Books I Loathed discussion
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The Lovely Bones
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Jackie
(last edited Aug 25, 2016 11:58AM)
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Aug 14, 2007 06:50AM

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Um, I would like to add that I loathed this book passionately after I first finished it. Now that it's been several years, I've cooled down and had some time to reflect.
Nope, still hate it.
For lack of a better way to phrase this...it was just so lifeless. The "heroine" (was she even that?) was dull as a doorknob.
And the fact that they never caught the guy? Seriously?

Unfortunately, I live near a town with a similar crime and the guy was never caught, so that part seemed real.

Sebold was writing, while dealing with her own rape. It's said she was writing it, had to deal with things--wrote Lucky--and then went back and finished The Lovely Bones.
Lucky is tough to read, but I thought it was a better book.




Yes! Lovely Bones = bad! I agree with so many of the sentiments written here. Especially with the use of the word "manipulative." Indeed, I felt manipulated by the author. I cried in some parts, but I felt like it was pre-scripted for me to do so, you know?
And regarding Anne's comment, I, too, thought that that kind of heaven was WAY depressing! Thank you for the validation.
I did, however, like "Lucky." But I didn't like THAT one at first, either. There was this one line that was "getting" to me - I felt the old manipulation-ship happening - but then I thought, well, just get over that one line and keep reading. It was especially interesting to me how she met some prominent literary figures early in her life.
Oh - and SPOILER ALERT - re: the ending of the "Lovely Bones" ...
I know that the guy didn't get caught officially, but if I remember right, it was implied that he was quite close to getting caught. I believe he was getting sloppy with his crimes and going a little crazy: it was only a matter of time. Something like that. But I also would have liked to hear the jail door slam shut on him.

I agree with everyone's comments about the main character. She wasn't even enough of an I-guy -- and I hate I-guys -- or a Mary Sue -- and I hate them with even more passion -- to come across as anything more than a cardboard cut-out.
I didn't like heaven, the ending, or even how the family was portrayed. It all felt very ... bland, strangly so since the beginning chapter had more oomph.
I think the first chapter was more personal -- and thus had more impact (at least for me, in the reading of it) -- but that she then backed off in the rest of the book, to hold the survivors and the aftermath at a bit of a distance, as if she didn't want to hurt them, or be hurt by them herself.
I liked the 'feel' of the writing of the book, even if I liked nothing else about it. Does that make sense?

It reminded me a lot of a cheesy telly-movie. It was self-indulgent, which is never a good thing. I didn't find it traumatising, but I agree with whoever said the main character was dull. Yes, very dull, and I didn't like the "chance" the author gave her to be with whats-his-name (sorry, I've forgotten their names!).


You're right, Ruth was a surprisingly interesting character - surprising, because I sometimes thought she'd wandered into the wrong book.


This book was excellent--for the first half of the book. Then, the author put it aside, dealt with her issues that had prompted the writing of it in the first place, and returned to it. The second half was contrived, poorly written, and it seemed as though Sebold grabbed ideas as they floated on by and used them desperately. It slowed to a halt, and - SPOILER ALERT - the part where Sebold had her main character possess a girl she had briefly known was cheesy and ridiculous. The second half was just poorly done.
The reason I loathed this book was because Sebold can turn a phrase, but the ideas became weak and desperate midpoint. It's the same disappointed feeling you get when you see the potential for something great, and it falls short. It frustrated me, tremendously.








And Ruth being possessed by Susie felt like such a copout. I seriously thought she was going to tell Ray where her body was! Especially since Ray and Ruth had visited/were visiting the sinkhole.
Did anybody else hate the mother? I got so annoyed at how often the book talked about how she didnt want kids - yet she went on to have 2 more after Susie. And then her and Len Fenerman and her running away made me dislike her even more. Then she came back and EVERYTHING WAS OKAY >=|
George Harvey's death was the most pathetic thing. It's like the author thought 'oh heyyyy probably should kill him off or something, right?' and slipped it in right at the end.
Also, the way the author wrote about Ruth's ~ability to see murdered women made me think she was just delusional. But then Susie possessed her and I couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous it all was.
I wanted to read it too....I haven't...yet. I'm planning on reading it when I'm a little older. Maybe the reason you guys didn't like it is because you're too young...my 40 year old mother absolutely loves it...so..

I personally dont think age has anything to do with it - unless it's reading level - I think it has more to do with how critical you are of a text. I find that some people are pretty passive readers, whereas others (like myself) will critically evaluate and deconstruct the text as theyre reading it, finding things they do and dont like.
I find that I have a friend who will accept EVERYTHING the author tells her, and if I question it she says 'oh but thats the way such-and-such-character is'. Whereas I think it's perfectly fine to dislike things about a book, to take issue with writing style and consistency and what not, as long as you dont go overboard :P
I definately know what you mean, Jerry. It makes sense that whoever it is reading it makes a difference HOW they read. But I guess what I was trying to say is that it's not very appropriate for teenagers...or so I hear from my mom.

It's not too bad, the start is a bit shocking, but I guess it wasnt as horrifying as I thought it would be. I am personally more traumatised by Law and Order SVU episodes :P
yeah. well i usually just take my mom's word for it. and i'm not going to read it



I also agree with Anne about the horrid description of Heaven. I read this book years ago, and it's all I really remember now about the book. I didn't find the book that interesting, but most of my dislike came from what a turn off the idea of Heaven was. In an effort not to give anything away, I will just say that if that is what the author's idea of Heaven is, what is their idea of Hell?


Spoiler! Hi Jackie, having read through responses to your question I can understand why some people find Susie coming back to earth and doing what she does hard to believe but for me her being with Ray is about longing and healing. I found this book to be very sad but also hopeful and not because of heaven or even that the dead remain with us but because the book ends with the Salmon family together once again, not perfect but together. I read excerpts from a diary kept by the sister of a young girl who went missing from a place called Moone, Ireland in the 90's and this book brought back to me the experiences and heartache depicted in that real life diary. For me what the book tries to tell us is the power of love to heal if we can only keep faith with each other.
As for why someone would write about this topic; why do people continue to visit the Anne Frank Haus in Amsterdam or ground zero in New York? I think it is to understand what it is that frightens us/society most and by understanding, preventing.



In the book it's referred to only a couple of times as the in-between, most of the time she calls it "my heaven". I actually wish they'd have focused more in the in-between and that concept, instead it just seemed like a big happy waiting room




The sister didn't get pregnant in the movie...did she? I don't remember. I thought that the grandmother was funny. She was crazy.


I loved the first half of the book. I did not know why the second half just seemed so long and drawn out. Now it makes more sense to me if she left the book halfway. I have to say that as much as I liked the first half that is how much the rest of the book lost my attention.
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