The Lovely Bones in Around the World in 80 Books

Jul 21, 2008 Sunflower rated it it was ok

Shelves: fiction-read-2008

I avoided this book when it came out. Such hype! So long on the bestseller list! (am I a book snob?) I finally bought it because it just had to be done, and thought the first half was great. However, about 2/3 of the way through it somehow loses the plot and meanders for a while. And that last bit just doesn't make any sense to anyone who has worked with rape victims. On the plus side: nice touch with the recurring icicle. ...more

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Sep 06, 2010 Carolyn rated it did not like it

Shelves: fiction

This book is a pretty easy read. I was glad that the author chose not to drag out the event of the murder in gory graphic detail, but rather told us what was necessary for us to know, sparing us.
I really had high hopes for this book. The beginning started out strong, and by the end, I was sooo ready for it to be over and done with. By the end of the book, the storyline just kind of floundered, and I was unsure of the point she was trying to make of many passages that she included. Also, as anot ...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Kim DeCina rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery, magical-realism, paranormal, dark, characters-of-color, beautiful-language, drama

Some interesting ideas, some beautiful language (there is a huge difference between figurative metaphors and nonsensical purple prose, which makes me wonder if some reviewers have never read an actual book before), and a premise that's unwilling to shrink from real pain or to tie it up in a neat bow. But since it's a mood piece about the evolution of a family and the person they lose, there's a whole lot of nothing happening. It drags something terrible, and if you can't relate to the people and ...more

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