The Lovely Bones

THE LOVELY BONES by Alice Sebold

For several months now Alice Sebold's second novel THE LOVELY BONES has been dominating the top of the best seller lists. The question is why! What is it about this story of a girl in Heaven reflecting on her life and death (actually a brutal murder) that has fascinated the minds of millions and made this story the one that has dominated the literary scene for so long?

The central character of the story is Susie Salmon. As the book opens she is reflecting back to the time when she was assaulted and murdered. Then the book moves on to the effect of her death on her mother, father, sister and brother. Later she spends time watching her murderer as well as some of her fellow students.

The depiction of Heaven is an unusual one. It is not a place of singing angelic choirs but rather a place where things which one wishes do come true. But in Susie's Heaven she still feels sadness and longing for the people she left behind. In this area the book is a very sad one, and will fill the reader with melancholy as the pages are turned.

There are also moments in the book which are closely related to the film "Ghost." It is at these times that Sebold's book is at its best. At least in these moments there are some life affirming acts which make the reader thrill with their tenderness and emotion.

Sebold is a cautious writer, never going too extreme in any direction. She allows the reader to absorb the elements of the story slowly. and builds on each incident in setting up the next. She also allows the characters to have human weaknesses and frailties. There are no real heroes here, just ordinary people trying to survive the torments of life.

Perhaps other readers will tap into the beauty of Susie's love for her family and that will give them a good reading experience from the book. Others, like myself, will find the whole concept shallow and non-revealing. Susie Salmon remains as much a mystery after her death as she was in her life.

I went to THE LOVELY BONES expecting some kind of greatness. All I found was the ordinary, and not very entertaining ordinary at that.

THE LOVELY BONES is published by Little, Brown. It contains 328 pages and sells for $21.95.