The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones  

The Lovely Bones is a novel from author Alice Sebold that I have read several times over the years since it was published in 2004. It is absolutely heartbreaking and amazing, all at the same time. This is one you will never forget once you read it!

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Have you read The Lovely Bones? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

About The Lovely Bones 

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

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her — her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. 

Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, The Lovely Bones succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy. 

Thoughts on The Lovely Bones 

The Lovely Bones follows Susie Salmon after she was murdered by her serial killer next door neighbor. The story is then told from her perspective watching life go on without her, while she is dead and in heaven looking down on everyone. 

The Lovely Bones is both sad and heartbreaking to read. But it is also amazing in that the story is told through the eyes of the victim. 

We’ve all had some kind of experience in our lives that changed us completely. No going back to the way things were, game over. The rape and murder of Susie was that experience for her family, unfortunately, and everyone handled it very differently. 

It is a great reminder that tomorrow is never promised to any of us. Have I lived my life to the best of my ability? Said I love you to the people around me? It is the kind of book that makes you think about things like that, and really evaluate where you are in life, and if you’re making time for things that are truly important, like the people in our lives.

Final Thoughts on The Lovely Bones 

This is a great novel to read, that is thought-provoking, as I mentioned earlier. Tomorrow is never promised, so I always ask myself how I can improve each day. That means my work, my personal life, my marriage, and all other aspects. It means making sure the people I care about know it, and know how important they are to me. 

I love when a book can capture my attention and then make me look at my own life and ask questions like that. It makes this novel relatable, in my opinion. 

The Lovely Bones is a novel that I’ve read more than once, and I feel like there’s always a new little tidbit that I take away from it every time. It is a book that gets better and makes more sense as I get older and have more life experience. 

I highly recommend that you give The Lovely Bones a read and see for yourself why it is a great book! 

Discussion 

Have you read The Lovely Bones or any other novels from author Alice Sebold? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

Are you looking for your next great read? Take a look at my personal favorites and see if anything stands out for you! 

About the Author 

​​Alice Sebold is the author of three #1 bestselling books, including Lucky, and the novels The Lovely Bones and The Almost Moon. Her work has been translated into more than fifty languages and has appeared in The New York Times and The Guardian, among other publications. 

She is a member of the National Leadership Council for RAINN.org (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). 

She lives in California.

Purchasing The Lovely Bones 

If you are interested in buying the paperback version of The Lovely Bones, click here.

Click here for the Kindle version.

Click here for my favorite Kindle I currently own.

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