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The Lovely Bones

the inspiration for the blockbuster film starring Saoirse Ronan

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The Lovely Bones

By: Alice Sebold
Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan
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Summary

A haunting and heartbreaking novel narrated from heaven as a young girl watches over her family and killer.

My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.

In heaven, Susie Salmon can have whatever she wishes for – except what she most wants, which is to be back with the people she loved on earth.

In the wake of her murder, Susie watches as her happy suburban family is torn apart by grief; as her friends grow up, fall in love, and do all the things she never had the chance to do herself. But as Susie will come to realize, even in death, life is not quite out of reach . . .

An astonishing novel about life and death, memory and forgetting, and finding light in the darkest places.

Alice Sebold's book inspired the Peter Jackson film, starring Susan Sarandon and Saoirse Ronan.

'Moving and compelling . . . I sat down in the morning to read the first couple of pages; five hours later, I was still there, book in hand, transfixed' – Maggie O'Farrell (author of The Marriage Portrait), Sunday Telegraph

 Coming of Age Crime Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Fiction Crime Suspense Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Tear-jerking
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Critic reviews

Moving and compelling . . . It will put an imperceptible but stealthily insistent hold on you. I sat down in the morning to read the first couple of pages; five hours later, I was still there, book in hand, transfixed (Maggie O'Farrell)
Spare, beautiful and brutal prose . . . The Lovely Bones is compulsive enough to read in a single sitting, brilliantly intelligent, elegantly constructed and ultimately intriguing
Takes the stuff of terrible tragedy and transforms it into something hopeful and redemptive
[Sebold] has created a novel that is painfully fine and accomplished, one which readers will have their own difficulties relinquishing, long after the last page is turned
A chilling juxtaposition of innocence against evil
Sebold has given us a fantasy-fable of great authority, charm, and daring. She's a one-of-a-kind writer (Jonathan Franzen)
All stars
Most relevant
There were moments when i ached with sadness and regret but then islands of hope appeared and life moved on as it must.
Maybe not a truely gripping read but it held me all the way to the end 'i hope you have a long and happy life'

All we have is time

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Enjoyed the book, did end a little quick for me and ending seemed rushed, but well worth a listen! ☺️ excellent

Really profound effect on me

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Interesting reading, a bit distressing at times and with some beautiful moments. Not my favourite audibook but worth reading.

Worth reading

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Would you consider the audio edition of The Lovely Bones to be better than the print version?

I enjoyed reading the book as well as listening to the audio edition at the same time.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Lovely Bones?

When Suzie enters Ruth's body.

What does Alyssa Bresnahan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

She made the story come alive.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I don't do emotional reactions.

Any additional comments?

Nope.

Very Great Read. You will enjoy it very much.

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This audio book brought tears to my eyes. I listened to it soon after my Grandpa died and like to think of him looking down like Suzie Salmon.

Its very sad and tells the story of a young girl who is killed, and has to come to terms with being dead while watching her family trying to move on with out her there.

It is writen very well and the narrator reads it beautifuly.

Really sad and moving

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