Tolog Review: The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones
by Alice Sebold
reviewed by Isabella Durand 

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is a fictitious tale that touches into the realities of morality, love, and life after death. This is the story of young Susie Salmon’s rape and murder during the 1970s. Susie is trying to figure out her new afterlife in her own personal heaven while watching over her family after her death. As life moves on in the small suburb of Pennsylvania where she is from, Susie is able to have a closer look into the lives of her friends, family, and even her murderer. As time progresses, we are able to see the maturity and lives of Susie and the people around her unfold. With the intriguing complexity that follows Susie’s life, it is hard not to feel a connection to this tragedy, but Sebold manages to provide anticipation, humor, and even happiness in the darkest of subjects.

With lots of imagery, such as the depictions of the school were Susie attended, the details of her room, the noises that Susie’s jingly cap make, and the description of her heaven, it is easy to imagine and depict the world that Susie was from. In this novel, Sebold also uses lots of allusions to different classic writers, such as Shakespeare and Poe in her work. For example, a scarf belonging to Susie’s mother ends up allowing another character to discover a secret of her own, referencing Shakespeare’s Othello while doing so. If you are familiar with these references, you will enjoy how the plot unfolds around them.

While reading this book, I enjoyed the connection I formed with the story and I didn’t want to put it down. At times, it made me cry and then a few pages later, I was smiling. I especially appreciate how Sebold is able to tackle a difficult subject and bring it to light without objectifying it or overdramatizing it. I also appreciate that she took some real life experiences and was brave enough to share a reflection of her story with the world. Overall, this novel is truly a touching and unique story.