THE LOVELY BONES | BOOK REVIEW | APRIL 2017
The Lovely Bones
The Lovely Bones starts with of course the simple, but effective introduction of the main character, Susie Salmon, 'my name is Salmon, like the fish; first name Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973'. What I find interesting about this plot, is that it's based off Sebold's own rape, and how she's explored the themes within how it destroys a family, and the cathartic journey of each character in the Salmon family, as well as those around them. I enjoyed this book as a completely different narrative and plot, especially from the murder of a fourteen year old girl. The murderer, Mr Harvey reinforces the stereotype of a psychopath, he lives alone and a compulsive liar, the paradoxical view in the novel, is that Susie is at peace when she finally meets the rest of Harvey's victims, whereas you would've thought she may have been more angry at the thought of him having other victims, and how the police has never even caught on to his actions. Susie narrates the novel,which makes the novel more personal to the reader. Sebold uses the analogy of Alice and Wonderland, and how Susie is looking down from heaven in to her previous life. This is where the fantasy element is introduced, and the supernatural of forces on Earth and in heaven. Sebold uses a variation of characters; mostly her family, her Dad (Jack Salmon), Mum (Abigail Salmon), Lindsey (sister), Buckley (brother) and Grandma Lynn. Sebold also has a variety of characters that are from the exterior of family life; Ray (her future boyfriend), Ruth,a girl that truly infatuated with Susie and Sam Heckler (Lindsey's future husband) along with his brother Hal, also not forgetting Len Fenerman, which her mother has an affair with. All these characters play a part in their families' cathartic journey, for e.g. Grandma Lynn comes in to their lives as a positive catalyst as a mother figure with her colloquial terms 'bag o' magic', whilst Abigail leaves the family. Sam Heckler is also a positive catalyst for the family, especially Lindsey, which makes me think that without Sam Heckler there, what would've happened to Lindsey and how would she of coped with the grief without him.
Sebold uses the character of Susie as a metaphor of separation, and how eventually you will get used to not being with your family in body, but definitely in spirit. Sebold reinforces the supernatural idea of heaven and hell,'but I came to believe that if I watched closely, and desired, I might change the lives of those on Earth'. Ruth Connors is an idiosyncratic character in The Lovely Bones, she doesn't feel she fits in with her neighbourhood, she's lesbian, which may also fit in with some contextual factors of the novel being set in the seventies, feminism movement was very prominent, and I think this is where Ruth stands out. Ruth acts as a communicator/medium between Earth and heaven, between her family and to Susie. Ruth sensed Susie's body leaving Earth 'suddenly, down, out of the soccer field, I saw a pale ghost leaving Earth'. This novel is truly about the connections you leave on Earth, Susie's 'lovely bones', how they're remembered in Earth when you pass away. The Lovely Bones is so beautifully written, all detail in the cathartic journey of each and every character that is part of the cathartic journey of Susie also. This novel is a true reminder of death, murder and evil in Mr Harvey, and the psychopathic tendencies that he portrays. But overall the novel captures the heartbreaking grief of family, and death, and what the family goes through, and this novel captures it perfectly. Sebold captures bildungsroman and fantasy in this novel, Susie is heartbroken she no longer has a future on Earth, and can no longer be a photographer like she aspired to be, or be with Ray, Sebold also displays the frustration the family, neighbourhood goes through of the death of a young girl, and her future taken from her. Exploring the closest relationship between Susie and her father, really displays the hurt and paranoia any parent goes through, when they've lost a child 'someone came in my room, and then left. I think it was Susie'. This relationship profoundly shows the character the painful grief that the family is going through, and how it follows the physical and mental pain of Jack Salmon all the way through. The Lovely Bones in all is a paradoxical title, but a fitting title for Susie, showing the innocence of the dead child, and her family's grief and their loving child. The novel itself shows their family bond and the overall cathartic pain all families go through at a time of death.
Sebold uses the character of Susie as a metaphor of separation, and how eventually you will get used to not being with your family in body, but definitely in spirit. Sebold reinforces the supernatural idea of heaven and hell,'but I came to believe that if I watched closely, and desired, I might change the lives of those on Earth'. Ruth Connors is an idiosyncratic character in The Lovely Bones, she doesn't feel she fits in with her neighbourhood, she's lesbian, which may also fit in with some contextual factors of the novel being set in the seventies, feminism movement was very prominent, and I think this is where Ruth stands out. Ruth acts as a communicator/medium between Earth and heaven, between her family and to Susie. Ruth sensed Susie's body leaving Earth 'suddenly, down, out of the soccer field, I saw a pale ghost leaving Earth'. This novel is truly about the connections you leave on Earth, Susie's 'lovely bones', how they're remembered in Earth when you pass away. The Lovely Bones is so beautifully written, all detail in the cathartic journey of each and every character that is part of the cathartic journey of Susie also. This novel is a true reminder of death, murder and evil in Mr Harvey, and the psychopathic tendencies that he portrays. But overall the novel captures the heartbreaking grief of family, and death, and what the family goes through, and this novel captures it perfectly. Sebold captures bildungsroman and fantasy in this novel, Susie is heartbroken she no longer has a future on Earth, and can no longer be a photographer like she aspired to be, or be with Ray, Sebold also displays the frustration the family, neighbourhood goes through of the death of a young girl, and her future taken from her. Exploring the closest relationship between Susie and her father, really displays the hurt and paranoia any parent goes through, when they've lost a child 'someone came in my room, and then left. I think it was Susie'. This relationship profoundly shows the character the painful grief that the family is going through, and how it follows the physical and mental pain of Jack Salmon all the way through. The Lovely Bones in all is a paradoxical title, but a fitting title for Susie, showing the innocence of the dead child, and her family's grief and their loving child. The novel itself shows their family bond and the overall cathartic pain all families go through at a time of death.
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