The Lovely Bones

Critics

• 'The Lovely Bones' by Alice Sebold

  In a nutshell, I liked this book very much. I was convinced that I'd find it cloying and sentimental but I was surprised to find that it was far from this. There's no doubt that it was sad but like William Trevor's very excellent The Story of Lucy Ga ... (read full critics)

  readingmatters published on Mon, 27 Sep 2010

• An eternity of sweet nothings

  The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Picador £12.99, pp328 The conversation comes round twice a year, like an equinox, and always, for some reason, in the middle of Countdown. 'All of us down at Oldsocks and Wittering are very excited about this new nove ... (read full critics)

  guardian.co.uk published on Sat, 25 Sep 2010

48 Reviews

• 7 people find this helpful

  

  poor

  I found this book to be rather disappointing. I don't have a problem with the concept and never have a problem reading books that seem far fetched. The way the story pans out though I found to be quite irritating. I felt no connection to any of the characters at all and some of the situations in the ... (continue)

  I found this book to be rather disappointing. I don't have a problem with the concept and never have a problem reading books that seem far fetched. The way the story pans out though I found to be quite irritating. I felt no connection to any of the characters at all and some of the situations in the book were just ridiculous. The ending is a case in point. The scenes based in heaven which should be the cornerstone of the book are irritating at best and only go to magnify the general pathetic nature of the characters.

  Is this helpful?

  Rpcutts said on Jul 6, 2008 | 1 feedback

• 3 people find this helpful

  

  After the heartbreaking first chapter i thought i might struggle with this book. Well written but harrowing.

  The rest of the book then is a lovely infolding of lives and a surprising and satisfying end.

  Simply and directly written, but with real tenderness.

  Is this helpful?

  Mearso said on Aug 22, 2008 | Add your feedback

• 2 people find this helpful

  

  Fortunately for Susie (and the reader), she dies at the beginning of the book: that's the only thing really happening in 300 pages of an otherwise super-common (and boring) life

  Is this helpful?

  Enderad said on Feb 26, 2010 about the Others edition | Add your feedback

• the film is far better than this book

  Is this helpful?

  Stephen Pattison said on Apr 9, 2012 about the eBook edition | Add your feedback

• 

  These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence: the connections - sometimes tenuous,sometimes made at great cost, but often magnificent - that had happened after I was gone. And I began to see things in a way that let me hold the world without me in it.

  Is this helpful?

  BansheeSmile said on Mar 14, 2012 about the Others edition | Add your feedback

• 

  A sad story...

  I was recommended this book by a friend who had really enjoyed it and I have to say I can see why. Its such a sad story and the first chapter is really tragic. Susie is such a great character and you feel so immensely sorry for her that she doesn't get to experience some of the most simplest life mo ... (continue)

  I was recommended this book by a friend who had really enjoyed it and I have to say I can see why. Its such a sad story and the first chapter is really tragic. Susie is such a great character and you feel so immensely sorry for her that she doesn't get to experience some of the most simplest life moments that we all take for granted.

  My favourite character in the book was by far Susie's remaining sister Lindsay. She was such a strong independent character and I really admired her way of coping with her sisters disappearance.

  The only faults with the book I thought was that Susies killer wasnt given the ending I thought he deserved. A little more punishment was due for someone so evil, I thought. Anyway, very good book so original and different and very enjoyable.

  Is this helpful?

  Lauraolsthoorn said on Feb 25, 2012 about the Others edition | Add your feedback

See all 48 comments

Book Details

• Rating:
  (625)
  • 5 stars
  • 4 stars
  • 3 stars
  • 2 stars
  • 1 star
• English Books
• Paperback 256 Pages
• Edition: New Ed
• ISBN-10: 0330485385
• ISBN-13: 9780330485388
• Publisher: Picador
• Pub date: Jun 06, 2003
• Dimensions: 1226 mm x 839 mm x 129 mm Just how big is that?
• Also available as: Mass Market Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD, Audio Cassette, Others and eBook
• In other languages: other languages 繁體書, Livres Français, Deutsche Bücher, Libros en Español, Livros em Português, llibres en català, Libri Italiani, Nederlandse Boeken, Česká kniha, Svenska böcker

Improve data of this book

Groups with this in collection

• PayPoint.net Book Club (10)
• Wednesday Nights in the 21st Century (5)
• book recommendations (957)
• The Collective (146)
• Networking Book Club (15)

Prices Change currency & sellers

ISBN	Edition	List	Sale	Seller
9780330485388	Paperback	--	$17.94	ebooks.com
		$12.86	$8.92	The Book Depository
Other editions →
+ 26 copies tradable: 3 in USA →