Teenagers are often indifferent, and Susie understands that nothing she says or does will change the fact that she is dead. I think Sebold purposefully chose this tone to enhance the purpose of the book.

What happens after we die? Do we live a peaceful eternity in our own little heaven or do we hear the cry's of pain of the people we leave behind.
14 Year old Suzy Salmon died on the morning of the 6th of December 1973.
She was walking to the school bus at the end of the street when someone called her name. Leaning against the lamp post was Mr Harvey her mysterious next door neighbour.
Suzy thought that very strange to see Mr Harvey out walking. Come with me he said I'll give you a ride to school.
Mr Harvey drove in silence to a motel on the outskirts of Philadelphia.
He led Suzy to a bedroom then he locked the door, shut the windows and drew the curtains.
Take off your clothes Suzy said Mr Harvey, I want to see if you're still a virgin?
Within the next twenty-four hours 14 year old Suzy Salmon would be dead, with no idea of what waited for her in her own little heaven.

The Salmons lived in a suburban neighbourhood in Philadelphia.
At 6:00 that evening the family all sat down at the dinner table.
Jack Salmon, father, business man and accountant.
Abigail Salmon, mother and a housewife.
Lindsey Salmon, 13 years old sports fanatic and popular with all the boys.
Buckley Salmon two years old loves to eat pork chops and American hot dogs.
Suzy Salmon ,14 years old daughter who had not come home.

Half way thought their first course the phone rang. It was Suzy's school principal asking that Mr and Mrs Salmon come to the school to meet a homicide detective named Lyn Federmen.

Mr and Mrs Salmon, I'm sorry to inform you that your missing daughter Suzy is presumed dead.
Suzy opens her eyes, a moment later she becomes aware that she is laying on a circular block of wood.
Suzy sat up, less than 24 hours ago she had been assaulted, bruised, left naked and covered in blood.
Now she was clothed clean and whole.
I must be in heaven she thought.

Time past or so it seemed, Suzy grew no older nor younger.
Things were changing. Lyn Federmen had taken stress leave.
Abigail had hit rock bottom.
She had fallen victim to the poisons of drink and lust.
During the day she would consume six bottles of cooking sherry
At night she would sleep with any man she could.
Lindsey was no longer sporty and very unpopular.
Since the death of her older sister she had suffered a major health crisis.
She had become bulimic, prone to wetting her pants and had recurring nightmares about Mr Harvey.
Jack quit his job; he now spent most of his time in grief and solitude.

Unfortunately things were no better in heaven than they were on earth.
Suzy's constant feeling of hatred towards. Mr Harvey rose inside her like the roth of hells flames.


What happens after we die? Do we live a peaceful eternity in our own little heaven or do we hear the cry's of pain of the people we leave behind.
14 Year old Suzy Salmon died on the morning of the 6th of December 1973.
She was walking to the school bus at the end of the street when someone called her name. Leaning against the lampost was Mr Harvey her mysterious next door neighbour.
Suzy thought that very strange to see Mr Harvey out walking. Come with me he said I'll give you a ride to school.
Mr Harvey drove in silence to a motel on the outskirts of Philadelphia.
He led Suzy to a bedroom then he locked the door, shut the windows and drew the curtains.
Take off your clothes Suzy said Mr Harvey, I want to see if you're still a virgin?
Within the next twenty-four hours 14 year old Suzy Salmon would be dead, with no idea of what waited for her in her own little heaven.

The Salmons lived in a suburban neighbourhood in Philadelphia.
At 6:00 that evening the family all sat down at the dinner table.
Jack Salmon, father, business man and accountant.
Abigail Salmon, mother and a housewife.
Lindsey Salmon, 13 years old sports fanatic and popular with all the boys.
Buckley Salmon two years old loves to eat pork chops and American hot dogs.
Suzy Salmon ,14 years old daughter who had not come home.

Half way thought their first course the phone rang. It was Suzy's school principal asking that Mr and Mrs Salmon come to the school to meet a homicide detective named Lyn Federmen.

Mr and Mrs Salmon, I'm sorry to inform you that your missing daughter Suzy is presumed dead.
Suzy opens her eyes, a moment later she becomes aware that she is laying on a circular block of wood.
Suzy sat up, less than 24 hours ago she had been assaulted, bruised, left naked and covered in blood.
Now she was clothed clean and whole.
I must be in heaven she thought.

Time past or so it seemed, Suzy grew no older nor younger.
Things were changing. Lyn Federmen had taken stress leave.
Abigail had hit rock bottom.
She had fallen victim to the poisons of drink and lust.
During the day she would consume six bottles of cooking sherry
At night she would sleep with any man she could.
Lindsey was no longer sporty and very unpopular.
Since the death of her older sister she had suffered a major health crisis.
She had become bulimic, prone to wetting her pants and had recurring nightmares about Mr Harvey.
Jack quit his job; he now spent most of his time in grief and solitude.

Unfortunately things were no better in heaven than they were on earth.
Suzy's constant feeling of hatred towards. Mr Harvey rose inside her like the roth of hells flames.
She knew that she would have to take matters in to her own hands.
I'm not going to tell you how this story ends.
You will just have wait and see.
Written by Steven Dart